The Best Fishing Spots in Nebraska
Nebraska offers varied recreational fishing across its rivers, reservoirs and sandhills, from big-water boat angling on the Missouri, Platte and Lake McConaughy to quiet fly fishing and wading on tailwaters and smaller streams. Popular targets include walleye, white bass and hybrid striped bass in larger reservoirs, both largemouth bass and smallmouth bass in rivers and rocky shorelines, along with northern pike, channel catfish and flathead catfish for summer boat or bank trips. Anglers also find plentiful panfish such as bluegill and crappie, and well-regarded trout fishing for rainbow and brown trout in cooler tailwaters and western streams, making Nebraska a diverse destination for recreational angling.
Top Cities For Fishing
River Fishing
Other
Lake Fishing
Lake C.W. McConaughy
Top Freshwater Fishing Spots
Lewis and Clark Lake
This wide Missouri River impoundment is renowned for spring and fall walleye and sauger, strong summer action for white bass, and reliable channel catfish; fish wind-blown flats, the spillway area, and river channel edges near Yankton and Crofton .
Platte River
Shallow braided channels and deep outside bends produce channel catfish, flathead catfish, and seasonal walleye and sauger near tributary mouths; popular access exists near Columbus , Fremont , and the confluence with the Missouri River .
Harlan County Lake
A south-central hotspot with excellent numbers of walleye, hard-fighting wipers, roaming white bass, plus crappie and catfish; classic tactics include spring jig-and-minnow on rocky points and summer trolling along the main-lake basin and dam face near Alma .
Branched Oak Lake
Lincoln’s largest lake offers strong urban access to channel catfish, seasonal walleye, and consistent crappie and bluegill; fish coves with brush for panfish and work riprap and points during low-light periods, with ample ramps and shorelines near Raymond .
Calamus Reservoir
Known for prolific wipers, white bass, and solid walleye counts, Calamus also offers steady catfish and crappie; wind-driven bites on sand points and mid-lake humps are reliable, with summer trolling and casting shad-imitations a staple near Burwell .
Swanson Reservoir
A large Republican River impoundment noted for walleye, roaming wipers, aggressive white bass, and solid crappie and catfish; anglers target creek arms, main-lake points, and submerged timber, with productive trolling runs near Trenton .
Holmes Lake
An urban Lincoln gem with frequent trout stockings in cool seasons and good numbers of largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, and channel catfish; shorelines, fishing piers, and the dam area provide reliable action near central Lincoln .
Johnson Lake
A favorite for families and serious anglers alike, Johnson Lake produces walleye, wipers, white bass, and slab crappie, with shoreline docks and riprap also yielding largemouth bass; drift or troll the main basin and work evening bites along lit structure near Elwood .
Lake Wanahoo
A modern fishery known for northern pike, quality largemouth bass, and abundant crappie and bluegill, Wanahoo features plentiful habitat and no-wake boating; target submerged timber, riprap, and shallow weed edges near Wahoo throughout spring and fall.
Pawnee Lake
Part of the Lincoln area lakes, Pawnee offers accessible action for largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, and channel catfish, with a seasonal shot at walleye; brush-filled coves, points, and riprap shorelines are reliable producers near Emerald .
Sherman Reservoir
Sherman shines for walleye and powerhouse wipers, alongside dependable white bass, crappie, and catfish; anglers focus on wind-swept points, flooded timber, and the dam face, with productive late-spring jigging and summer-night trolling near Loup City .
Standing Bear Lake
This northwestern Omaha lake is popular for stocked seasonal rainbow trout, plus resident largemouth bass, crappie, and channel catfish; piers, walking paths, and riprap points create easy opportunities for families and bank anglers.
Wehrspann Lake
Located in Chalco Hills on Omaha’s southwest side, Wehrspann offers bank-friendly access to largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, and channel catfish, with periodic walleye catches; fish jetties, riprap, and flooded brush during low-light hours.
Zorinsky Lake
An Omaha favorite with extensive trails and piers, Zorinsky yields urban largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, and channel catfish, plus occasional walleye; work shoreline structure, culverts, and spring brush piles around Omaha ’s west side.
Lake Maloney
Just south of North Platte , Lake Maloney offers multi-species action for walleye, wipers, white bass, crappie, and catfish; work submerged structure and riprap, with summer trolling and evening shoreline casting both productive.
Lake McConaughy
Nebraska’s largest reservoir offers expansive sand beaches and clear water where anglers target walleye, wipers, white bass, and channel catfish; spring and early summer produce classic walleye bites on points and humps, while late summer shines for schooling white bass, and fall brings big-fish trolling along the dam and bays near Lake Ogallala .
Merritt Reservoir
Set in the Sandhills, Merritt is famous for quality walleye and one of Nebraska’s top muskellunge fisheries, with bonus smallmouth bass, crappie, and catfish; target rocky shorelines and timbered coves, and troll breaklines when bait scatters along the main channel near Valentine .
Lake Ogallala
Below Kingsley Dam and adjacent to Lake McConaughy , this clear tailwater-style lake is famous for cool-season rainbow trout and occasional brown trout, along with yellow perch and panfish; target inlets, current edges, and the east end with small jigs and bait.
Sutherland Reservoir
A power-plant reservoir that extends the bite into colder months, Sutherland produces strong wipers, walleye, white bass, and channel catfish; troll the main basin and cast wind-driven shorelines, with steady action near Sutherland and the discharge area.