Nebraska Fishing Regulations and Information

The following are highlights of key Nebraska fishing regulations and information from the 2024 Fishing Guide. These represent the most common questions that are asked regarding fishing regulations and information. But don’t take our word for it, be sure to do your own research. 

The 2024 Fishing Guide is available online or at your local sporting goods store, bait shop, or sporting goods section (Walmart, for example). All page number references are for the 2024 Fishing Guide (unless specified otherwise).

When fishing in Nebraska, be sure to familiarize yourself with the statewide regulations for the species you are targeting AND any specific regulations for the body of water you are fishing. 

---

What’s New for 2024?

The following information is quoted directly from page 5 of the 2024 Nebraska Fishing Guide. Information from the previous year is also included below.

What’s New for 2023?

The following information is quoted directly from page 7 of the 2023 Nebraska Fishing Guide.

What’s New for 2022?

The following information is quoted directly from page 7 of the 2022 Nebraska Fishing Guide. Information for the previous year is included below.

• Black Bass – The area where there is no minimum length limit on smallmouth bass is expanded to: the NPPD Canal starting at the Sutherland Reservoir outlet to the confluence with the South Platte River in Lincoln County, including Lake Maloney. Bufflehead Wildlife Management Area and David City Ponds are added to the list of waters where the minimum length limit on black bass is 21 inches.
• Striped Bass, White Bass and Striped Bass Hybrid – Wagon Train Reservoir is removed from the list of waters where the exception for bag limit is three fish in the daily bag.
• Channel Catfish – Box Butte Reservoir is added to the list of waters where the bag limit shall not include more than one fish 30 inches or greater in length.
• Lake McConaughy – It is illegal to possess striped bass hybrids (wipers) on Lonergan Creek from its junction at the McConaughy lakeshore upstream to, and including, the culvert under Highway 92.
• Paddlefish – In lieu of participating in the draw for a paddlefish permit, anglers now may purchase one preference point per season during the application period. Resident preference point: $10; Nonresident preference point: $20.
• No Live Baitfish – DeFair Lake WMA in Grant County is added to the list of water bodies where it is illegal to possess or use live baitfish while fishing.

2022 Nebraska Fishing Guide

---

Public waters information

Public Access Waters in Nebraska Nebraska Lake Contour Maps 2024 Fishing Forecast

---

Free Fishing and Park Entry day – page 29

TBD – This day typically occurs annually on the Saturday before Memorial Day weekend. However, at the time of writing no date has been published. This has been the case for the last several years starting with the COVID pandemic.

On this day, you can fish without purchasing a license and State Park entry fees are also waived on this day. All other fishing regulations still apply (e.g., length, bag, and possession limits).

---

Cost of fishing permits – page 4

Fishing permits can be purchased at your local bait shop, sporting goods retailer, or online (there is a new website for purchasing permits online). Fish/hunt combo, and additional length permits are also available. There is no change in price for 2024 for the following permits.

---

No live baitfish areas – page 23

The following areas do not allow the use of live baitfish according to Nebraska fishing regulations. There were no changes to this listing in 2024. (* = new in 2023; ^ = new for 2022)

Southeast:

• Bennington Lake
• Big Elk Lake (WP 7)
• Conestoga Lake
• Duck Creek Rec. Area
• Flanagan Lake
• Glenn Cunningham Lake
• Hedgefield Lake
• Holmes Lake
• Iron Horse Trail Lake
• Lake Wanahoo
• Meadowlark Lake
• Olive Creek Lake
• Portal Lake (WP 6)
• Prairie Queen Rec. Area
• Stagecoach Lake
• Standing Bear Lake*
• Wagon Train SRA/WMA*
• Wehrspann Lake
• Wilber Reservoir
• Wildwood Lake
• Yankee Hill Lake

Southwest:

• Ansley City Lake
• Arnold Lake
• Bethphage Pond
• Bowman Lake
• Cottonmill Lake
• Crystal Lake (Adams County)*
• East Sutherland WMA*
• Holdrege City North Lake
• Kirkpatrick Lake
• Lake Helen
• Melham Lake
• Plum Creek Park Lake
• North Platte I-80 Lake
• Ravenna Lake
• Rock Creek Lake SRA
• West Cozad WMA*
• Yanney Park Lake

Northwest:

• Avocet WMA
• Crescent Lake NWR
• Frye Lake
• Defair Lake WMA^
• Rat and Beaver Lake
• Valentine NWR

Northeast:

• Chalkrock Lake
• Clear Lake (Brown County)
• Kramper Lake
• Pibel Lake
• Skyview Lake
• TaHaZouka Park Pond

---

Length and Daily Bag Limits – page 9-15

The following represents the length, bag, and possession limits as presented in the 2024 fishing guide. We have done our best to ensure accuracy, however, YOU are responsible for knowing and understanding the regulations where you fish.

Black Bass (Largemouth, Smallmouth, Spotted)

Species	Location	Species	Length Limit	Bag	Possession
Black Bass (Largemouth, Smallmouth, Spotted)	Inland Waters, and DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, Snyder Bend and Lake Yankton	Black Bass	15-inch minimum; One 21 inches or longer	5 in aggregate	10 in aggregate
EXCEPTIONS:	Selected areas listed in Public Fishing Areas section, and on private waters leased in Open Fields and Waters and PATH Fishing programs	Black Bass	21-inch minimum	1	10
	Missouri River between Nebraska and Iowa/Missouri	Black Bass	12-inch minimum; One 21 inches or longer	5	10
	Missouri River between Nebraska and South Dakota	Black Bass	No minimum; One 21 inches or longer	5	10
	Nebraska Public Power District Canal from Sutherland Reservoir outlet to confluence with South Platte River, including Lake Maloney	Smallmouth	No minimum; One 15 inches or longer	5*	10^
	Big Elk Lake (WP 7), Portal Lake (WP 6)	Smallmouth	12-inch maximum	2*	10^
	* still included in aggregate black bass bag limit (5 fish) ^ still included in aggregate black bass possession limit (10 fish)

---

All Panfish – Sunfish, Hybrids, Crappie, Yellow Perch, Rock Bass

Species	Location	Species	Length Limit	Bag	Possession
Panfish (sunfish, hybrids, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass)	Statewide	All Panfish	No minimum	15 in aggregate	30 in aggregate
EXCEPTIONS:	Pelican Lake FWS, Blue Lake FWS, Duck Lake FWS, Island Lake FWS, Smith Lake FWS, Frye Lake WMA, Smith Lake WMA	Bluegill	No minimum; One 9 inches or longer	15*	30^
	Flanagan Lake	Bluegill, Redear Sunfish	8-inch maximum	15*	30^
		Crappie	10-inch maximum	15*	30^
	Branched Oak Lake, Czechland Lake, Sherman Reservoir	Crappie	10-inch minimum	15*	30^
	Rat and Beaver Lake WMA, Home Valley Lake, Blue Lake FWS, Island Lake FWS, Smith Lake FWS, Frye Lake WMA, Smith Lake WMA	Yellow Perch	No minimum; Only five can be 10 inches or longer and only one of those can be 12 inches or longer	15*	30^
	Big Elk Lake (WP 7), Portal Lake (WP 6)	Yellow Perch	No minimum	5*	30^
	Missouri River border waters of Nebraska and South Dakota, including Lewis and Clark Lake and Lake Yankton	Crappie	No minimum	15~	30^
		Yellow Perch	No minimum	15~	30^
		Rock bass	No minimum	15~	30^
		Sunfish	No minimum	15~	30^
	* still included in aggregte panfish bag limit (15 fish) ^ still included in aggregate panfish possession limit (30 fish) ~ only 30 fish in total allowed between the four species groups to abide by statewide possession limit of 30 total panfish in aggregate

---

Walleye, Sauger, Saugeye

Species	Location	Length Limit	Bag	Possession
Walleye, Sauger, Saugeye	Inland Waters Statewide	15-inch minimum; One 22 inches or longer	4	8
EXCEPTIONS:	Branched Oak Lake	22-inch minimum	1	8
	Elwood Reservoir, Harlan County Lake (including Republican River upstream to Hwy. 89 bridge west of Orleans), Merritt Reservoir	One from 15 to 18 inches and three longer than 18 inches OR four longer than 18 inches; No more than one 22 inches or longer	4	8
	Calamus Reservoir	Two from 15 to 18 inches; Two over 18 inches; No more than one 22 inches or longer	4	8
	Sherman Reservoir	20- to 28-inch protected slot (no harvest); Two between 15 inches and not greater than 20 inches; One longer than 28 inches	3	8
	Missouri River waters – upstream of Gavins Point Dam (Lewis and Clark Lake and portion of river upstream to Neb./S.D. border); DeSoto Bend NWR	15-inch minimum	4	8
	Missouri River waters – downstream of Gavins Point Dam	No minimum	4	8

---

All Other Species

Species	Location	Length Limit	Bag	Possession
Blue Catfish	Statewide	No minimum	1	2
EXCEPTIONS:	Fort Kearny SRA No. 2, Two Rivers SRA Nos. 3 and 4, Wildwood Lake, Windmill SRA No. 3	Catch and release	0	0
Channel Catfish	Standing Water (reservoirs, lakes, ponds and pits)	No minimum; One 30 inches or longer	5	20
	Flowing Water (rivers, streams and canals), including the Republican River upstream of Hwy. 89 bridge, North Platte River west of Hwy. 26 bridge, and Jeffrey Reservoir, Lake Babcock, Lake North, Midway Canyon Reservoir, Plum Creek Canyon Reservoir, Gallagher Canyon Reservoir, Johnson Lake, Lake Maloney, Lewis and Clark Lake, Phillips Canyon Reservoir, Sutherland Reservoir	No minimum; One 30 inches or longer	10	20
EXCEPTIONS:	Fort Kearny SRA No. 2, Two Rivers SRA Nos. 3 and 4, Wildwood Lake, Windmill SRA No. 3	Catch and release	0	0
Flathead Catfish	Statewide	No minimum; One 30 inches or longer	5	10
EXCEPTIONS:	Branched Oak Lake	Catch and release	0	0
Muskellunge and Tiger Musky	Statewide	40-inch minimum	1	2
EXCEPTIONS:	Merritt Reservoir	50-inch minimum	1	2
	Pelican Lake NWR	No minimum; One 34 inches or longer	3	3
Northern Pike	Statewide	No minimum; One 34 inches or longer	3	10
EXCEPTIONS:	Alda DOT, Grove Lake, Cottonmill Lake, Red Willow Reservoir, Sherman Reservoir	34-inch minimum	1	10
	Box Butte Reservoir	No minimum; Only three can be over 22 inches and only one of those can be over 34 inches	10	10
	Lake Minatare	No minimum; One 34 inches or longer	10	10
	Lake Wanahoo	Catch and release	0	0
Brook and Cutthroat Trout	Statewide	No minimum; One 12 inches or longer	2	4
Brown Trout	Statewide	No minimum; One 16 inches or longer	5	10
Rainbow and Tiger Trout	Statewide	No minimum; One 16 inches or longer	5	12
EXCEPTIONS:	Sutherland Supply Canal	No minimum	5	12
	Two Rivers SRA Trout Lake	No minimum	4 per tag; up to 3 tags per day	12
	Soldier Creek Wilderness Area, Wood Reserve ponds, Soldier Creek middle and south forks	No minimum	2	See above for statewide limits by species
Striped Bass, White Bass, Stiped Bass Hybrid (Wiper)	Inland Waters	No minimum; One 16 inches or longer	15	30
	Missouri River Waters	No minimum	15	30
EXCEPTIONS:	Elwood Reservoir, Willow Creek Reservoir	No minimum; One 16 inches or longer	3	30
	Branched Oak, Zorinsky Lake	Catch and release	0	0
Shovelnose Sturgeon	Statewide	No minimum	10	20
EXCEPTIONS:	No harvest allowed on Missouri River upstream from mouth of Big Sioux River		0	0
Paddlefish	Missouri River from Gavins Point Dam downstream to mouth of Big Sioux River at mile marker 734	See pages 21-22 for special archery and snagging information	2 (special tags required)	2 (special tags required)
Pallid Sturgeon, Lake Sturgeon, Bowfin, American Eel	Statewide	No harvest allowed	0	0

---

Master Angler Information – pages 31-35

Obviously every fisherman dreams of breaking the state record! But realistically, only a few enjoy that honor. However, Nebraska offers a master angler award for those who manage to catch a large fish, even if it doesn’t threaten the state record for that species.

You can receive a Master Angler award based on weight or on length, however, only fish that are immediately released are eligible based on length. Any fish kept in a livewell or on a stringer must qualify by weight according to Nebraska fishing regulations

Your catch must be verified by a “Game and Parks employee, a permit vendor, a witness, or a photograph.” There are a few other rules as well. Be sure to review page 31 and following in the Fishing Guide for complete details.

Many others species are eligible for Master Angler award that aren’t listed here.

Species	Master Angler by Weight (lbs)	Master Angler by Length (inches)
Largemouth Bass	5	20
Smallmouth Bass	3	18
Striped Bass	10	32
Striper Hybrid	8	24
White Bass	2.5	17
Bullhead (including black & yellow)	2	15
Catfish – Channel	12	30
Catfish – Flathead	15	32
Catfish – Blue	30	40
Crappie (black & white)	2	15
Drum	5	22
Gar – Longnose	8	40
Gar – Shortnose	3	26
Gar – Spotted	3	26
Musky & Tiger Musky	15	40
Northern Pike	10	36
Perch – Yellow	1.25	13
Sauger	3	21
Saugeye	5	23
Sunfish (bluegill, green, hybrid, orange spotted, pumpkinseed, redear)	1	10
Trout – Brook	1	14
Trout – Brown	4	22
Trout – Cutthroat	3	20
Trout – Rainbow	5	23
Walleye	8	28