Fall rainbow trout stocking has begun

The annual fall stocking of rainbow trout into ponds and lakes across Nebraska has begun.

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission fish hatcheries staff is releasing catchable (10-inch or greater) trout to enhance fishing opportunities this fall and winter.

In addition to rainbow trout, Game and Parks will stock into Lake Ogallala thousands of cutbows – a cutthroat/rainbow trout hybrid – for anglers looking to catch a different species.

“This popular program emphasizes our urban and community waters statewide,” said Daryl Bauer, Game and Parks’ fisheries outreach program manager. “We encourage anglers to get out and enjoy the weather and harvest a few trout.

“Don’t let this pass by as an opportunity to teach a new angler how to fish either,” Bauer said. “Trout are a great starter fish.”

For young or new anglers, a spinning or spincast rod-and-reel with a worm baited hook work well.

If you are just getting into fishing, read Game and Parks’ Going Fishing Guide, available at OutdoorNebraska.gov. There, you also can find additional information on fishing or buy your fishing permit.

Game and Parks is seeking input from trout anglers, particularly those who fish put-and-take lakes. To accomplish this, a survey is available at OutdoorNebraska.gov. Search “trout stocking reports.” Information from this survey will be used to inform future trout management and stocking decisions.

The following is a schedule for rainbow and cutbow trout set to be stocked, including quantities. Dates can change because of weather or unforeseen circumstances:

Week of Sept. 23

East Branch Verdigre Creek, Royal, 200

South Grable Pond, Fort Robinson State Park, 1,200

Middle Grable Pond, Fort Robinson SP, 600

North Grable Pond, Fort Robinson SP, 750

Chadron Wildlife Management Area pond, Chadron, 150

Lake Ogallala State Recreation Area, Ogallala, 8,000 cutbows

Week of Oct. 1

Elm Creek, Elm Creek WMA, Red Cloud, 1,000

Bridgeport SRA northwest lake, 1,400

Laing Lake, Alliance, 1,500

Cherry Creek Diversion Pond, Fort Robinson SP, 250

Sidney Legion Park Pond, Sidney, 300

Bridgeport SRA middle lake, 2,000

Middle Ice House Pond, Fort Robinson SP, 200

Lower Ice House Pond, Fort Robinson SP, 750

Week of Oct. 7

East Branch Verdigre Creek, Royal, 200

Fremont SRA Lake No. 18, Fremont, 2,000

Crystal Cove Lake, South Sioux City, 2,500

Fontenelle Forest Lake, Omaha, 1,200

Benson Lake, Omaha, 1,050

Ta-Ha-Zouka Park Lake, Norfolk, 1,500

Pawnee Park West, Columbus, 1,000

Lake Halleck, Papillion, 1,200

Steinhart Park Pond, Nebraska City, 800

Weeping Water Park Pond 1, Weeping Water, 1,500

Louisville SRA pond 1A, Louisville, 600

David City Park Pond, David City, 600

North Morrill Pond, Morrill, 2,250

Middle Morrill Pond, Morrill, 450

South Morrill Pond, Morrill, 400

Riverside Park Pond, Scottsbluff, 900

Rock Creek SRA lake, Parks, 3,000

Week of Oct. 14

East Branch Verdigre Creek, Royal, 200

Towl Park Pond, Omaha, 300

Grove Lake WMA lake, Royal, 1,500

Curtis Golf Course Pond, Curtis, 150

Oxford City Lake, Oxford, 300

Bethphage Pond, Axtell, 200

Plum Creek Park Lake, Lexington, 750

Lake Helen, Gothenburg, 2,000

Windmill SRA No. 2, Gibbon, 1,100

Fort Kearny SRA No. 6, Kearney, 1,280

Holdrege City Lake (North Park), Holdrege, 1,800

Bessey Pond, Halsey, 600

Auble Pond, Ord, 1,500

Gracie Creek Pond, Burwell, 1,000

Melham Park Lake, Broken Bow, 875

Ansley City Lake, Ansley, 1,000

Heartwell Park Lakes, Hastings, 900

GI Suck’s Lake, Grand Island, 650

Central Nebraska Veterans’ Home pond, Kearney, 200

CenturyLink Lake, Eugene T. Mahoney SP, Ashland, 1,500

Bowling Lake, Lincoln, 400

Holmes Lake, Lincoln, 3,000

Humbolt City Park Lake, Humbolt, 600

Stanton Lake, Falls City, 200

Rotary Club Lake, Auburn, 800

Geneva Pond, Geneva, 300

Pawnee City Park Lake, Pawnee City, 300

Gretna Crossing Pond, Gretna, 200

Week of Oct. 21

White River, Crawford, 1,000

Gilbert-Baker WMA pond, Harrison, 600

Birdwood WMA lake, North Platte, 4,000

Humphrey Pond, Ogallala, 600

East Branch Verdigre Creek, Royal, 200

Lake Ogallala SRA, Ogallala, 6,000 cutbows

Week of Oct. 28

East Branch Verdigre Creek, Royal, 200

Lake Ogallala SRA, Ogallala, 5,000

November-December

As time and weather allow, the following water bodies will be stocked with rainbow trout in November:

East Branch Verdigre Creek, Royal, 800

Crystal Springs Middle Pond, Fairbury, 1,000

Lake Ogallala SRA, Ogallala, 10,000

As time and weather allow, the following water bodies will be stocked with rainbow trout in December:

CenturyLink Lake, Eugene T. Mahoney SP, 3,500

Bowling Lake, Lincoln, 400

Holmes Lake, Lincoln, 3,000

East Branch Verdigre Creek, Royal, 1,000