The annual fall stocking of rainbow trout into ponds and lakes across Nebraska is beginning.
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission fish hatcheries staff are releasing catchable (10-inch or greater) trout to enhance fishing opportunities this fall and winter.
“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 works 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 trout set to be stocked, including quantities. Dates can change because of weather or unforeseen circumstances:
Week of Sept. 22
- Gilbert-Baker Wildlife Management Area pond, Harrison, 450
- Cherry Creek Diversion Pond, Fort Robinson State Park, 200
Week of Sept. 29
- Middle Ice House Pond, Fort Robinson SP, 200
- Lower Ice House Pond, Fort Robinson SP, 500
- Chadron SP Pond, Chadron, 400
- Chadron Creek Ranch WMA Pond, Chadron, 150
Week of Oct. 6
- East Branch Verdigre Creek, Royal, 200
- Crystal Cove Lake, South Sioux City, 3,000
- Grable South Pond, Fort Robinson SP, 1,000
- Grable Middle Pond, Fort Robinson SP, 450
- Grable North Pond, Fort Robinson SP, 600
- Riverside Park Pond, Scottsbluff, 700
- Bridgeport State Recreation Area northwest lake, Bridgeport, 700
Week of Oct. 13
- Holmes Lake, Lincoln, 2,500
- Kramer Park Lake, Bellevue, 2,000
- Towl Park Pond, Omaha, 200
- Fontenelle Park Pond, Omaha, 400
- Benson Park Pond, Omaha, 700
- CenturyLink Lake, Eugene T. Mahoney SP, 1,200
- Ta-Ha-Zouka Park Lake, Norfolk, 1,500
- Pawnee Park West, Columbus, 1,000
- Fremont Lakes SRA Lake No. 18, 2,000
- East Branch Verdigre Creek, Royal, 200
- North Morrill Pond, Morrill, 1,500
- Middle Morrill Pond, Morrill, 200
- South Morrill Pond, Morrill, 200
- Rock Creek Lake, Parks, 2,500
- Laing Lake, Alliance, 1,000
- Bridgeport SRA northwest lake, Bridgeport, 700
- Gracie Creek Pond, Burwell, 1,000
- Optimist Lake, Auburn, 470
- Humboldt City Park Lake, Humboldt, 200
- Pawnee City Lake, Pawnee City, 200
- Stanton Lake, Falls City, 200
- Auble Pond, Ord, 1,200
- Bethpage Pond, Axtell, 200
- Central Nebraska Veterans Home Pond, Kearney, 200
- Heartwell Park, Hastings, 600
- Suck’s Lake, Grand Island, 500
- Fort Kearny No. 6, Kearney, 1,060
- Windmill SRA No. 2, Gibbon, 1,000
- North Park Lake, Holdredge, 1,300
- Elm Creek, Elm Creek WMA, Red Cloud, 750
- Oxford City Lake, Oxford, 300
- Melham Park Lake, Broken Bow, 700
Week of Oct. 20
- Grove Lake, Royal,1,500
- East Branch Verdigre Creek, Royal, 200
- Birdwood Lake, North Platte, 3,000
- Humphrey Pond, Ogallala, 480
- Lake Helen, Gothenburg, 1,600
- Weeping Water No. 1, Weeping Water, 750
- Steinhart Park Pond, Nebraska City, 400
- Plum Creek Park Lake, Lexington, 600
- Ansley City Lake, Ansley, 800
- Bessey Pond, Halsey, 300
- Geneva City Pond, Geneva, 200
- Clark’s Pond, Sutton, 200
- Louisville SRA Lake 1A, Louisville, 500
- Lake Halleck, Papillion, 1,200
- Gretna Crossing, Gretna, 200
- David City west pond, David City, 450
- Bowling Lake, Lincoln, 400
Week of Oct. 27
- East Branch Verdigre Creek, Royal, 200
Updated Oct. 10, 2025, to correct Pawnee Park West, Columbus, as a location.
