Nebraska can really be broken down into two areas when it comes to fishing. The central and western portion of the state features the majority of the large reservoirs, while the eastern portion features more of the smaller reservoirs. The western area is also quite vast, with minimal population whereas the eastern portion features both the Omaha and Lincoln areas.
The fishing can be vastly different across the state, but there can be good fishing wherever you may go. Whether you are looking for the walleye trip of a lifetime or to find success at one of your local ponds, this guide is for you!
Omaha Area
The Omaha area can feature excellent fishing for a variety of species, often within a half hour of the majority of the anglers who live in and around the city. The majority of the species caught on the local lakes and reservoirs are largemouth bass, bluegill and channel catfish. Walleye and crappie can find themselves in an angler’s bag as well. Let’s break down my favorite lakes to fish growing up in the Gretna area!
Largemouth Bass
The majority of the Omaha lakes will feature largemouth bass as a top game fish. My favorite lake to fish was Memphis Lake near Ashland. Memphis can produce both excellent size and numbers of bass. Early in the season, try fishing slow with a jerkbait or even a slipbobber and minnow. As summer progresses, try throwing a chatterbait, spinnerbait or topwater. Generally, the topwater baits like a buzzbait will produce best in the morning and evening, while switching to chatterbaits and spinnerbaits in the day is the best option. As fall rolls on, large crankbaits can produce fish as can the same spinnerbaits as summer.
Lawrence Youngman Lake features an excellent numbers bite for fish. In the spring, try fishing around the fishing pier and along the channel to the right hand side of the boat dock. Fishing jerkbaits or slipbobbers and minnows is a good choice. In summer, focus on fishing the weedlines that develop with a topwater frog. The topwater bite can often go all day long, but if fish are being picky try throwing a spoon next to the weed edge.
Walnut Creek is another lake that can produce excellent bass fishing. Spring and early summer can often produce some of the best fishing, casting jerkbaits to the shoreline is the top option. I have also had great success fishing a Rapala DT-4 in bluegill color because it does a great job imitating the main forage they are seeking.
Wherspann Lake can produce some good bass fishing as well. Although the numbers may be less, the quality is often greater. Focus your efforts on the rocky shorelines in the spring and shift to the developing weed lines in the summer. Casting jerkbaits and crankbaits along the edges of the rocks and weeds can produce fish.
There are numerous other lakes that can produce as well. Prairie Queen is a newer body of water that can produce some good fishing. Other lakes to check out include Fremont Lakes (#20 is my favorite bass lake), Two Rivers #1 can produce some good fishing and Lake Wanahoo can produce some good bass as well.
Bluegill
Much like largemouth bass, there are abundant bluegill fishing opportunities around the Omaha area. While you can catch fish in many places, there are some top bluegill opportunities. My favorite panfish lake is Wherspann Lake. As the weeds develop, look for bluegill to begin moving into their home for the summer. A slipbobber and nightcrawler is often the best presentation, producing both bluegill and crappie.
Lake Wanahoo also offers very good fishing. If you have a boat, try anchoring up to the submerged timber and tossing a slipbobber and nightcrawler between the branches or pitching a jig and plastic or hair jig. Once you find an active school, keep working the area and staying in contact with the fish.
Another strong bluegill lake is Walnut Creek. I hinted that bluegill colored DT-4s were the top option for bass and this is because bluegill are very abundant in the lake. Once again, try fishing along weed lines or along points or any submerged timber you can find. A slipbobber and nightcrawler is often the best option.
Lawrence Youngman can also produce some excellent bluegill fishing. Fishing near the fishing pier and along the shallow weed lines is again the top option. Yes there are certainly some trends here! You know the top bait, slipbobber and a nightcrawler!
Other strong bluegill fisheries include Lake Zorinsky, Fremont Lakes and Louisville Lakes. Summit Lake is located in the northeast corner of the state and is often considered one of the best bluegill lakes in the area. It may not be as close as the other fisheries, but it is often worth the drive!
Channel Catfish
Channel catfish are one of those species that just don’t get much attention, but the fishing can be very good for them in the Omaha area. Whether you are looking for numbers or larger fish, there is a lake for you. Let’s take a look at them!
If you are looking for action, it is hard to look past Two Rivers Recreation Area! My favorite lake to fish is Lake #1, but many times Lake #3 is a close second. A ¼-⅜ ounce weight with about 18-24 inches between the swivel separating the weight and hook is a top choice. My favorite bait is nightcrawlers, but I have had great success with a dip baits especially throughout the evening and night.
Memphis Lake can also produce some excellent catfishing. A slipbobber and a leech or nightcrawler is the best bait for catfish, but many times you catch bass on that as well! The structure of the lake has deep water right next to the shoreline and rocks, so expect many of the catfish to be hanging out in this area.
Wherspann Lake is another strong catfishery, with some very large fish lurking the depths. For a good numbers bite of smaller fish, try a can of corn or nightcrawlers. Larger fish prefer chicken liver or large pieces of cut bait. The deep holes hold the larger fish, where the depth changes can produce more of the numbers bite.
Lawrence Youngman is another excellent catfish fishery, the best bait I have had here is shrimp. Yes, the shrimp from the Hyvee seafood section. Rig that up on the same set up and fish along the deeper water breaks. There are plenty of fish over 10 pounds in the lake!
Many of the local lakes can offer some excellent catfishing. Do not be afraid to fish at night as this is often when some of the best fishing can take place!
Walleye
Yes, there are walleye to be caught in the Omaha lakes! Lawrence Youngman is an excellent case study as there is a strong population of those 14-16 inch fish. Try casting a jerkbait in the spring, then switching to live bait in the summer.
Wherspann Lake, Zorinsky Lake and Lake Wanahoo can all also offer good fishing, but if you are in search of some of the best walleye fishing in the state if not the region, it is time to head west!
Lake McConaughy
McConaughy is arguably one of the best trophy walleye fisheries in the midwest. The lake produces excellent numbers of 8-10 pound walleyes each year, with plenty of fish over that as well! The fishing is so good, that Propst Professional Anglers head down to enjoy one of the best trophy walleye bites in the country in May and June.
Big Mac is not just a top walleye destination for Nebraskans, but anglers across the country! The Masters Walleye Circuit has had Big Mac on their schedule the past few years and the lake also is a top destination for numerous other walleye tournament trails. In-Fisherman has came to enjoy the action as well as several other national fishing shows. The walleye fishing isn’t good, it’s incredible!
In addition to trophy walleyes, white bass and wipers also can reach trophy caliber sizes in the reservoir. Popular fishing methods include pulling spinnerbaits on leadcore atop the submerged timber as well as crankbaits. Don’t count out live bait fishing though, bottom bouncing can produce excellent fishing for both numbers and trophy fish. Other popular methods include Jigging Raps, slab spoons and casting spinnerbaits as well.
If you are looking to get in on Big Mac’s action, reach out to Propst Professional Anglers about booking a trip. You will not be disappointed!
Other Reservoirs
Merritt Reservoir in recent years has arguably been as good or even better than Big Mac. Although it fishes vastly different, the result is often the same. Both a good stringer and the chance at a fish of a lifetime are a possibility every time you hit the water.
Other good fisheries include Maloney Reservoir, Sherman Reservoir, Harlan Reservoir and Lewis and Clark Lake on the South Dakota border can also produce good walleye fishing, especially for the chance at some of the larger caliber walleyes.
Whether you are looking to enjoy fishing one of the local ponds or walleye fishing for trophy caliber fish, Nebraska has something to offer you. If you’re looking for more information about a guided trip, check out Propst Professional Anglers!
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Nebraska Lakes
