The 2025 Nebraska Fishing Forecast is available, and this is an excellent resource for anglers across the Cornhusker state. Daryl Bauer, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission fisheries outreach program manager, provides a write up on major species and all 2024 sampling charts are included. Our favorite fish, the walleye, is the species we’re going to highlight.
Nebraska’s larger, western reservoirs are historically the best walleye fisheries across the state, and 2025 appears to be no exception.
“The highest total sampling rates of walleyes in the fall of 2024 were Winters Creek, Merritt, Oliver, Elwood, and McConaughy,” states Bauer’s write up. “Merritt, Winters Creek, Elwood, and Johnson will be particularly good for 15 to 20 inch walleyes in 2025.”
This comes as no surprise, with Merritt Reservoir and Lake McConaughy frequently the best walleye fisheries in the state.
“Big Mac and Merritt are probably our two favorite fisheries in Nebraska,” states Nick Harrington, Owner of Lip Ripper Fishing. “Generally speaking these are your best places to catch both good numbers, and good sizes, of walleyes in Nebraska.”
While these are two historically good options, the state also features other fisheries with big walleye potential.
“Anglers targeting big walleyes should plan trips to McConaughy, Merritt, Elwood, and Sherman reservoirs,” continues Bauer’s write up.
While the bulk of walleye fishing occurs in the larger reservoirs across central and western Nebraska, smaller waterbodies can offer opportunity as well.
“Small waters are less ideal as walleye habitats, but several of those will offer some walleye opportunities this year. Kramper and Conestoga will give anglers a chance to catch walleyes in eastern Nebraska,” details Bauer’s report. “Oliver Reservoir in the Panhandle again had a lot of walleyes sampled last fall, most of them less than 15 inches long.”
In the Omaha metro area, the opportunity does still exist to catch walleye, although in much smaller densities.
“Walnut Creek, Wanahoo, Branched Oak, and Zorinsky are your best bets to catch a walleye in the greater Omaha area,” states Harrington. “If you’re a hard-core walleye angler though, you’re better off putting some miles on your truck and trailer.”
Nebraska to Participate in Midwest Walleye Challenge in 2025
Nebraska will again be participating in the Midwest Walleye Challenge in 2025. The 2024 event saw 316 walleyes caught, with Nebraska scoring four of the seven longest walleyes across all participating states.
The longest fish caught was 30 ½ inches by Jeremy Meiners, with Vincent Vo registering a 30 inch walleye for second, and Mark Spady a 29 ½ incher for third. Lake McConaughy was the top waterbody for fish caught, with an average size of 24 inches.
The 2025 event will begin on April 1 and run through June 29. The entry fee is $25 and open for walleye, sauger, and saugeye across the state of Nebraska.
New Nebraska Fishing Regulations for 2025
There have been multiple fishing regulations changes made that went into effect January 1, 2025. These changes include:
Bait, Walleye, Trout, Channel Catfish, and Wiper
- The no-live-baitfish restriction was removed at Lake Wanahoo.
- Branched Oak Lake will have walleye statewide restrictions, which includes a daily bag limit of four, possession limit of eight, and a 15-inch minimum length limit, with one over 22 inches or longer allowed in the daily bag.
- Two River State Recreation Area Lake No. 5/Trout Lake will allow anglers to practice catch and release on trout if they choose, and the start date when anglers will be allowed to fish the lake without a trout tag is June 1.
- There is no longer a “one over” size restriction on channel catfish on the Missouri River.
- The statewide “one over” size restriction for striped bass, white bass, and wiper has been increased to 18 inches or longer in which the daily bag limit may include one fish.
Black Bass (Largemouth, Smallmouth, and Spotted)
- Frye Lake Wildlife Management Area-No minimum length limit on black bass with no more than one fish 18 inches or longer allowed in the five-fish daily bag limit.
- Prairie View Lake, Wagon Train State Recreation Area/WMA, Duck Creek Recreation Area, and Prairie Queen Recreation Area will now have a five-fish black bass bag limit with a protected slot of 15-18 inches, with no more than one fish 18 inches or longer.
- Patriot Park Lake will have a 21-inch minimum length limit for black bass.
- Pawnee SRA/WMA no longer has a 21-inch minimum length limit for black bass.
Northern Pike
- Northern pike at Clear Lake, Dewey Lake, Hackberry Lake, and Pelican Lake will have a three-fish daily bag limit with a protected slot of 24-34 inches, with no more than one fish 34 inches or longer.
- Lake Wanahoo northern pike will have statewide restrictions with a daily bag limit of three, possession limit of 10, no minimum length limit, and one fish 34 inches or longer.
- Smith Lake WMA will have a daily bag limit of 10 northern pike of which one three can be over 22 inches, and only one of those can be over 34 inches.
Nebraska Walleye Tournament Trails Schedules Announced
The two major walleye fishing circuits in Nebraska, the Nebraska Walleye Trail and Nebraska Walleye Association, have announced their respective schedules for the 2025 season.
