Trout Stocking in 2009

I heard reports that NGPC would be stocking some lakes with trout in the Omaha area sometime near the end of March, 2009. Specifically I heard Halleck Park lake in Papillion. There were other lakes mentioned as well. (see the fishing guide for a complete list)

I searched for information on the NGPC website, but could only find information about stocking that had already happened, nothing about what was planned. You can search for lakes near you at the following address.

http://www.ngpc.state.ne.us/fishing/guides/fishguide/FGstocking.asp

These trout stocked lakes would be great for getting your kids to as these fish are usually pretty quick to bite.

Be sure to get your license and check regulations regarding these trout stocked lakes as they differ from waters that support natural trout populations. Download the 2009 Nebraska Fishing Guide (http://www.ngpc.state.ne.us/fishing/guides/fishguide/FishGuide.pdf) or pick one up at a locale sporting goods retailer. Page 4 (as well as 11, 17-18) has some information on bag limits and which lakes are stocked but don’t support natural populations year round (so called “put and take” lakes).

Remember, you are responsible to understand and follow all fishing regulations!

If you have feedback, leave a comment below.

Jason

Heartland Fishing

2009 Nebraska Fishing Forecast

At the Omaha Boat Sport and Travel show I ran across the official Nebraska Game and Park’s official fishing forecast for 2009 based on 2008 fish sampling at Nebraska lakes. Here is a link to download the PDF version.

http://www.ngpc.state.ne.us/fishing/pdfs/FishForecast.pdf

NOTE: Check out the Walleye column. Merritt Reservoir (near Valentine, NE) far surpassed all other lakes in both quantity and size of fish (with the exception of McConaughy that had more of the largest walleye but with less than half the total fish counted). Look for a good Walleye season on Merritt roughly May – June of this year.

The picture at the right shows just the top 6 lakes in terms of walleye sampling. (taken from the 2009 fishing forecast)

Jason

Heartland Fishing

Northern techniques for Valentine NWR

So, how do you catch those Northern at the Valentine NWR?

Let me say to start out with that I have been going there at the same time each year for 3 years now (early to middle May). The first year was good, the second great, the third below average.

The first year I went (2006) we spent a day and a half on the lakes fishing, mostly on Dewey. There were three of us in kayaks and one-person pontoons. The bite was slow at first. The Pike were not in the reeds like they had been the previous year (according to my friend), so we moved to deeper water. Not that it gets much deeper than 6-8 feet in those lakes.

We fished mostly medium/small spoons. When we moved to the deeper water, we slowed down our retrieves and that is when we started catching the Pike. We didn’t catch a lot. I brought in 6 or 7 in a day and a half of fishing, but the biggest was about 28 inches long. I foul-hooked him near the reeds and my boat-mate very carefully tried to keep the kayak out of the reeds while I reeled him in. That one fish made the 6 hour trip worth it.

Have you had success at the Valentine refuge lakes? We would love to hear about it. Please comment below or email heartlandfishing@gmail.com. If you have good tips, we will post it.

Jason

Heartland Fishing

Northern Fishing at Valentine NWR

Over the last several years, I have found myself traveling to Valentine, NE in early/middle may to take in the excellent Northern fishing at the Valentine National Wildlife Refuge lakes. These pictures are samples of a particularly good year.

This all started when a friend of mine took a trip up there with his kayak and fishing gear and fished these shallow, sandy bottom lakes one May. He fished mostly the shallow, reed filled end of one of the lakes and hooked several large northern in this fairly clear, shallow water. You can imagine how fun and challenging it is to battle a 30” northern from a one-man kayak in about 3-4 feet of water near the reeds.

The next year he invited me along, and I have returned every year since.

Let us know if you have fished these same lakes for Northern and the results you experienced… Please comment below or email us at heartlandfishing@gmail.com.

Jason

Heartland Fishing