14 public waters in the Sandhills & North Central region — 6 lakes/reservoirs and 8 rivers. Every one is public water fishable on a Nebraska licence.
See every public fishing venue in Nebraska on the map, with boat ramps, camping, parking and full rules for each one.
In Loup and Garfield Counties, Nebraska, Calamus Reservoir is a 5,032-acre lake, managed by Nebraska Game & Parks Commission. One of Nebraska's big federal or public-power reservoirs (McConaughy, Harlan County, Merritt, Sherman, Swanson, Calamus, Lewis and Clark) — the state's best all-round fisheries. Walleye and Saugeye headline most, plus White Bass and Wiper runs, smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, slab Crappie, trophy channel and Blue Catfish, and (at McConaughy) a stocked Rainbow Trout fishery in the cold tailrace. Big open reservoirs with a strong summer boating scene.
In Garfield, Sheridan, Brown and 2 more counties in Nebraska, Rush Lake is a 452-acre lake, managed by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. One of NGPC's State Recreation Area lakes (Branched Oak, Pawnee, Wagon Train, Yankee Hill, Conestoga, Bluestem, Wildwood, Olive Creek, Stagecoach, Lake Wanahoo) — small-to-mid public lakes near Lincoln and across the state built and stocked by the state, most with a boat ramp. Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, Crappie, Channel Catfish, and often a stocked Wiper fishery.
Nichol Lake, a 181-acre lake in Loup and Garfield Counties, Nebraska, managed by Private: One of NGPC's State Recreation Area lakes (Branched Oak, Pawnee, Wagon Train, Yankee Hill, Conestoga, Bluestem, Wildwood, Olive Creek, Stagecoach, Lake Wanahoo) — small-to-mid public lakes near Lincoln and across the state built and stocked by the state, most with a boat ramp. Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, Crappie, Channel Catfish, and often a stocked Wiper fishery.
Garfield County, Nebraska — Carson Lake is a 74-acre lake, managed by Nebraska Game & Parks Commission: Lakes and reservoirs across this region typically hold walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, largemouth and smallmouth bass, and panfish such as bluegill, crappie and pumpkinseed, with muskellunge present in some larger lakes -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Burwell-Sumter Diversion Reservoir, a 67-acre lake in Garfield County, Nebraska, managed by Nebraska Game & Parks Commission: Lakes and reservoirs across this region typically hold walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, largemouth and smallmouth bass, and panfish such as bluegill, crappie and pumpkinseed, with muskellunge present in some larger lakes -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
In Garfield County, Nebraska, Sunfish Lake is a 29-acre lake, managed by Nebraska Game & Parks Commission. Lakes and reservoirs across this region typically hold walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, largemouth and smallmouth bass, and panfish such as bluegill, crappie and pumpkinseed, with muskellunge present in some larger lakes -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
North Loup River (408 km) flows through Cherry, Blaine, Loup and 3 more counties in Nebraska. An eastern or central-Nebraska river (Elkhorn, Loup, North/South/Middle Loup, Cedar, Wood) — channel and Flathead Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Carp and Drum. The Loup system feeds the Sandhills' famously clear, spring-fed base flow.
Brown, Loup, Garfield and 1 more county in Nebraska — Calamus River is a 142 km stream: A Nebraska river or large creek — largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Carp. Wade or paddle; access is generally limited to bridge crossings, NGPC recreation areas and public parks off the state's few legally 'meandered' (public-streambed) rivers.
Big Cedar Creek runs 15 km through Garfield and Holt Counties, Nebraska: A Nebraska river or large creek — largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Carp. Wade or paddle; access is generally limited to bridge crossings, NGPC recreation areas and public parks off the state's few legally 'meandered' (public-streambed) rivers.
In Garfield and Wheeler Counties, Nebraska, Cedar Creek is a 42 km river or creek. A Nebraska river or large creek — largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Carp. Wade or paddle; access is generally limited to bridge crossings, NGPC recreation areas and public parks off the state's few legally 'meandered' (public-streambed) rivers.
Garfield County, Nebraska — Little Cedar Creek is a 20 km stream: A Nebraska river or large creek — largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Carp. Wade or paddle; access is generally limited to bridge crossings, NGPC recreation areas and public parks off the state's few legally 'meandered' (public-streambed) rivers.
Dry Cedar Creek (9 km) flows through Garfield and Wheeler Counties, Nebraska. A Nebraska river or large creek — largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Carp. Wade or paddle; access is generally limited to bridge crossings, NGPC recreation areas and public parks off the state's few legally 'meandered' (public-streambed) rivers.
Haskell Creek runs 18 km through Valley and Garfield Counties, Nebraska: A Nebraska river or large creek — largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Carp. Wade or paddle; access is generally limited to bridge crossings, NGPC recreation areas and public parks off the state's few legally 'meandered' (public-streambed) rivers.
Bean Creek runs 14 km through Garfield and Valley Counties, Nebraska: A Nebraska river or large creek — largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Carp. Wade or paddle; access is generally limited to bridge crossings, NGPC recreation areas and public parks off the state's few legally 'meandered' (public-streambed) rivers.
Across its mapped waters, Garfield County holds 22 species on PiscaMaps, including Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Common Carp, Flathead Catfish, Walleye and Wiper.
Ramps, put-ins and species for every water — plus the carp layer no other US app has.
Open the Nebraska map Join PiscaMapsOne Nebraska Game & Parks Commission fishing permit covers every public water in the state, the federal reservoirs and state recreation areas included — the resident annual is about $34, the non-resident annual about $95, with non-resident 1-day and 3-day options. A separate ~$18 trout stamp is required to fish for or keep trout at designated NGPC trout waters. Nebraska residents born before 1 January 1937 need no permit, and anyone under 16 fishes free. Buy at outdoornebraska.gov.