Game and Parks stocking rainbow trout this spring

LINCOLN, Neb. – Temperatures are warming and it is time to get out for some spring fishing. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is stocking catchable-size rainbow trout in city ponds, park lakes, and other waters across the state.

Trout fishing is a great way to introduce children to fishing because simple and inexpensive equipment may be used. A spinning or spin-cast rod and reel with a hook baited with a worm will work well. Add a split shot a couple of feet above the hook and a bobber a couple of feet above the split shot. Trout also can be caught with spinners, salmon eggs, dough baits and artificial flies.

The stocked trout are approximately 10 inches in length. The following is a tentative stocking schedule, including quantities:

March 14 – Lake Halleck, Papillion, 1,200; Steinhart Park East Pond, Nebraska City, 1,200; Weeping Water Pond, 1,500; CenturyLink Lake, Eugene T. Mahoney State Park (SP), Ashland, 2,500

March 15 – Fremont No. 2, Fremont Lakes State Recreation Area (SRA), 5,000; Grand Island Such’s Lake, 650; Heartwell Park Lake, Hastings, 450

March 16 – Humboldt City Park Lake, 350; Auburn Rotary Club Lake, 800; Stanton Lake, Falls City, 200; Pawnee City Pond, 300; Fort Kearny No. 6, Fort Kearny SRA, 600; Holdrege City Lake, 1,000; Windmill No. 2, Windmill SRA, Gibbon, 600; Auble Pond, Ord, 750; Ponca SP Pond, 1,500

March 17 – Gracie Creek Pond, Calamus Reservoir, 1,000

In addition, stocking trucks are scheduled to release trout at the following locations and times. The scheduled times are tentative.

March 16 – NW Lake Bridgeport SRA, 1,400, 11 a.m. MT; Terry’s Pit, Terrytown, 1,500, noon MT; Scottsbluff Zoo Pond, 900, 12:30 p.m. MT

March 17 – Holmes Lake, Lincoln, 4,000, 1 p.m.; TaHaZouka Park Lake, Norfolk, 1,500, 11 a.m.; Pawnee Park West Lake, Columbus, 1,500, 12:15 p.m.; Curtis Golf Course Pond, 150, 11 a.m.; Lake Helen, Gothenburg, 2,000, noon; Lexington City Lake, 750, 12:45 p.m.; Oxford City Lake, 150, 2 p.m.

March 19 – North Morrill Sandpit, 1,350, noon MT; Middle Morrill Sandpit, 450, 12:15 p.m. MT