Larger channel catfish stocked for youth to catch

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is giving young anglers in eastern Nebraska an opportunity to catch some “bonus-sized” channel catfish.

Game and Parks on Aug. 14 stocked catfish ranging from 2 to 10 pounds in three lakes. There were 270 stocked in Omaha’s Wehrspann Lake, 50 in Lincoln’s Bowling Lake, and 50 in Papillion’s Lake Halleck.

“There are very limited numbers of fish this large that can be produced in Nebraska state fish hatcheries, not nearly enough to stock in a lot of waters across the state,” said Daryl Bauer, Game and Parks’ fisheries outreach program manager. “Therefore, waters that provide easy fishing opportunities for kids were selected for these stockings.”

Bauer suggests anglers who catch these catfish take quick photos on the water and then release them to test the skills of another angler.

“These fish should be willing to bite a variety of stinky catfish baits, and we would encourage anglers to give the kids an opportunity to catch these fish,” Bauer said. “Catfish are very releasable and can be caught again and again.”