Nebraskaland Magazine
Still waiting on the “hard copies” from the printer, but you can see the 2021 Fishing Guide here: 2021 Fishing Guide.
Make sure to page through, we have made some format changes.
There were not a lot of regulation changes. This news release covers them:
Anglers must be aware of fishing regulation changes for 2021
LINCOLN, Neb. – Anglers must be aware of fishing regulation changes that take effect Jan. 1, 2021, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
The changes are:
Smallmouth Bass – Big Elk Lake (WP 7) and Portal Lake (WP 6), Sarpy County reservoirs under construction in 2020, each will have a smallmouth bass daily bag limit of two fish and 12-inch maximum length limit to protect larger smallmouths and allow harvest of smaller ones.
Yellow Perch – Big Elk Lake (WP 7) and Portal Lake (WP 6) each will have a yellow perch daily bag limit of five fish.
Muskellunge and Tiger Muskellunge – Pelican Lake on the Valentine National Wildlife Refuge will have a muskie and tiger muskie daily bag limit of three, including not more than one fish 34 inches or greater in length. A possession limit of three also is established for those species at Pelican Lake.
Northern Pike – Hershey I-80 Lake Wildlife Management Area no longer will have a 34-inch minimum length limit in place on northern pike. Statewide regulations will apply (daily bag limit of three, including not more than one fish 34 inches or greater in length).
No live baitfish – The following areas are added to the list of waters where no live baitfish may be used or possessed: Rock Creek Lake State Recreation Area, Dundy County; Avocet Wildlife Management Area, Grant County; Wilbur Reservoir, Saline County; Big Elk Lake (WP 7), Sarpy County; and Portal Lake (WP 6), Sarpy County.
Crane Lake – Fishing will be permitted at Crane Lake on Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge during daylight hours from Nov. 1 through Feb. 15.
Anglers can read the 2021 Fishing Guide when it is available in January at OutdoorNebraska.org.
I caught wind a week or two ago about some confusion concerning pike regulations at Box Butte Reservoir. Nothing has changed there.
. . .one special bag limit that is causing confusion is the northern pike limit at Box Butte Reservoir. While a daily bag limit of 10 pike is in effect at that lake, only three can be over 22 inches and only one of those three fish can be over 34 inches.
It always amazes me the misinformation and confusion that exists about some regulations. I will give you a little hint: Read the Fishing Guide instead of asking your buddy.
Right now, if you are fishing, be very, very careful of ice conditions. Yes, there is still some ice-fishing happening in the state. Unfortunately, last week’s wind opened up a lot of areas. Some of those have since skimmed over, but no more than that.
GO FISH!
