Nebraskaland Magazine
This booklet is not new, it has been out for a while. However, in the process we had a web page upgrade and links were updated. So, I am going to mention this now, it is not new, but you might not have seen it yet. . . .
We updated our I-80 lakes booklet. This booklet includes the interstate lakes of course, and also a few other waters close to the I-80 corridor. The idea is this is your guide to fishing waters you can easily access while traveling on Interstate 80. Check it out!
If you want to dig into fishing opportunities on the interstate lakes, be sure to check out these sampling reports:
2022 Sampling Summary, I-80 Lakes Grand Island to Elm Creek
2022 Sampling Summary, I-80 Lakes Lexington to Sutherland
Let me say a couple of things about our interstate lakes: First, I love ’em! Growing up in that part of the state I spent a lot of time on interstate lakes. I caught a darned lot of really nice fish from those lakes back in those days, and I still fish them whenever I can! Largemouth bass, bluegills and channel catfish are staple, but there are several other species possible depending on the lake.
Access to the lakes is easy. Shore fishing is very possible although I will admit that I almost always wade or float tube on the interstate lakes. Watch where you wade, most of the lakes have a drop off near shore. Hint–casting clear out in the middle of the lake may not be best.
Boats can be launched on most of the lakes. Boat ramp improvements have been made to several of them recently. Small boats and kayaks work just fine. My Dad and I caught a lot of fish out of a canoe on interstate lakes.
Water quality on most of the interstate lakes is very good, but that can make the fishing tough during the middle of a summer day. Fish prime times, and oh yes, I have dried off a lot of really nice fish from those waters after dark.
The beauty of the interstate lakes is there are a number of them in close proximity to each other. It is very doable to fish more than one of them in a day. If the fish are not biting at one, run down the road to another.
The only thing I dislike about the interstate lakes is the traffic noise. But, then I set the hook and remember if it were not for that traffic, those waters would not be there in the first place.
