Sandhills Rebound

By Daryl Bauer, Fisheries Outreach Program Manager

Without a doubt, the winter of 2022-23 was a rough one on Nebraska sandhill lakes fisheries. We had the “perfect storm” that winter that included an early ice-up, followed by heavy and persistent snow cover from January until spring. I can tell you that the winterkills observed when the ice went off in the spring of 2023 was the worst I have seen.

That hurt. I have fished many of those waters for a long time, all my life. It was painful to see favorite fisheries that just were not going to be the same. . . .

At least for a while.

Fortunately, Nebraska’s sandhill lakes are incredibly productive fisheries and resilient. Growth rates of fish in those habitats are often exceptional, and they can be even more extraordinary when those fish have prime habitat conditions and little or no competition from other fish. In short, it will take some time for those fisheries to bounce back, but maybe not as long as you might expect. . . .

Stopped by a favorite sandhills location a couple of weeks ago. I figured it was time to start seeing how the fish were doing and if the fishing was on its way back.

It IS time and it IS on the way back!

Spent one afternoon chasing bass. There ended up being an un-forecasted wind change and blow. That made things a little more challenging, but did not mean nothing. Dried off several largemouths all about the same size. I saw some smaller fish, and know there were larger ones present, but did not hook up with any of them.

Wind died the next afternoon, and it was a beautiful day for fishing. Switched up and targeted northern pike.

Hooked one on the first cast! Caught a bunch. No, did not tangle with any big fish, but the average size was good and the quantity was great. I quit counting how many.