While the locals might not want the word getting out on many of the following trout fishing spots in Nebraska, we’re going to show you several proven spots streams and lakes to catch trout.
The Cornhusker State offers anglers top-notch trout fishing across the state; however, most spots are in the western portion of Nebraska.
Depending on where you fish, you might catch rainbow, brown, cutthroat, and brook trout. Let’s see how close you are to catching these species at Nebraska’s best trout fishing locations.
Nebraska’s Best Trout Fishing Streams
Let’s begin our journey with the best trout streams in Nebraska.
Trout fishing in a stream requires a little different approach than catching trout in a pond or lake. While trout often gather in the deeper pools of the streams, it’s also important to fish the shady areas and current breaks. Trout will use these breaks to wait for their next meal to get pushed down the river past them.
Fly fishing is a popular and effective way to catch trout in a stream; however, ultra-light spinning gear also works great in some rivers and creeks.
PowerBait, spinners, and small spoons are my go-to baits and lures when using a spinning rod. Some places don’t allow bait, so check the regulations before you head out.
Elm Creek
Located in south-central Nebraska, Elm Creek is typically stocked with about 1,000 rainbow trout in the early spring (usually March) and a smaller batch at the beginning of fall (usually September).
This is a managed as a put-and-take fishery, so it’s best to try your luck fairly soon after it’s planted.
There’s plenty of public access along the Elm Creek State Wildlife Management Area (WMA), and that’s a likely location to be stocked.
About 3 total miles of the creek can sustain trout during the prime season. That stretch reaches from the wildlife area to the south of the highway (U.S. 136) near the crossroads at Amboy, before it reaches the Republican River.
The best times to go are a week or so after a stocking since this is when the fish will be concentrated.
It’s about 8 to 12 feet wide in most places, with many good 4-foot-deep pools. Depending on the trout’s mood, focusing on the pools or the narrow runs might be best.
Try casting upstream from likely holding water and let the current carry your bait naturally to the fish. Fishing small streams requires precise casts, and you should expect lures to get snagged regularly.
Niobrara River Valley
Stretching across northern Nebraska, the Niobrara River and several creeks have areas that support trout.
The mainstem Niobrara overall has poor trout habitat, but anglers catch brown and rainbow trout in Box Butte, Dawes, and Sioux counties.
One good bet is a public access area at Agate Fossil Beds National Monument. The rest of the river runs through private property, where you need permission to access it.
With a couple of good exceptions we’ll mention, most tributary creeks flow through private property, and some landowners stock them, but you still need permission to access the streams.
Here are some of the most popular creeks flowing into the Niobrara River.
Long Pine Creek
Located in north-central Nebraska, Long Pine Creek has nearly 20 miles of water capable of supporting rainbow and brown trout, running through public and private property.
While you must have permission to fish on private property, but there’s public access at Long Pine SRA, Long Pine WMA, Pine Glen WMA, and Seven Springs.
The creek from Seven Springs to Camp Witness holds the highest numbers of fish and best trout habitat, but the biggest trout are caught downstream.
Long Pine Creek is a pleasant stream with plenty of pools, channel bends, runs, and laydowns. Trout will have plenty to hide amongst, especially in the shady areas.
Verdigre Creek
Located in northeast Nebraska, Verdigre Creek is one of Nebraska’s top trout fishing destinations because the Grove Trout Rearing Station is nearby and keeps the creek stocked with trout weekly.
Public access is available at Grove Lake Wildlife Management Area (WMA), which also happens to be some of the best trout fishing.
You’ll be able to catch brown and rainbow trout here. The hatchery stocks the rainbows while the brown trout naturally reproduce in the stream.
The pools, riffles, and runs make Verdigre Creek a high-quality trout stream. The pools are typically only 3 feet deep, but that’s plenty deep to hold a few trout.
The abundance of aquatic vegetation means the trout have plenty of places to hide and feed.
North Platte River
In southwest Nebraska, just below the Lake Ogallala Dam, the North Platte River supports trout for about a mile.
These brown and rainbow trout come from Lake Ogallala; very little stocking has occurred here. However, the trout love the large pools, and fishing is good most of the year.
There is plenty of public access along this short stretch of the river, so you won’t have to worry about getting landowner permission.
Otter Creek
Feeding into the northern side of McConaughy Lake, Otter Creek provides high-quality conditions for naturally reproducing rainbow and brown trout.
There is public access from the lake, and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission leases another 1.5 miles of the creek; however, most of the remaining creek is privately owned and requires landowner permission.
Rainbow trout inevitably make their way down to McConaughy Lake, but the vast reservoir makes catching these fish much more difficult.
Sutherland Canal
The Sutherland Canal is a trophy trout fishery with tons of public access that runs along a path similar to the North Platte River mentioned above. Both waterways are just below Lake Ogallala, which is in turn beneath the massive McConaughy Lake. Rainbow trout are the main species caught here, but brown trout are also present.
The Sutherland Canal is one of the most likely places in Nebraska to catch a 5-pound trout, even though it’s drained every five years for federal inspections. It’s sustained by fish escaping Lake Ogallala and regular stocking efforts.
The best fishing will be from the dam down to Paxton, a 16-mile stretch.
See our separate listing for Lake Ogallala below.
Nebraska’s Top Trout Fishing Lakes
Trout fishing in a pond or lake is slightly different than catching trout in a stream, as there’s often little current flow, and trout have more and deeper water to hide amongst.
When trout fishing a lake or pond, I look for the deepest areas, near a shallow flat, with a brush pile, dock, or some other kind of cover.
Trout often congregate in the deepest areas, around cover, and then move to the shallows to feed, occasionally feeding at the surface throughout the lake.
Spinning gear or fly fishing equipment is an option if you have adequate room to cast. My lure selection doesn’t change much, but I tend to catch more using PowerBait, corn, or salmon eggs in ponds and lakes than I do in streams.
Birdwood Lake
Located along Interstate 80, a few miles west of North Platte, Birdwood Lake is regularly stocked with rainbow trout in the winter.
You’ll have to hope the trout are near the shore or bring a small boat to reach them. Stocked trout are very susceptible to scented dough baits as they resemble what they ate at the hatchery.
Shoreline trees will make it difficult to fly fish in some areas, but there are enough openings for this to be an option.
Two small parking areas are along West South River Road, with a modest launch on the west end. Walking around the lake, you can reach most of the bank fishing areas.
Bowling Lake
Located on the northwest side of Lincoln, in Bowling Lake Park just past the airport, Bowling Lake is stocked with rainbow trout for anglers to catch throughout the winter.
The doughnut-shaped lake is very angler-friendly, with multiple fishing piers around it, and the bank is easy to fish from, whether you’re fly fishing or using a spinning reel.
I would start around the bridge or along a fishing pier to gain access to deeper water, but I’m sure trout move all around the lake throughout the day.
CenturyLink Lake
Located between Omaha and Lincoln at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park, CenturyLink Lake is stocked with rainbow trout for anglers to catch throughout the winter and early spring.
These trout won’t survive long enough to become giants, but they’re big enough to eat and put up an excellent fight.
There are plenty of openings along the bank to fly fish or use spinning gear. Don’t hesitate to hit the shady spots when the sun gets up.
Maps may list CenturyLink Lake as US West Lake.
Gracie Creek Pond
This small pond in central Nebraska is stocked with rainbow trout. It’s a popular destination for fly fishing as the shoreline is pretty open, but don’t neglect your ultra-light spinning gear.
I’d start right off the dock; I know that’s where most anglers will start, but trout like the cover, and the dock provides some shade for them, whereas the rest of the pond has minimal cover.
The northeast corner will be the shallowest and murkiest if water flows into the pond, so sticking near the dam and along the western side is probably best on most days.
The pond is along NE-96 on the northwest side of Calamus Reservoir.
Grove Lake
This 50-acre lake in northeast Nebraska is stocked by the local Grove Lake Trout Rearing Station each year. This rearing facility also helps keep trout in the East Branch Verdigre Creek, noted above as one of Nebraska’s best trout streams.
The lake is in Grove WMA, so it’s easy to access. The shoreline has lots of trees, so fishing from a small boat might improve your catches.
There are spots to launch a small boat off the 866 Road at the north end and along Grove Lake Road heading in from the south end. Both access spots have docks and bank fishing options.
Holmes Lake
Entirely situated within the city limits of Lincoln, Holmes Lake gives anglers in the city quick access to trout fishing.
A few thousand rainbow trout are stocked several times during the cooler seasons, so you can expect good action in this 123-acre reservoir in Holmes Lake Park.
Trees are scattered around the shoreline, so fly fishing is an option, as is fishing from a boat. Most baits and lures will work here since freshly stocked trout aren’t the savviest fish.
I recommend starting around one of the jetties or bridges. Try fishing the windy side first, as the wind will create a slight current, causing trout to set up along the jetties and bridges. If that isn’t working, switch to the calm side.
Lake Ogallala
Ogallala Lake is one of the best places to fish in the Great Plains Region. Located directly below the dam of McConaughy Lake, Lake Ogallala provides the ideal conditions for trout with well-oxygenated cool water.
There are plenty of shore fishing opportunities around the lake.
I would begin on one of the jetties or where the Kingsley Hydroplant releases water into the reservoir because it creates a current, forcing the trout to set up along the bank in predictable patterns.
Boating is also allowed on the lake, with a no-wake restriction, so I recommend bringing a kayak or other small watercraft.
There is plenty of camping in the Lake Ogallala State Recreation Area or up on Lake McConaughy if you want to make a weekend adventure out of your trip.
Two Rivers State Recreation Area
Lake No. 5, a.k.a. the Trout Lake, at Two Rivers State Recreation Area (SRA) is a favorite for many trout anglers because it’s so easy to get to and go fishing.
The recreation area is along the Platte River just west of Omaha and features plenty of bank access, including an accessible fishing pier.
However, this area has special regulations, so be sure to read up on them before you begin trout fishing. Probably the first one you’ll want to know is that fishing here is limited to the period from the second Saturday in March to the beginning of July.
Lodging is available in refurbished cabooses and a campground at Two Rivers SRA.
Catch More Trout
Check out our easy guide to trout fishing, including favorite lures and baits.