Recent hot temperatures, followed by several cloudy days, have contributed to the occurrence of fish kills in Nebraska.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission recently investigated fish kills at Omaha’s Benson Park Pond and Pioneer Trails Lake near Aurora

Summer fish kills, a natural phenomenon of fish dying off in large numbers during the summer months, often are caused by low dissolved oxygen levels in the water.

One major contributor to these events is a stretch of cloudy days following a stretch of warm sunny weather.

“Under normal conditions, aquatic plants and algae produce oxygen through photosynthesis using sunlight; however, when sunlight is blocked by clouds, oxygen production can drop quickly,” said Aaron Blank, a fisheries biologist for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. “Algal blooms can further complicate things as algae can die off much quicker than rooted aquatic vegetation and once they die their decomposition consumes oxygen.”

Fish kills are more prevalent in smaller bodies of water because of their limited volume and the potential for rapid oxygen depletion. Small, shallow ponds with abundant vegetation are particularly susceptible to summer fish kills.

Anglers who observe dead or dying fish should call their nearest Game and Parks office. Find a list of offices at OutdoorNebraska.gov/about/our-locations/. 

Lake Ogallala trout fishery full of potential

It’s coming up on two years since the renovation of Lake Ogallala, and creel surveys are showing a trout fishery full of potential.

The lake and its associated waters below the Keystone Diversion Dam – the North Platte River and the Nebraska Public Power District’s Sutherland Supply Canal – are producing lots of trout, and big ones.

Darrol Eichner, fisheries biologist for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission at Lake McConaughy, said that since early spring the creel clerk has interviewed more anglers on the river and canal than on the lake, translating to better angling success on the river and canal.

But Eichner said that in the past six weeks, anglers have caught Master Angler rainbow trout (23 inches or 5 pounds) from the lake, with most of the fish measuring 16 to 17 inches long. He said the catches in the river and canal average about 17 inches.

“Trout in the lake, river, and canal have grown at phenomenal rates because of the abundance of aquatic invertebrates available for their diet since the fall 2023 renovation,” Eichner said.

The renovation eliminated common carp and white sucker fish that were abundant in the lake. It then was stocked with rainbow trout, tiger trout, smallmouth bass, and yellow perch. In the past two years, nearly 104,000 rainbow, tiger, and cutbow (rainbow/cutthroat trout hybrid) trout and 79,000 yellow perch have been stocked.

Tiger trout stockings have since been discontinued due to difficulty raising them and poor growth after stocking. They have been replaced by cutbow, which show excellent growth rates and catchability, according to Eichner.

All trout stocked at Lake Ogallala in 2025 are being stocked at 12 inches rather than the previous 9-10 inches.

The Nebraska Public Power District, in coordination with Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District, is planning their annual fall canal outage to begin in mid-September. Anglers planning to target the canal fishery should check flow rates ahead of their trip by visiting cnppid.com/lake-river-data.

The daily bag limit for rainbows, tigers, and cutbows is five, of which only one fish may be 16 inches or longer when fishing in the lake and river. To allow for more harvest, the one over size restriction does not apply to fish caught in the Sutherland Supply Canal.

Lake Ogallala's cold-water fishery is unique in Nebraska, facilitated by low-level water releases from Lake McConaughy's Kingsley Dam. Ideal conditions, such as clear water, abundant aquatic vegetation, and thriving invertebrate communities, ensure exceptional growth rates and angling experiences for trout. In addition to trout, species like yellow perch, smallmouth bass, and channel catfish also have found success in the lake. 

For more information on fishing in Nebraska, visit OutdoorNebraska.gov/fish.

Avocet WMA boat ramp to open, Frye to close

A new boat ramp is about to open at one Sandhills lake near Hyannis, while another one will be temporarily closed.

Construction workers are nearing completion on the new boat ramp at Avocet Wildlife Management Area’s Beem Lake, and it is scheduled to open Aug. 21. On the same day the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will close all public access to nearby Frye Lake WMA so contractors can complete the new boat ramp there.

The new concrete ramps are being built on elevated peninsulas that extend into the lake, functional for varying water levels. While Frye is accessible until the closure date, visitors are being advised to take caution entering and exiting as workers have already begun hauling rock to the site. The project is expected to be completed this fall.

In addition to the ramps, both lakes are getting improved parking areas and docks compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. A new vault toilet is being installed at Frye.

Funding is provided through the Recreational Boating Safety grant program managed by the U.S. Coast Guard, with matching funds from the Game and Parks Game Cash Fund.

 

Commissioners to consider 2026 mountain lion season

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will consider recommendations for a 2026 mountain lion hunting season at its Aug. 22 meeting in McCook.

The meeting begins at 8 a.m. Central time at the Mid-Plains Community College conference room, 1205 E. 3rd St.

Staff will recommend a mountain lion season in the Pine Ridge, Niobrara and Wildcat Hills units, with one adjustment from the 2025 season.

The harvest limit in the Niobrara Unit would increase to a maximum of six mountain lions, with a sublimit of three females; the maximum harvest in the Wildcat Hills Unit would remain at three, with a sublimit of two females; and the harvest limit in the Pine Ridge Unit would remain at 12 with a sublimit of six females.

Mountain lion recommendations were made at the commissioners’ June 13 meeting in Sidney. After hearing the research, recommendations and testimony and considering concerns from local landowners, commissioners amended staff recommendations to revert to the 2025 season harvest limits in the Wildcat Hills Unit of three lions with a sublimit of two females, up from an initial recommendation of two lions with a sublimit of one female.

Due to the amended change and following the Nebraska Administrative Procedures Act, the Commission scheduled a new public hearing for input and for approval of the 2026 mountain lion season for all units at the Aug. 22 meeting.

The commissioners also will hear a recommendation for a 2026 bighorn sheep regular hunting season. Staff will recommend authorizing one lottery and one auction permit for the season, which, if approved, would be Dec. 1-22, 2026.

Also, staff will propose fee increases for commissioners to consider that include resident and nonresident hunt and fish permits, paddlefish, youth, multiyear, combination, big game, and lottery, application fees, and nonresident aquatic invasive species stamp.

In other business, commissioners will consider staff recommendations to:

  • approve hunting in some state parks and state historical parks for the 2025 seasons;
  • rename Twin Lakes Wildlife Management Area in Rock County the Nick Lyman Wildlife Management Area;
  • approve the Bighorn Sheep Restoration Facility Plan; and
  • approve the third edition of the Nebraska Natural Legacy Plan.

Staff will give updates on collaborative fisheries management, an introduction of the southwest law enforcement team, a review of events during the 30th anniversary of the Cowboy Recreation and Nature Trail, and a report on the 20th anniversary of the Missouri River Outdoor Expo on Sept. 20-21 at Ponca State Park.

To view a complete agenda, visit OutdoorNebraska.gov and search for “public notices.” To view proposed changes to Commission regulations and orders, search for “regulations.”