Outdoor notes: Game and Parks releasing rainbow trout this spring

Spring stockings of rainbow trout into ponds and lakes across Nebraska are beginning.

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission fish hatcheries staff are releasing 12-inch trout to enhance fishing opportunities this spring and jump-start the open water fishing season.

“This popular program emphasizes our urban and community waters statewide,” said Daryl Bauer, Game and Parks’ fisheries outreach program manager. “We encourage anglers to get out and enjoy the weather and harvest a few trout.”

Those just getting into fishing, are encouraged to read Game and Parks’ Going Fishing Guide, available at OutdoorNebraska.gov. There, they also can find additional information on fishing or buy a fishing permit.

Additionally, Game and Parks is seeking input from trout anglers, particularly those who fish put-and-take lakes. A survey is available at Trout Survey. Information from this survey will be used to inform future trout management and stocking decisions.

The following is a schedule for trout set to be stocked, including quantities. Dates can change because of weather or unforeseen circumstances:

Week of Feb. 15

North Platte I-80 Lake, North Platte, 2,025

Lake Ogallala State Recreation Area, Ogallala, 1,000

Week of Feb. 22

Bridgeport SRA Northwest Lake, Bridgeport, 1,400

Week of March 1

East Branch Verdigre Creek, Royal, 200

Terry’s Pit, Terrytown, 500

Bridgeport City Pond, Bridgeport, 250

Scottsbluff Zoo Pond, Scottsbluff, 700

Bridgeport SRA Middle Lake, Bridgeport, 1,600

Week of March 8

Wayne City Pond, Wayne, 900

Neligh Park Pond, West Point, 900

Ponca State Park Pond, Ponca, 1,500

Carney Pond, O’Neill, 750

East Branch Verdigre Creek, Royal, 200

Rock Creek Lake SRA, Parks, 1,500

North Morrill Pond, Morrill, 1,500

Middle Morrill Pond, Morrill, 200

CenturyLink Lake, Eugene T. Mahoney SP, Ashland, 1,800

Gracie Creek Pond, Burwell, 1,000

Auburn Rotary Club Lake, Auburn, 470

Humboldt City Park Lake West, Humboldt, 200

Pawnee City Pond, Pawnee, 200

Stanton Lake, Falls City, 200

Auble Pond, Ord, 600

Elm Creek, Red Cloud, 500

Heartwell Park, Hastings, 360

Sucks Lake, Grand Island, 500

Holmes Lake, Lincoln, 2,500

Victoria Springs SRA Lake, Anselmo, 750

Week of March 15

Lake Halleck, Papillion, 1,200

East Branch Verdigre Creek, Royal, 200

Pawnee Park Pond West, Columbus, 1,000

Ta-Ha-Zouka Park, Norfolk, 1,500

Kramer Park Lake, Bellevue, 1,800

Weeping Water 1, Weeping Water, 750

Steinhart Park East Pond, Nebraska City, 400

Holdrege City Lake, Holdrege, 810

Oxford City Lake, Oxford, 200

Plum Creek Park Lake, Lexington, 600

Bethphage Pond, Axtell, 200

Fort Kearny SRA No. 6, Kearney, 900

Windmill SRA No. 2, Gibbon, 880

Geneva Boys Pond, Geneva, 200

Sutton Clark Pond, Sutton, 200

Louisville SRA No. 1A, Louisville, 500

Gretna Crossing, Gretna, 200

Lake Helen, Gothenburg, 1,000

Holmes Lake, Lincoln, 800

David City West Pond, David City, 450

Week of March 22

Fremont Lakes SRA No. 18, Fremont, 2,000

East Branch Verdigre Creek, Royal, 200

Week of March 29

East Branch Verdigre Creek, Royal, 200

Kramer Park Lake, Bellevue, 1,800

Lake Ogallala SRA, Ogallala, 7,000

Week of April 5

East Branch Verdigre Creek, Royal, 200

South Grable Pond, Fort Robinson SP, Crawford, 1,000

Middle Grable Pond, Fort Robinson SP, Crawford, 450

Cherry Creek Diversion Pond, Fort Robinson SP, Crawford, 200

Terry’s Pit, Terrytown, 500

Gilbert-Baker Wildlife Management Area Pond, Harrison, 200

North Platte I-80 Lake, North Platte, 2,025

Week of April 12

Keller Park SRA Pond No. 4, Long Pine, 200

Keller Park SRA Pond No. 5, Long Pine, 250

Sand Springs Pond, Plum Creek Valley WMA, Johnstown, 250

East Branch Verdigre Creek, Royal, 200

Grove Sand Pit, Royal, 50

Chadron Creek Ranch WMA Pond, Chadron, 100

Chadron City Reservoir North, Chadron, 1,000

Chadron City Reservoir South, Chadron, 1,000

Chadron SP Pond, Chadron, 400

Rock Creek Lake SRA, Parks, 1,500

Week of April 19

East Branch Verdigre Creek, Royal, 200

Curtis Golf Course Pond, Curtis, 300

Morrill Pond North, Morrill, 1,000

Morrill Pond Middle, Morrill, 200

Scottsbluff Zoo Pond, Scottsbluff, 400

Bridgeport SRA Northwest Lake, Bridgeport, 1,400

Laing Lake, Alliance, 750

Week of April 26

East Branch Verdigre Creek, Royal, 200

Explore parks with these Game and Parks events in March

Spend some time in Nebraska’s state parks this spring by attending a variety of events in March.

Don’t forget a vehicle park entry permit is required at Nebraska state parks. Get one at OutdoorNebraska.gov or at state park entrances.

Celebrate quilts at Arbor Lodge Mansion

National Quilting Day is March 15, so Arbor Lodge Mansion is celebrating with a monthlong exhibit of heirloom and modern quilts honoring the tradition and art of quilting.

The display at the mansion, open Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. beginning March 7, will feature quilts within the Arbor Lodge collection, modern quilts of the Heritage Needlework Guild, and heirloom quilts.

The event is included with Arbor Lodge Mansion admission. See the calendar event entry at Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov to purchase tickets to the mansion. Call 402-873-7222 for more information.

Ponca SP to host naturalist-led hike 

Participate in a monthly naturalist-led group hike March 14 and learn about the flora and fauna found at Ponca State Park.

Meet at the West Shelter at 10 a.m. and enjoy the scenic views, native wildlife, and fellowship until 12:30 p.m. Along the way, naturalists will talk about the cultural and natural history of the park. The trail will end with a warm fire and fresh baked dessert in a Dutch oven.

Spots are limited and registration is required by calling the park office at 402-755-2284. The cost is $15.

These group hikes take place on the second Saturday through April.

Schramm offers volunteer opportunity

Schramm Park State Recreation Area is offering a volunteer opportunity to assist with oak woodland restoration efforts. On March 25 from 9-11 a.m., join Nebraska Game and Parks Commission staff on activities such as invasive species removal, seed collection, trail maintenance, brush piling, and tree planting.

Visit the calendar event entry at Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov to register.

Wear sturdy, closed-toed shoes and long pants, bring water, and outdoor work/garden gloves. Long sleeves also are recommended. All ages are welcome, but anyone under the age of 18 must have an accompanying adult.

Meet at the park shelter next to Pond A, where an introduction to the project will kick things off. Volunteers must sign a waiver upon arrival.

Prescribed burns set for WMAs, state park areas

Prescribed burns will begin this spring on some Nebraska Game and Parks Commission wildlife management areas, state parks and state recreation areas where weather allows.

Burning allows habitat managers to positively affect more acres. Those burns not completed this spring will be attempted this summer, fall or winter as weather allows.

Burned acres often become more attractive to wildlife species, and for some species, the effect is immediate. The long-term effects on wildlife habitat are much better if prescribed burning is used as a management tool than if habitat is not burned.

Historically, wildlife habitats were shaped by wildfires that occurred throughout the year. Burns help set back undesirable plants that invade native woodlands and prairies, as well as other grass and wooded areas. Eastern red cedar trees, honey locust, buckbrush, sumac, dogwood and other undesirable deciduous trees and shrubs can be managed with the help of burns.

Used in conjunction with grazing, prescribed burning also can set back smooth brome and Kentucky bluegrass, increase diversity in grasslands and improve habitat for wildlife.