[lovetofish]

Hello fellow fishermen and fisherwomen,

Took advantage of the free fishing day in Nebraska and went to Swanson with the kids looking for crappies; found them at the spillway by the dam. They were ranging from 6 to 12 inches. We took home 86 crappies and 2 wipers in the 18 inches class but fat like a football along with 9 catfish; 3 of them were over 10 pounds. Not too bad for one day of fishing. If you don't mind driving for 4 hours for crappie and wiper, then you might want to check it out. We checked with other fishermen at the fish cleaning station and they all had nice big fat wipers (look like around 22 inches. One family had 15 big wipers laying out there; I thought the limit at Nebraska is only one wiper over 18 inches a day but what do I know.) Also, if you want to go after the wipers then you need a boat. All of the wipers except our 2 were caught by trolling. The crappies were caught using both plain jigs and jig head tip with minnow. The 2 wipers and catfishes were caught using craw fish. We will take the boat out to Nee Noshee this comming up weekend and will post new report after that. Thats all for now.
Ps. Watch out for the State Patrol hiding on the eastbound of highway 34 few minutes after you cross the Colorado border. My friend got pulled over and issued a ticket for going 72 MPH; the speed limit is 65 MPH (just $66 but who wants to give out free money to the Corn Huskers).

lovetofish

 

[born2fsh]

That could happen very easily, did your friend have a CU Buff bumper sticker? If so he deserves the ticket!

 

[hooknline]

Good job man what time did you catch them i might go out there.

 

[born2fsh]

Lovetofish, stay in colorado if you don't like the cornhuskers.

 

[lovetofish]

born2fih,

Hope I didn't insult you. Are you a fan of the Corn Huskers? This has been 6 years since I fished in Nebraska; didn't really want to go there but I was too deperate for crappie (I usually go to John Martin but was skunked last year and so far this year. Anyway, we fished from 6oam to 6:00pm (they seem to bite more in the afternoon, just let your jig go down to 4 feet below the water surface and close to the bushes. Sometimes we can see them chasing each others in the bushes.

lovetofish

 

[NeWcS]

Lovetofish, stay in colorado if you don't like the cornhuskers.

NO!!!! If your going to keep 86 fish stay in NE!!!! We need all the fish we can!!!!

IMO

-Jay

 

[lovetofish]

Guys,

There are 4 of us fishing and the daily bag limit for crappie in Nebraska is 30 per person. Don't think I am breaking any law.

lovetofish

 

[NeWcS]

I wasn't saying you were breaking the law. Just saying that that is alot of fish.


-Jay

 

[fishheadd]

hey there lovetofish i was right around the corner from you at enders resv.

did very well also in the fish area. going back on the 27th. will try swanson

also, i fish over there a lot. better than paying $ 55.oo 4 a colo parks pass.

and a killizion people. good luck at eads colo, my buddy owns the

cottonwood camp ground south of eads. neeagrounde lake. there

is good fishing in that lake plus he has a good boat ramp. neenoasha has

a terrible ramp. you may not be able to launch. i fish that area a lot 20 yrs.

 

[Zman]

[That could happen very easily, did your friend have a CU Buff bumper sticker? If so he deserves the ticket! ]...and who helps the cornhuskers count out their 30 fish limit?!

Ok fishheadd...you arent getting away that easy...I am planning on making a trip out to Neeagrounde...in the next few weeks...with 20 years in you should know plenty (you reading this FishingKats?...you should be chiming in too!)...what can you tell me about it that might help fishing wise...I have not been there...I dont think I am going to haul my boat out there...is there suitable shore fishing areas?...is there a rip rap dam that a person can get on?...I have heard about wade fishing the timber...is that practical?...which side is it on?...can you camp there?...is there water or do you have to bring your own?...firegrates?...is there a store close for provisions?...thanks much in advance!!!

 

[lovetofish]

fishheadd,

I fished at Nee Gronda alots too, usually from late May until end of June. I also camped in the Cotton Wood camp ground whenever I fished at Nee Gronda. Is John and Katie your buddy? Nice people.

zman,

You would need a boat to fish at Nee Gronda; either troll the south side of the lake for Saugeyes or wipers. I haven't seen anyone wade and fish but lots of people belly-boat fishing for Crappies and Saugeyes in the bushes with jigs. I haven't figure out where to find the Crappie there. Occationaly I caught them jigging for Saugeyes and they are huge. Hope this will help you out.

lovetofish

 

[hooknline]

I fish nee gronde in the past and we just use crawfish tails on the boat and drop it straight down. When it hits the ground just lift the bait up just a lil bit. If the wipers are around they will attack. Its also an easy way to lose a rod.

 

[mobyJ]

what other lakes would you recomend in NE I want to go up around June 4th and fish for a few days. Any help on tackle and areas would be greatly appreciated.

 

[epic]

what other lakes would you recomend in NE I want to go up around June 4th and fish for a few days. Any help on tackle and areas would be greatly appreciated.

I love fishing Lake McConaughy in Nebraska, but the real question is where in Nebraska do you want to go? I grew up in Nebraska, lived in Gretna (by Omaha) most my life but worked as a ranch hand in the Sandhills area on my summers before I graduated. I have fished alot of lakes and rivers all over the state, so if you have a specific place you want to go. And I have fished in that area I'll give you my favorite lakes/rivers in that area. Granted its been a while since I've fished alot of these but I dont think fishing has changed alot, after all its nebraska.

 

[fishheadd]

yes john and katie are good friends of mine. better take a boat of some sort not much shore fishing going on. i haven't been down there for 3 weeks i've been back and forth to neb. john's boat ramp is in good shape. you can still launch at neenoshia but it's a little iffey. the fishing should be good at both lakes. as far a bait all the usual stuff john may have night crawlers and minnows, but you should take your other supplies. as far as neb up on the panhandle i like oliver res. ifish enders a lot. this weekend mabey i'll try swanson, and redwillow is a good lake a little north of mccook. looks like good weather and the fish should b biting GOOD LUCK TO ALL will report next tue or wed

 

[mobyJ]

Epic I've seen some good reports in the south west NE area. I would like to hit some big wiper what do you think is the best wiper lake in the south west part of the state.

 

[hooknline]

Mobyj I have fished lake mac since i was a kid when my pops use to take me out there. When u talk about wipers i have never seen a lake that compares to this one. I go out there a good 3-4 times each year sometimes even more. I see you use a boat at jackson, im not sure if your planning to take it with you or not but i have never fished with a boat at big mac. I usually fish bay 1 or bay 6 from shore. Ive never caught any wipers in the daytime on shore there. We do our fishing at night. Man when the school comes in its unreal. Its really difficult to fish with two rods cause they bite so much. My buddy he likes to fish with 2 hooks and he catches two wipers on one rod quite often. If u go and your there like an hour before sundown throw some worms out there alot of good walleye action. Also sunup is really good walleye action also. Oh yea mixed in with the wipers u get some really big white bass. Your mainly going to be bringing home whitebass cause u can one keep one fish over 18' u can keep 15 under 18' . Wipers out there 5-6 pound easy. Hope this helps im going out there in about 2 weeks from past memorial day weekends i havent done to good out there so im going to wait.

 

[Neal/CO]

Moby, If you want a trophy Wiper go to Red Willow. If you want to catch numbers go to Swanson. Also goto SteveLytle.com he is guide on both lakes!

 

[Pete]

Lovetofish,

I fished Swanson about 7 years ago, and the wipers were on. But the catchfishing was outstanding. We fished the lakeside of the dam out of the Crestliner, and were rigged with chickenlivers and trebble hooks; we must have landed about sixteen cats before making it back to the campsite about midnight (avg size 2 to 3 lbs). They all went back into the lake. Got up real early the following morning, and launched the boat into a peasoup fog, and went at them with checken livers again. We landed about another six and my daughter hooked into a 10lb carp. She was twelve then, and started crying as I tried to coach her on. I thought she had nailed one of the larger catfish before bringing it into the boat.

She was smiling ear to ear because I told her, even though Dad landed it was still her BIG fish. I have that iphto in the album, and its as her biggest fish to date. I don't think I'll ever forget Swanson.

I love Nebraska!

Pete

 

[mobyJ]

Sounds good I'm going to go out and try to hit Red Willow and Swanson June 5,6,7,8.