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flatwalter
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...We would appreciate it if you would review the proposed changes and comment. In order to keep the process on time we have to ask that you reply by September 19, 2008. We know that is a short time away, but your opinions are important to us and are an important part of the fisheries management process.
If you agree with the proposed changes, we would ask that you send us a letter of support. If you do not agree, we want to hear that too, and would ask that you send us those comments as well. Please address letters or written comments to Fisheries Division, Nebraska Game & Parks Commission, 2200 N. 33rd, Lincoln, Nebraska 68503. If it would be easier, quicker, you can email comments to me at the e-mail address listed below.
Sincerely;
Daryl Bauer
Lakes and Reservoirs Program Manager
Nebraska Game & Parks Commission
daryl.bauer@nebraska.gov
402-471-5005
Recommended Changes in Fisheries Regulations for 2009
Section 006--BAG, POSSESSION AND LENGTH LIMITS
Trout and salmon
Reduce the daily bag limit of trout (rainbow, brown, and brook in combination) in inland waters and waters of the Missouri River from 7 to 4, with a possession limit of 8. The regulation change is intended to reduce and spread the harvest over a longer period among more anglers in waters where trout survive year-round, particularly in streams. Reduced harvest could increase the sizes of trout caught. Lake Ogallala already has this regulation.
Increase the daily bag and possession limits from 7 and 14, respectively, to 8 and 16 at designated lakes and ponds that do not support trout year-round and are stocked in the fall, winter, and/or spring. This increase is intended to boost fishing participation, particularly in urban areas. The following waters are included in this regulation: Arnold Lake State Recreation Area (Custer County), Auble Pond (Valley County), Auburn Rotary Club Lake (Nemaha County), Barnett Park Lake (Red Willow County), Benson Lake (Douglas County), Birdwood Wildlife Management Area Lake (Lincoln County), Bowling Lake (Lancaster County), Crystal Cove Lake (Dakota County), Crystal Springs lakes (Jefferson County), Curtis Golf Course Pond (Frontier County), David City Park ponds (Butler County), Fremont SRA lakes (Dodge County), Grand Island Such’s Lake (Hall County), Lake Halleck (Sarpy County), Heartwell Park Lake (Adams County), Hitch**** Lake (Douglas County), Holdrege City North Lake (Phelps County), Holmes Lake (Lancaster County), Humphrey Pond (Keith County), Lexington City Park Lake (Dawson County), Niobrara State Park ponds (Knox County), Pawnee Park East Lake (Platte County), Qwest Lake (Cass County), Standing Bear Lake (Douglas County), Steinhart Park ponds (Otoe County), Ta-Ha-Zouka Park Pond (Madison County), Towl Park Pond (Douglas County), Weeping Water Pond (Cass County), and Windmill State Recreation Area lakes (Buffalo County).
High Use Areas
With the exception of Bowling Lake (Lancaster County), all of the waters currently listed in the “Urban Fishing Areas” section, plus the Columbus Hospital Pond (Platte County), and the following Commission-owned or managed waters will have 21-inch minimum length limits (1-fish daily bag limit) on black bass, 10-fish daily bag limits on panfish, and 3-fish daily bag limits on channel catfish: Bader Memorial County Park pits (Merrick County), Baright Lake (Cass County), Cornhusker Wildlife Management Area Pond (Hall County), Cottontail Lake (Lancaster County), Indian Creek Wildlife Management Area Pond (Webster County), Lawrence Youngsman Lake, formerly Papio Site 13 (Douglas County), Meadowlark Lake (Seward County), Memphis Lake (Saunders County), Midlands Lake (Sarpy County), Mormon Island State Recreation Area (Hall County), Niobrara State Park ponds (Knox County), Prairie View Lake Recreation Area (Douglas County), Qwest Lake (Cass County), Sacramento-Wilcox Wildlife Management Area (Phelps County), Shadow Lake (Sarpy County), Skyview Lake (Madison County), War Axe Recreation Area (Buffalo County), and York Recharge Lake (York County).
The 21-inch minimum length limit on black bass is intended to accumulate high numbers of largemouth bass so they prey effectively on panfish (particularly bluegill), reducing their numbers so survivors grow to sizes acceptable to anglers. The reduced daily bag limits on panfish and channel catfish are intended to reduce and spread the harvest among a high number of anglers.
Black bass
Establish a 15-inch minimum length limit on all black bass (largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted) in all inland waters, both public and private. This change is intended to simplify black bass length limit regulations and to improve the quality of smallmouth bass by reducing harvest of fish 12-15 inches long.
Owners of private waters containing overly-abundant small bass in need of harvest can obtain a waiver by applying for a Private Waterbody Management Authorization from Fisheries Division.
Add Swan Creek 67 (Saline County) to the waters with 21-inch minimum length limits (1-fish daily bag limit) and delete Willow Lake (Brown County), as it is scheduled for renovation and the statewide inland waters regulation, protecting bass less than 15 inches, will provide a sufficient safeguard from overharvest once it is restocked.
Add the entire Two Rivers State Recreation Area (Douglas County) and recently renovated Bowling Lake (Lancaster County) to the waters where no harvest of black bass is allowed and delete reference to the Ponca State Park Pond (Dixon County) and Three R’s Pond (Harlan County). The Ponca Pond no longer exists and there are no plans to rebuild it; the Three R’s Pond flooded and had a dike wash out.
Striped bass, white bass, and striped bass hybrid
Delete the list of State Recreation Areas with minimum length limits of 18 inches, daily bag limits of 1, and possession limits of 2. These harvest restrictions are being deleted because supplemental feeding did not develop fisheries that attracted many anglers, negating the need for the protective regulations and the feeding programs.
Add Wagon Train Reservoir (Lancaster County) to the list of waters with a daily bag limit of 3 and possession limit of 6. This regulation is intended to reduce and spread the harvest among a high number of anglers.
Channel catfish
Allow the daily bag limit in inland waters to contain no more than one fish greater than 25 inches in length. This regulation is intended to increase numbers of large catfish by reducing harvest.
Reduce the daily bag to 5, possession limit of 10, at Calamus (Garfield and Loup counties), Harlan County, and Merritt (Cherry County) reservoirs. These harvest restrictions are intended to reduce and spread the harvest among more anglers. Add recently-renovated Bowling Lake (Lancaster County) to, and delete Ponca State Park Pond (Dixon County) and Three R’s Pond (Harlan County) from, waters with 3-fish daily bag limits.
Flathead catfish
Allow the daily bag limit in inland waters to contain no more than one fish greater than 25 inches in length. This regulation is intended to increase numbers of large catfish by reducing harvest.
Walleye, sauger, and saugeye
Delete the 18-24 inch protected length range and restriction of no more than one fish greater than 24 inches in the daily bag at Elwood Reservoir, so the reservoir would fall under inland waters regulations that only restrict harvest to fish 15 inches and longer. With water deliveries to Elwood Reservoir uncertain, the fish community is at risk and benefits of this restrictive regulation are unlikely to be realized.
Delete the 18-inch minimum length limits at Harlan County, Calamus (Garfield and Loup counties), and Sherman (Sherman County) reservoirs and at Harlan County and Calamus reservoirs, establish the same regulation currently at Merritt Reservoir (allowing harvest of no more than one fish 15-18 inches, three or four over 18 inches, and no more than one greater than 22 inches). The 18-inch minimum length limits met their original objectives (to increase angler catch of fish up to the length limit), and they did produce harvest of fish over the length limit. But, the majority of the harvest of legal fish occurred by late spring and by summer, sub-legal fish dominated the catch. In addition, with harvest concentrated on fish near 18 inches, few fish survived to reach larger sizes. Allowing the harvest of one walleye 15-18 inches long may reduce the harvest of fish over 18 inches long and help increase numbers of larger walleyes.
It is important for Nebraska to have at least one reservoir that contains an abundant supply of large female walleyes. Eggs taken from these fish are fertilized and young fish are stocked into waters where natural reproduction of walleye is inadequate to meet angling demands. To enhance the likelihood of a sufficient walleye brood source, a regulation is proposed for Sherman Reservoir (Sherman County) that would allow a daily bag limit of two walleyes between 15 and 20 inches and only one over 28 inches (fish 20-28 inches would need to be released).
Northern pike
Remove the 1-fish daily bag limit at Cottonmill Lake (Buffalo County) from the Urban Fishing Areas regulations, but maintain the 30-inch minimum length limit by adding Cottonmill Lake to waters with 30-inch minimum length limits on northern pike
Panfish (bluegill and other sunfish, crappies, rock bass and yellow perch)
Delete the 8-inch minimum length limit on bluegill at Mormon Island State Recreation Area Lakes 1, 2, and 3 (Hall County) and Windmill #4 (Buffalo County), as there is little likelihood of catching bluegills over 8 inches from those waters.
Add Bowling Lake (Lancaster County) to, and delete Three R’s Pond (Harlan County) from, waters with a 10-fish daily bag limit. Delete the no-harvest regulations at Ponca State Park Pond (Dixon County) and Qwest Lake at Mahoney State Park (Cass County), which is included among the “High Use Fishing Areas.”
Special Areas
Add that fishing is permitted during daylight hours on Smith Lake at the Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge (Garden County) from November 1 through February 15, as per refuge regulations.
Replace September 30 with October 14 as the date the North Platte National Wildlife Refuge (Scotts Bluff County), except for Lake Minatare, closes to fishing until January 15.
Limit the requirement that anglers fishing Two Rivers Lake #5 must wear their trout tag to March 1 through June 30 and replace the word “fish” with “trout” regarding the requirement that each fish caught must be counted in the bag limit and no fish shall be returned to the water. The lake has been stocked with smallmouth bass to provide additional angling opportunity, especially during periods too warm to support trout fishing.
Rename “Marina” Lake at Mahoney State Park “Baright” Lake and delete the two-fish daily bag limit. Baright Lake will be among the “High Use Fishing Areas” where harvest of 10 panfish, 3 channel catfish, and 1 black bass over 21 inches will be allowed per day.
Delete reference to Ponca State Park Pond (Dixon County).
Delete individual live baitfish regulations at Meadowlark and Skyview lakes and establish the following list of “High Use Fishing Areas” where baitfish cannot be used and it is unlawful to possess any live fish other than those taken from that waterbody :
Ansley City Lake (Custer County), Bethphage Pond (Kearney County), Cottonmill Lake (Buffalo County), Grand Island Such’s Lake (Hall County), Heartwell Park Pond (Adams County), Holdrege City North Lake (Phelps County), Lexington City Lake (Dawson County), Lincoln Park Pond (Nuckolls County), Meadowlark Lake (Seward County), Ravenna Lake (Buffalo County), Skyview Lake (Madison County), Ta-Ha-Zouka Park Pond (Madison County), and Yanney Park Lake (Buffalo County). This regulation is intended to decrease the likelihood that undesirable fish species, particularly gizzard shad, will gain access and negatively impact the sportfish community, particularly bluegill.
Section 009--BAIT FISH
Restrict the use of baitfish taken by anglers from the Missouri River below Gavins Point Dam to that area, making it illegal to move any baitfish away from that area of the river. Also, make it unlawful for bait dealers to take baitfish from the Missouri River below Gavins Point Dam downstream. These regulations are intended to reduce the likelihood of invasive species, particularly Asian carp, being introduced above Gavins Point Dam and inland.
Require anglers to have an importation permit to bring baitfish into Nebraska from out-of-state. This regulation is intended to reduce the likelihood of fish diseases, particularly Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS), from entering Nebraska.
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The least important piece of equipment owned by a fisherman is his watch.
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J Tomich
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I like the proposed changes for walleye and sauger. It worked well at Merritt, why wouldn't it work everywhere else. The one issue is educating and policing the public if these new regs. are accepted.
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Ben Garver
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I like all he changes to the walleye except I wouldn't make any changes at Sherman other than the 1 between 15-18. It doesn't need to be made into a trophy lake. There are plenty of trophies in there now.
One major thing I would like to see is collecting of eggs during the spawn at Branched Oak. I beleive there is more illegal activity out there during the spawn then there ever was at Sherman. There's a LOT of BIG eyes in there that could easily give the state their quota for egg collection. Also there are plenty of other small reservoirs for anglers to fish during the spawn. 
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Ben Garver
Bass Pro Shops Pro Staff
I say we work 2 days and fish 5!!!
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Ben Garver
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Quote:
Require anglers to have an importation permit to bring baitfish into Nebraska from out-of-state. This regulation is intended to reduce the likelihood of fish diseases, particularly Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS), from entering Nebraska.
Of all the proposed changes I think this one needs to be on the top of the list. South Dakota has this exact law in effect and we should follow suit. The fine needs to be a BIG one if this is broken too. VHS can easily wipe out fishing if it is not taken care of.
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Ben Garver
Bass Pro Shops Pro Staff
I say we work 2 days and fish 5!!!
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ChrisAugustyn
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Quote:
I beleive there is more illegal activity out there during the spawn then there ever was at Sherman. There's a LOT of BIG eyes in there that could easily give the state their quota for egg collection. Also there are plenty of other small reservoirs for anglers to fish during the spawn.
If we shut off more of the states major reservoirs dams in April at night; it would save a lot of trophies for later in the year to be caught pictured and released. I too would like to see some fish 15-18" taken out of Sherman bringing the population down to let the fish left to fatten up.
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flatwalter
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Quote:
I too would like to see some fish 15-18" taken out of Sherman bringing the population down to let the fish left to fatten up.
I must be fishing a different Sherman than you, Chris. I have put about twenty days on Sherman and this is definitely the worst year for walleye fishing that I have had in the past ten years. We did not catch the usual numbers of fish in the spring or are we now picking up those that usually fatten up for winter. I have no reason to think that the population of walleyes is really anywhere close to what it has been in past years.
jorg
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The least important piece of equipment owned by a fisherman is his watch.
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ChrisAugustyn
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I did not fish the lake beyond the month of may. We always found good numbers of small fish on shallow flats of off the main lake. Last year we fished the lake in june and caught 250+ walleyes in ten hours one day while only catching 3 above 18".
Why is it we can go to big mac, johnson, sutherland,(even davis creek before the state min was enposed and elwood before the slot) and catch good numbers of fish 20"+ with a 15"min. While most people struggle at calamus and sherman w/ the 18.
I know there is trophy fish at both lakes but the average catch could be better.
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Zachary Fries
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Quote:
Quote:
I too would like to see some fish 15-18" taken out of Sherman bringing the population down to let the fish left to fatten up.
I must be fishing a different Sherman than you, Chris. I have put about twenty days on Sherman and this is definitely the worst year for walleye fishing that I have had in the past ten years. We did not catch the usual numbers of fish in the spring or are we now picking up those that usually fatten up for winter. I have no reason to think that the population of walleyes is really anywhere close to what it has been in past years.jorg
This year I caught more keeper sized 'eyes at Sherman than I ever have  I agree that a limit like what is in effect at Merrit would be good for the lake and I like the idea of only allowing 2 slots and 1 over If I had to choose, I would go with the 2 slots and 1 over reg
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AKA Fisherman Zach
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Shermanator
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DerekD
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Curious about this one. Does this include the lakes where there is already a 21 inch minimum in place or only lakes where there is not?
"Establish a 15-inch minimum length limit on all black bass (largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted) in all inland waters, both public and private. This change is intended to simplify black bass length limit regulations and to improve the quality of smallmouth bass by reducing harvest of fish 12-15 inches long."
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Ben Garver
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Quote:
Curious about this one. Does this include the lakes where there is already a 21 inch minimum in place or only lakes where there is not?
"Establish a 15-inch minimum length limit on all black bass (largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted) in all inland waters, both public and private. This change is intended to simplify black bass length limit regulations and to improve the quality of smallmouth bass by reducing harvest of fish 12-15 inches long."
I would assume the lakes with the 21" minimum will stay that way.
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Ben Garver
Bass Pro Shops Pro Staff
I say we work 2 days and fish 5!!!
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Proposed Changes to Nebraska Fishing Regulations
Re: Proposed Changes to Nebraska Fishing Regulations
Re: Proposed Changes to Nebraska Fishing Regulatio
