About fishing in Nebraska (Omaha, Ogallala: home, college, commission)

[Gunluvver2]

To GaPeach who asked this question in another topic that has now been closed:
"So much for my ability to read a map, oh well can't know everything . That interstate had it hid . That place is looking better all the time . Thanks IMF . Any trout in that river ? I only went trout fishing one time and that was in a mountain stream of captured fish called trout farm , never fly fishing is that how you fish there ?"

Fly fishing is common on some streams. I am not too knowledgeable about that anymore so I will let others comment on that.

There is just about every kind of fresh water fishing you can imagine in Nebraska. You asked specifically about Trout and Buffalo (Buffalo Carp). Since trout require fairly cold water to reproduce most of the naturally occuring trout are in streams and lakes in the Western part of the state. The Niobrara River, Snake River, Dismal River and sections of the N. Platte River plus a lot of others that I have not mentioned have trout. Rainbows, Brown and Brook Trout among a few others. The Games and Parks stock trout in a lot of waters where it is too warm for them to reproduce so Trout fishing is within a couple of hours anywhere you go in Nebraska.

Buffalo Carp and most other species of Carp can be found everywhere. Most people in Nebraska consider them "trash" fish. I used to myself until I ate Carp at a fish place in Omaha ( Joe Tess's) in 1964 while I was in college. After getting a taste of Carp and liking it I started keeping them when I caught them instead of using them as fertilizer in the garden. I have spent countless hours on Lake McCoughnahy (near Oagallal) shooting Carp with a Bow & Arrow and then smoking them in my homemade smoker. The water in Big Mac, the States largest) is clear and clean. The catfish & carp you take from Big Mac never have the muddy taste that they seem to have when taken from other less pristine waters.

I have fished all over the United States and Canada and although some States have better fisheries for specific species I don't think you will find a State that has a more diverse population of fish species than Nebraska. This is one instance where I think we can all agree. DIVERSITY MATTERS!

Hopefully there will be people who post on this topic who can give more details about the fishing opportunities in their area.

GL2

[Ga.Peach]

Thanks a lot G, we do like to fih but don't unless we can eat them . Some fish in poluted rivers then throw them back in . We won't injure a fish we can't eat . So we pretty don't fish much anymore. Too much mercury and other toxins .

It would be nice to see clean rivers again . Most in the south are ugly and filled with toxins.

Same thing that will hapen there if you let welfare or indutry get out of hand . Including big corporate ag co.s. They don't care what i takes to make food grow, dollar is bottom line .

We have never used fertilizers or pesticieds here since 1953 it was vacant undeveloped land until we bought 10 years ago .

We use to fish on east coast . There we caught salt water and most didn't eat blue fish , siad it was trash . So we gave them away6 until a man at the pier told us to bleed them when first caught and they are best white flesh fish ther is. he was right ! We batter them in potatoe flakes [ only time we use the things ,pt flakes. ] . No fishy taste and good white meat . What area do you like to fish best ?

[Ga.Peach]

Sorry for so many typing erros. I will be more careful .

[Gunluvver2]

What area do you like to fish best ?

GaPeach. My favorite fishing spot in Nebraska is Lake McCoughnahy, that is close to Ogallala. It has every species of species of fish you can imagine. The N.Platte River feeds the lake and the water is cold. I like to be there in late May or early June when the cotton is flying from the Cottonwood trees and the Walleye are running. Just shortly after the Walleye run ends Carp are schooling. Walleye and bluegill are my favorite eating fish and when smoked properly Carp is as close to gourmet eating as you can come. For some great flyfishing trout action Big Mac's outlet empties into Lake Ogallala. For two or three miles below Kingsley Dam the Platte River has some outstanding trout action. Pay attention to the sirens and when you hear them head for the bank of the river immediately. The water can come up suddenly and the current may be swift but that is when the trout love it.

Water pollution is a problem in a few of the Lakes in the eastern end of the State. The Missouri River to Omaha is great but from Omaha on South you might want to check with a Game Warden about water quality. The same should be done in the area lakes in the Eastern 1/3 of Nebraska. If there are any polluted waters in the Western 2/3's I haven't heard of it.

There are thousands of farm ponds in Nebraska and lots of small streams and lakes. I can't think of any community that doesn't have a good fishing hole within a half hours drive. The rural bars are family social halls. Telling tall stories about the fish you have caught is a way to be accepted instantly. Just remember the etiquette of telling fishing and hunting stories.

GL2

[Ga.Peach]

Sounds like a fun place . We haven't fished in a couple years now . We use to do a lot of salt water fishing . Now it's too far from where we live .

See the movie 'Funny Farm ' with Chevy Chase , this is what we don't want to happen . It was a very funny and clean movie .

[Earniefan]

Gunluvver2 - Did I read that right? You eat carp? I've never heard of anyone eating them, aren't they full of bones, or is there a technique that we don't know about?

I second the nom for Big Mac we love going there for the white sandy beaches and cottonwood trees to camp under. It's wonderful, we always go swimming to beat the heat in the afternoon the water is the perfect temperature and it's clear!

[kosnebbear]

Here is the place to go to find out about fishing anywhere in Nebraska.

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Homepage

I like Harlan County Lake, Alma: Hugh Butler Lake, Cambridge; Sherman Lake, Loup City; or Calmus Lake in the sand hills north of Loup City. All of these lakes are clean and you can eat the fish that you catch there. Also these lakes are closer to the east than is Big Mac.

[Gunluvver2]

[quote=Earniefan;2425190]Gunluvver2 - Did I read that right? You eat carp? I've never heard of anyone eating them, aren't they full of bones, or is there a technique that we don't know about?

Yes EarnieFan I do eat Carp. I grew up in Eastern Colorado and when I was a kid we always used Carp as fertilizer in the garden. When I went to college in Nebraska one of my buddies from Omaha invited me home for a weekend. He took me to a fish place on South 24th Street called Joe Tess's. He didn't let me look at the menu he just told me to order the special. The waitress brought out a big platter of deep fried fish and french fries. I ate three or four plates of the special, after all it was all you can eat! After I had eaten my fill my buddy Roger asked me how I liked the fish. I told him it was great! He told me it was Carp! You could have knocked me over with a feather.

Since then I eat Carp every chance I get. As you probably know there are several species of Carp but if taken from clean water, like Big Mac in Nebraska, even Buffalo Carp taste great.

There are several ways to fix them but one of the main things to do is to take a sharp serrated knife and run it across the rib cage from the inside after you gut them. Run the knife across the bones and score them at least every inch from head to tail. After skinning and chunking them you can roll them in your favorite breading mixture, I dip them in beaten eggs and then a flour and cornmeal mix, and pop them in a deep fat frier with hot peanut oil (380 degrees or hotter). The bones will be easy to separate while eating and the smaller bones will be soft enough you can chew them with no worry.

My favorite Carp is smoked. They are great when canned also. I would post my methods for doing the smoking but it is sort of a trade secret LOL. I have no idea how to can them properly but I have eaten canned Carp several times and it is delicious. One of my favorite places for canned Carp was a Catfish chain of restaurants in Texas and Lousiana. They sold quart jars of canned Carp at the register. I think it might have been DAVID BEARD'S chain but it has been so long since I have been there I can't remember. Maybe some of the Texan's or Cajuns on the Forum can let us know.

I think the key to how they taste is the water they are caught in. The water in Lake MCCoughnahy is so clean you can often see fish swimming thirty or forty feet down a couple miles from the inlet. Of course there are a lot of other Lakes in Nebraska that have clean water and Carp also.
Good Luck,

GL2

[Dave1215]

Originally Posted by Earniefan

Gunluvver2 - Did I read that right? You eat carp? I've never heard of anyone eating them, aren't they full of bones, or is there a technique that we don't know about?

There is a restraunt in South Omaha that specilizes in Carp and Catfish - Joe Tess's. Its always busy!

[Ga.Peach]

I hope we get to come there and catch some of those carp you like so much Gunluvver.

And we love the water, especially when it's clear .

I would love to meet yall there but it would probably be an angry mob at the lake waiting for me ,so I'll just tell you how is was online .