Nebraska starts fall rainbow trout plants in community waters

Fall trout are on the truck in Nebraska. A Nebraska Game and Parks Commission release on The Outdoor Wire, dated Sept. 17, 2026, says hatchery staff are stocking 12-inch rainbow trout into ponds and lakes across the state. Fisheries outreach manager Daryl Bauer called it a program aimed at urban and community waters and told anglers to get out, enjoy the weather, and harvest a few trout.

The first drop is small and northern: 200 rainbows in East Branch Verdigre Creek at Royal the week of Sept. 21. The week of Sept. 28 fills Panhandle and Sandhills ponds — Ainsworth City Park, Keller Park SRA ponds 4 and 5, Chadron State Park and WMA ponds, Gilbert-Baker WMA at Harrison, and Fort Robinson’s Cherry Creek and Grable ponds.

October is the city week. The week of Oct. 5 includes Fremont Lakes SRA No. 18 (2,000), Wayne City Park Pond (900), and Crystal Cove in South Sioux City (3,000). The week of Oct. 12 hits Holmes Lake (2,500) and Bowling Lake (400) in Lincoln, Kramer Lake in Bellevue (2,000), Fontanelle and Benson park ponds in Omaha, Ta-Ha-Zouka in Norfolk, and CenturyLink Lake at Mahoney State Park. Dates can slide with weather. Confirm the live list and buy a permit at OutdoorNebraska.gov before you string a nightcrawler.

This is a The Gillnet news desk summary, not a reprint.

Source: The Outdoor Wire — Game and Parks Releasing Rainbow Trout This Fall (Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Sept. 17, 2026).