Outdoor Report
April 16, 2026
🎣 The walleye spawn continues in full swing at the lake. Surface water temp. is up to 55°.
📸: Thanks to Andrew Richtig for sharing!
DOCKS:
Divers Bay (Burma Road)
Martin Bay (low water ramp)
Lake Ogallala (both)
💧 Water level: 3,230.8 = 892,100ac-ft (51.2% capacity)
🔥 A campfire ban is in place at Lake McConaughy and Lake Ogallala State Rec Areas. Propane stoves, firepits, and grills are permitted. Please be careful with anything that could create a spark in the natural environment.
🦃Spring turkey shotgun season opens this Saturday, April 18. Youth shotgun and archery season are open, as well. All seasons close May 31. All turkey harvests must be reported through Telecheck. A reminder to hunters to avoid OFW sites and WMAs in counties affected by recent wildfires in counties including Keith, Garden and Arthur. Clear Creek WMA remains closed at this time.
A reminder to anglers fishing the dam: from sunset to sunrise, April 1 to 30, any boat within 30 yards of Kingsley Dam must travel in a south-to-north (counter-clockwise) direction. Also, all boats are prohibited within 200 feet of the Kingsley Dam outlet and morning glory structures. The statewide daily bag limit for walleye is 4 fish with minimum size limit of 15 inches and no more than one fish over 22 inches.
Check our calendar for local events.
Seasonal Fishing Overview : With over 55 square miles of water (at full pool) and over 70 miles of shoreline, Lake McConaughy is Nebraska’s largest reservoir and a popular year-round fishing and outdoor recreation destination. Current water level information may be found at cnppid.com/lake-river-data.
Spring: The walleye spawn at Lake McConaughy begins around the middle of April, and continues through the first part of May. From the middle of May to the Fourth of July, anglers target walleye and wipers using live bait or casting jigs to the shoreline.
Summer: Success with white bass, and small and large mouth bass can generally be found from May through the end of August casting jigs or lures to rocky points. Walleye and wipers are targeted through August trolling lures and spinner baits. Walleye and wipers are usually found off the face of Kingsley Dam or in bays off rocky points, although walleye are caught throughout the lake. Yellow perch can be caught all summer throughout the lake. Northern pike may sometimes be found at the west end of the lake casting lures and spinner baits. Rainbow trout, brown trout, and tiger trout can be caught in Lake Ogallala all summer, as well as in the river and supply canal. Anglers find success casting off boats or the shore as well as trolling.
Fall: From Labor Day weekend through Thanksgiving, anglers slab for walleye and white bass on Lake McConaughy. Smallmouth bass are targeted off the rocky points. Catfish can be caught year-round, especially at the west end of the lake.
Winter: Before the bays are iced in, success can still be found slabbing for walleye by Martin Bay or near Lemoyne. Catfish can be caught year-round, especially at the west end of the lake. Trout can be caught from open water on Lake Ogallala all winter. Anglers generally have success with fly-fishing small nymph patterns, as well as nightcrawlers and eggs on spinning tackle.
PARK FAQS:
CALL 911 for emergencies. For non-emergency law enforcement issues, please contact Nebraska State Patrol Dispatch at 308-535-8047.
WEATHER can change very quickly so be sure to check the forecast AND monitor changing conditions. As always, if you see those dark clouds gathering, particularly in the west, GET OFF THE LAKE. Anyone may sign up for local weather alerts with Regroup, a FREE emergency notification service: https://embeds.regroupcloud.com/.../keithcou.../signup_embed.
Martin Bay and Arthur Bay are no-wake bays year round.
To avoid lines in peak season, please make sure to purchase your fishing and park entry permits ahead of time online or via a local permit vendor. Non-Nebraska registered motorized boats are required to have an Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) sticker, which can be purchased in advance as well. https://OutdoorNebraska.gov.
The possession and consumption of ALCOHOL IS PROHIBITED at Lake McConaughy and Lake Ogallala State Recreation Areas.
ATVs and UTVs are prohibited at the recreation areas.
ALL PETS must be on a 6-foot leash at all times.
BE AWARE that you will need a four-wheel drive vehicle in order to drive on the beach. Roads are not improved once you get off Shoreline Road.
BRING PFDs for the whole family and make sure everyone wears them. LIFE JACKETS SAVE LIVES!
PACK OUT everything you bring with you and leave only your footprints, please. Recycling drop off receptacles are located around the lake.
Check out all hunting season dates here: https://outdoornebraska.gov/hunt/hunting-seasons. See the Public Hunting Atlas and Stubble Access Guide for public hunting ground info:
https://outdoornebraska.gov/guides-maps/public-access-atlas
http://digital.outdoornebraska.gov/.../1539981-2025-26...
