LINCOLN, Neb. – Gas prices just keep going up, but you don’t have to let high fuel costs keep you from going fishing this summer -- chances are there are plenty of good spots within just a few miles of your front door.

Most people tend to fish the larger, better-known lakes and reservoirs and are willing to travel a couple of hours or more to get to them, but you should consider trying some of the smaller, more out-of-the-way areas which often provide just as good, or even better fishing because they get less pressure and may be closer to where you live.

The smaller lakes, such as the flood control reservoirs in the eastern part of the state, offer fishing for different species than the larger impoundments. The smaller lakes and ponds usually provide channel catfish, largemouth bass, bluegill and maybe some crappie, while many of the larger impoundments also offer species such as walleye, wipers and white bass.

You can increase your chances of success during the summer by fishing in the early morning and then again in the evenings instead of during the middle of the day when temperatures are the highest.

Another way to help cut costs is to tent camp on or near the area you are fishing rather than driving back and forth from home or staying in expensive motels. And, as an added bonus, remember that cooking over a campfire is less expensive and much more fun than eating at restaurants, bars or fast-food joints.

To help you find good fishing close to home, biologists across the state have picked spots in their areas they predict will provide good fishing this year and mentioned some of the species you’ll find there. Many of the areas listed are large impoundments, but the locations of all public waters, including the smaller, out-of-the-way “secret spots” are included in the 2008 Nebraska Fishing Guide, which is free at permit vendors across the state, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission offices, and available for download at the Commission’s Web site at www.OutdoorNebraska.org. 

Panhandle

Lake Minatare – walleye, channel catfish

Oliver Reservoir – walleye, channel catfish

Smith Lake WMA – largemouth bass, bluegill

Soldier Creek – brook, rainbow and brown trout

North-central

Valentine National Wildlife Refuge Lakes – northern pike, largemouth bass, bluegill, yellow perch

Merritt Reservoir – walleye, northern pike, catfish, panfish

Calamus Reservoir – walleye, muskellunge, catfish, white bass, wiper

Big Alkali Lake – northern pike, crappie, channel catfish

Shell Lake – largemouth bass, panfish

Cottonwood Lake – largemouth bass, panfish

Long Pine Creek – brown and rainbow trout

Plum Creek – brown and rainbow trout

Northeast

Willow Creek – walleye, channel catfish

Lewis and Clark Lake – walleye, white bass, smallmouth bass

Missouri River above Lewis and Clark Lake – walleye, white bass, smallmouth bass, channel catfish

Goose Lake – bluegill, yellow perch northern pike, largemouth bass

Summit Lake – panfish, largemouth bass, channel catfish

Maskenthine Reservoir – channel catfish

Skyview Lake – panfish, channel catfish

Buckskin Hills Lake – largemouth bass, channel catfish

Grove Lake – largemouth bass, bluegill, northern pike

Elkhorn River – catfish

Niobrara River – catfish

East Branch Verdigre Creek – trout

Fremont State Recreation Area Lake No. 3 – bullheads

Powder Creek Reservoir – bullheads

Southwest

Lake McConaughy – walleye, channel catfish

Lake Ogallala – walleye, white bass, wipers, channel catfish

Enders Reservoir – white bass, wipers, channel catfish

Swanson Reservoir – white bass, wipers

Medicine Creek Reservoir – white bass, wipers

Red Willow Reservoir – white bass, wipers

Lake Maloney – walleye

Sutherland Reservoir – walleye

Arnold Lake SRA – largemouth bass, bluegill

I-80 Lakes – channel catfish, largemouth bass

South-central

Harlan County Reservoir – walleye, white bass, crappie, channel catfish

Sherman Reservoir – crappie, walleye, northern pike

Johnson Lake – walleye, sauger, white bass, wiper, channel and flathead catfish

Elwood Reservoir – muskellunge, channel catfish, walleye, white bass \

I-80 Lakes – typically largemouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish; some also have northern pike, walleye, rock bass, redear sunfish, smallmouth bass.

Southeast

Burchard Lake – largemouth bass

Iron Horse Trail Lake – largemouth bass

Branched Oak Reservoir – flathead catfish, wipers, walleye

Wagon Train Lake – bluegill, largemouth bass, muskellunge, channel catfish, walleye, redear sunfish