Join the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission for another spring and summer of fun with Community Fishing Events.

Community Fishing Events provide opportunities for people of all ages who have never fished or have not fished in years to learn and enjoy the activity. Rods and reels, as well as bait and fishing instruction, will be available for free.

“Come join us at one or several of our events to learn how to fish or to bring a friend and spend time fishing,” said Larry Pape, fisheries education specialist. “Fishing is a fun, convenient activity that can provide quality time for everyone, and we are here to help you have great outdoor experiences.”

Look for the Community Fishing Events Trailer at each site. Appropriate fishing and park permits are required. All fishing regulations apply.

The fifth year of the Discover Fly-Fishing program also will kick off May 25 at Lincoln’s Holmes Lake. Discover Fly-Fishing events, which are held in conjunction with Community Fishing Events, are free and open to anyone interested in a basic introduction to fly-fishing. Learn about the equipment and how to use it, then watch a fly-tying demonstration. Loaner fly rods will be available.

The following Community Fishing Events are from 6-8 p.m., unless otherwise noted. The schedule is:

May 7 – Scottsbluff, Riverside Discovery Center Pond, 4-6 p.m.

May 25 – Lincoln, Holmes Lake

June 1 – Grand Island, Mormon Island State Recreation Area No. 1

June 1 – Omaha, Fontenelle Park Pond

June 2 – North Platte, Birdwood Lake

June 7 – Papillion, Lake Halleck

June 8 – Henderson, City Park Pond, 9 a.m.-noon

June 11 – Scottsbluff, Terry’s Pit, 4-7 p.m.

June 14 – Lincoln, Holmes Lake

June 15 – Omaha, Towl Park Pond

June 20 – Lincoln, Bowling Lake

June 21 – Bellevue, Kramer Park Lake

June 22 – Norfolk, Skyview Lake

July 5 – Lincoln, Holmes Lake

July 6 – Omaha, Benson Park Pond

July 7 – Broken Bow, Melham Lake

July 11 – Papillion, Lake Halleck

July 12 – Lincoln, Bowling Lake

July 13 – Norfolk, Skyview Lake

July 14 – Holdrege, North Park Lake

July 18 – Omaha, Fontenelle Park Pond

July 19 – Papillion, Prairie Queen Lake

July 20 – Gibbon, Windmill SRA No. 2

July 25 – Bellevue, Kramer Park Lake

July 27 – Grand Island, Mormon Island SRA No. 1

July 27 – Schuyler, City Park Pond

Aug. 1 – Papillion, Lake Halleck

Aug. 2 – Lincoln, Holmes Lake

Aug. 4 – Kearney, Fort Kearny SRA No. 6

Aug. 12 – North Platte, Iron Horse Lake

Sept. 10 – Scottsbluff, Riverside Discovery Center Pond, 4-7 p.m.

Discover Fly-Fishing – 6-8 p.m.

May 25 – Lincoln, Holmes Lake

June 1 – Omaha, Fontenelle Park Pond

June 21 – Bellevue, Kramer Park Lake

July 12 – Lincoln, Bowling Lake

July 27 – Grand Island, Mormon Island SRA No. 1

Family Fun Event – 6-10 p.m.

June 7, July 12, Aug. 23 – McCook, Red Willow Reservoir

Hooked for Life – 10 a.m.- 2 p.m.

May 6, June 3, July 1, Aug. 5, Sept. 9 – McCook, Barnett Park Ponds

Other events

May 20 – Statewide, Free Fishing and Park Entry Day

May 20 – Kearney, Fort Kearny SRA No. 6, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

May 24 – Kearney, Archway Lakes (Firefighters Museum), Cops and Bobbers, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

May 29 – Kearney, Fort Kearny SRA No. 6, Fish Fort Kearny, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

June 3 – Loup City, Bowman Lake, Polish Days Family Fishing, 1-3 p.m.

June 3 – Kearney, Yanney Lake, Heritage Day, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

June 17 – Ravenna, Ravenna Lake, Family Fishing at Annevar Days, 2-4 p.m.

June 21 – Kearney, Archway Lakes (Firefighters Museum), Reels and Rescues, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

June 24 – Lincoln, Branched Oak Lake, White Perch Tournament, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

July 22 – Lincoln, Holmes Lake, Cornhusker State Games, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

July 25 – Kearney, Archway Lakes (Firefighters Museum), Hooks and Ladders, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

July 25 – Bellevue, Kramer Park Lake, Discover Bow Fishing, 6-8 p.m.

Visit OutdoorNebraska.gov for more information on Family Fishing Events or to purchase fishing or park permits.

Commission will consider big game hunting recommendations

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will consider staff recommendations for 2023 deer, antelope and elk hunting seasons when it meets April 19 in Fremont.

The meeting will begin at 8 a.m. at the Holiday Inn Express, 2415 N. Lincoln Ave.

A public hearing is scheduled for proposed amendments to Commission orders pertaining to season dates, bag limits, permit quantities and areas open for deer, antelope and elk hunting. The changes will help the agency manage big game populations at socially acceptable levels.

Staff will recommend:

  • removing 40 general either-sex and 155 general doe/fawn antelope permits,
  • including archery season on all Mule Deer Conservation Area permits, making them valid for all open seasons,
  • prohibiting antlerless mule deer harvest statewide on all lands open to public hunting, except land in the Open Fields and Water Program,
  • reducing the nonresident either-sex and buck only deer permit quota to 10,000, excluding landowner and youth permits,
  • reducing the nonresident archery deer permit quota to 3,000 and make it not valid for mule deer in the MDCA,
  • reducing the nonresident muzzleloader deer permit quota to 1,000,
  • creating a new Plains Whitetail firearm deer permit,
  • reducing available November Firearm permits by 5.2% and Antlerless Only Season Choice permits by 7.4%,
  • restructuring elk management units,
  • adding 36 bull elk permits and 214 antlerless elk permits,
  • minor adjustments on other deer, elk and antelope permits to meet management objectives.

The commissioners also will consider approving a Board Resolution to apply for Transportation Alternatives Program grant funding through the Nebraska Department of Transportation to surface 24.6 miles of Cowboy Trail from Rushville west to mile marker 400.

In other business, commissioners will consider:

  • permanent and temporary easement requests from NDOT for work on Nebraska Highway 7 in Ainsworth and the temporary diversion of the Cowboy Trail there, and
  • a staff recommendation to designate Phillips Canyon and Midway Lake, both located near Johnson Lake State Recreation Area in Dawson County, as state recreation areas. Both are located on the Supply Canal and operated by Central Public Power and Irrigation District.

There also will be a review of the 2022-2023 river otter season and an overview of the Northeast Region by regional staff.

To view a complete agenda, visit OutdoorNebraska.gov and search for Public Notices.