Outdoor Report

August 15, 2018

Lake McConaughy
The surface water temperature at the dam is 73° F with the lake elevation at 3254.1 which is 4.9 feet higher than last year on this date and 10.9 feet below normal full pool capacity.  Inflow into Lake McConaughy is 950 cfs with outflow of 1,709 cfs.  The lake surface elevation has declined 0.3 foot in the past week.

Walleye fishing success has improved with daytime boat anglers focused on the Lemoyne, Lakeview and Ogallala Beach areas in 30-35 feet of water drifting crawler rigs, trolling crankbaits or slabbing.  Most fish are in the 17-22 inch range with occasional larger walleye 7-10 pounds.  Night time walleye success along the dam for boat and bank anglers has been sporadic.  Those anglers are trolling crankbaits or casting jigs.  It should be noted that all boats are prohibited within 200 feet of the Kingsley Dam outlet 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.

Some anglers have been targeting white bass in the Otter Creek/Sand Point area with inconsistent success either slabbing in 30 feet of water or casting crankbaits or jigs when the fish on feeding on the surface.  Other anglers are still targeting large wipers along the north shoreline from Martin Bay to Lemoyne casting feather jigs or twister tails along the shoreline.  A few wipers have been taken at night along the dam trolling crankbaits.  The daily bag limit for wipers and white bass is 15 with no more than one fish over 16 inches in combination.  The daily bag limit for smallmouth bass is 5 with a minimum size limit of 15 inches and only one fish 21 inches or longer.

Channel catfish have been caught in good numbers on almost areas of the lake from the bank or boat.  Most anglers have been using shad entrails, cut-bait, frozen shrimp baits or crawlers.

Usable concrete boat ramps for launching could be found at the Cedar Vue lakeside and bayside ramps, Lemoyne Bay, Arthur Bay, Martin Bay, Spillway Bay and Lakeview ramps.  Boats could also be launched with four wheel drive vehicles from the beach at North Shore Lodge.

Lake Ogallala
The surface water temperature is 68° F.  Rainbow trout fishing success has been slow with bank anglers using worms, salmon eggs, dough baits or casting spinners, spoons or jigs.  Most fish caught range in size from 10-12 inches with an occasional larger fish up to 14 inches.   Boat anglers are trolling or casting spinners or spoons.  Fly fishermen have been using bead head nymph patterns or streamers.  Anglers are reminded the daily bag limit in Lake Ogallala is 5 trout with no more than one over 16 inches.

Keystone Canal
Discharge into the canal is an irrigation flow of 1,410 cfs.  Success for rainbow trout has been fair with some larger fish in the 16-18 inch range.  The most popular technique has been drifting salmon eggs, worms or dough baits.  The daily bag limit for the Keystone Canal is 5 trout with no size limit.

North Platte River below the Keystone Diversion Dam
Flow is 299 cfs from the Keystone Diversion Dam into the river.   Success for rainbow trout has been fair with most anglers using worms, salmon eggs, dough baits or casting spinners or spoons.  Fly fishermen have been using weighted nymph patterns, streamers or midge patterns.  Anglers are reminded the daily bag limit in the North Platte River below the Diversion Dam is 5 trout with no more than one over 16 inches.

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