Kearny State Recreation Area, NE

From Kearney Interstate 80 Interchange (Exit 272), 2 miles south, 5 miles east on Highway 50, 1 mile north

Latitude: 40.65208 Longitude: -98.98943

 

 

Seven lakes are available for fishing at Fort Kearny SRA ranging from 1 to 4 acres. The area is maintained as a State Recreation Area and a park entry permit is required to enter. The park provides both modern and primitive camping, as well as a shower house, swimming beach, and picnic shelters. A hike/bike trail is located on the eastern edge of the park provides access to the Platte River. Shoreline access for angling is good on most of the lakes and the area is an excellent place to introduce youngsters to fishing. No boat ramps exist on these lakes, but electric motors and non-powered boats may be used. The fish populations were last surveyed in the spring of 2011.

 

Lake #1 consists of two 1.5 acre lakes connected by a small channel. Depths on each lake approach twenty feet. Largemouth bass abundance is fair and most bass ranged from 8 to 11 inches. The largest bass sampled in 2011 was 13.5 inches. Bluegill are abundant with the majority of fish ranging from 4 to 7 inches, although there was a good sample of 8 to 9 inch fish collected. Channel catfish abundance is also good and fish up to 18 inches were collected. Catfish are stocked in alternate years and the next stocking of 150 ten-inch fish is scheduled for the fall of 2012. Other fish collected during the survey of this lake included low numbers of black crappie, white crappie, green sunfish and redear sunfish.

Lake #2 is a three acre lake with a maximum depth of 28 feet. The largemouth abundance is very good, with most bass ranging from 6 to 11 inches. Low numbers of bass larger than 12 inches were sampled and the largest bass was 20 inches. Bluegill were not as abundant, but there are good numbers of 7 to 8.5 inch fish. The channel catfish population is excellent, both in term of high abundance and numbers of large fish. Catfish of all sizes were collected, with the largest fish measuring 37 inches (20 pounds). There is a catch and release only regulation in effect for catfish on this lake. Catfish are stocked on alternate years with the next stocking of 150 ten-inch fish scheduled for the fall of 2012. Other fish collected during the survey included low numbers of green sunfish and green sunfish x bluegill hybrids.

Lake #3 is only one acre and is the smallest lake on the area. It has a maximum depth of 28 feet. Largemouth bass abundance was low and most of the bass collected in the survey ranged from 9 to 11 inches. The largest bass was 16 inches. Bluegill abundance was fair, but there was a good number of 7 to 9 inch bluegills collected in the survey. Channel catfish are also present, with most fish averaging 16 inches. Catfish are stocked on alternate years with the next stocking of 60 ten-inch catfish scheduled for the fall of 2012. Other fish sampled during the survey included a few large common carp, green sunfish and green sunfish x bluegill hybrids.

Lake #4 is 3 acres with a maximum depth of 18 feet. This lake was treated with rotenone in 2003 to remove rough fish. It was restocked with wipers only and a feeding program was initiated to enable these fish to grow quickly. While the wipers grew very fast and quickly reached trophy sizes, they were not easily caught by anglers and the stocking program was ended in 2009. A small population of large wipers (>20 inches) still exists. Other fish species were illegally introduced by anglers following the renovation, including largemouth bass, bluegill and black crappie. Currently the lake has an excellent density of largemouth bass. A high percentage of the bass sampled ranged from 8 to 11 inches. Lake #4 had the highest abundance of bass greater than 15 inches of all of the Fort Kearny lakes. The largest bass collected was 22.5 inches. Bluegill are very abundant, with most of the fish measuring from 6.5 to 8.5 inches. Black crappie are present in low abundance. Channel catfish are also in low abundance, as they have only been stocked one time since the renovation. They are scheduled for alternate years with the next stocking of 150 ten-inch fish scheduled for the fall of 2012. Other fish sampled during the survey included low numbers of green sunfish and green sunfish x bluegill hybrids.

Lake #5 is 3.25 acres and has a maximum depth of 32 feet. Largemouth bass abundance is high, with most of the fish ranging from 7 to 11 inches. Few bass larger than 12 inches were sampled and the largest bass was 18 inches. Bluegill abundance was low, but most of the fish ranged from 7 to 8.5 inches. Black crappie abundance was low, but a few larger crappie are present (12-14 inches). Channel catfish were also present, with most fish ranging from 18 to 22 inches. Catfish are stocked on alternate years, with the next scheduled stocking of 150 ten-inch fish scheduled for the fall of 2012. Other fish captured in low numbers during the survey included large common carp (30-32 inches), green sunfish and rock bass. Yellow perch fingerlings have been stocked several times in recent years, but predation from largemouth bass has limited their survival and no perch were caught during the survey.

Lake #6 is 3.75 acres and has a maximum depth of 20 feet. This lake had the highest density of largemouth bass out of all of the Fort Kearny lakes. Most of the bass ranged from 7 to 10.5 inches. Only a few fish larger than 12 inches were sampled and the largest bass collected was 21.5 inches. Bluegill abundance was also the highest of all of the Fort Kearny Lakes. Most of the bluegill ranged from 5 to 7 inches, although there were a few larger than 8 inches. Channel catfish abundance is very high on this lake due to an intensive stocking and feeding program. There are a 375 ten-inch catfish annually stocked and an automatic fish feeder is normally ran from May through October. Most of the catfish range from 15 to 22 inches, but fish up to 40 inches (28 pounds) have been caught from this lake. Rainbow trout are also stocked during May of each year to provide fish for the annual Outdoor Discovery Program. These fish provide good angling opportunities during May and early June. Other fish encountered during the survey included low numbers of black bullheads and green sunfish. A handicapped accessible fishing pier is located on the south side of Lake #6.

Lake #7 is 3.5 acres and has a maximum depth of 28 feet. This lake has a designated public swimming beach on the south side. Shore line access is poor around most of the lake, but a handicapped accessible pier is located on the northeast corner. Largemouth bass abundance is high, with most of the bass collected measuring from 7 to 12.5 inches. Few bass larger than 12 inches were sampled and the largest bass was 15.5 inches. Bluegill abundance was good, with most of the fish ranging from 3 to 6 inches. Although few bluegill larger than eight inches were collected during the latest survey, Lake #7 has traditionally produced bluegills up to 10 inches. Channel catfish abundance was very high and lengths ranged from 11 to 27 inches. Catfish are stocked on alternate years, with the next scheduled stocking of 175 ten-inch fish scheduled for the fall of 2012. Other fish captured in the survey included a few 30-34” common carp and small green sunfish.