Nebraska provides strong freshwater fishing opportunities for catfish. Lakes, rivers, and reservoirs across the state offer reliable action for anglers.
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Regulations for Catfish in Nebraska
Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.
Fishing regulations in Nebraska can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.
Below you will see fishing regulations for catching Channel catfish as of August 7th, 2026. To view regulations for a different fish species, please click on your preferred species in the drop-down.
Channel catfish
Seasons
Open
Bag limit
5
Special gear
Restrictions & requirements
Additional information
No length limit. Possession limit = 20 channel catfish.Exceptions:Flowing Water (rivers, streams and canals): bag limit = 10 channel catfishBox Butte Reservoir: one 30-inches or longerCalamus Reservoir: one 30-inches or longer Fort Kearny SRA No. 2: catch and release onlyGallagher Canyon Reservoir: bag limit = 10 channel catfishJeffrey Reservoir: bag limit = 10 channel catfish Johnson Lake: bag limit = 10 channel catfishLake Babcock: bag limit = 10 channel catfishLake Maloney: bag limit = 10 channel catfishLake North: bag limit = 10 channel catfishLewis and Clark Lake: bag limit = 10 channel catfishMerritt Reservoir: one 30-inches or longer Midway Canyon Reservoir: bag limit = 10 channel catfishNorth Platte River west of Hwy. 26 bridge: bag limit = 10 channel catfishPhillips Canyon Reservoir: bag limit = 10 channel catfishPlum Creek Canyon Reservoir: bag limit = 10 channel catfishRepublican River upstream of Hwy. 89 bridge west of Orleans: bag limit = 10 channel catfish Sutherland Reservoir: bag limit = 10 channel catfishTwo Rivers SRA Nos. 3 and 4: catch and release onlyWildwood Lake: catch and release onlyWindmill SRA No. 3: catch and release only
Edibility
Very good Catch, Clean, Cook Channel Catfish by BlueGabe
These species can be found in many lakes throughout the area. If you are targeting a specific species, you can use the to filter catches by species and see where anglers are catching them and which baits they are using.
📍 Where are the best places to catch Catfish in Nebraska?
Catfish are caught in lakes throughout Nebraska. Popular fishing waters reported by Fishbrain members include Holmes Lake, Wehrspann Lake, and Flanagan Lake.
The allows anglers to see exact catch locations shared by other members, helping you discover productive fishing spots where Catfish have recently been caught.