Live wading and fishing conditions for 43 Nebraska rivers
Every river below is monitored through its USGS streamflow gauges, refreshed every 15 minutes and rated in plain language for wading safety. Select a river for the live dashboard with current flow, trend, weather and community reports.
Niobrara River
Nebraska's marquee river — a clear, sandy-bottomed National Scenic River winding out of the Sandhills past Valentine, famous for canoeing, tubing, and the waterfalls at Smith Falls. It fishes for channel catfish, smallmouth, and northern pike up top, then broadens toward Verdel where flathead cats and big-river species take over. A wade-and-float river up in the scenic reach; frame the lower end as float/bank water.
Region: Niobrara & North · Fish for: Channel Catfish, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike · USGS gauges: Niobrara River Near Sparks, Nebr., Niobrara River At Mariaville, Nebr., Niobrara River Near Verdel, Nebr.
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Platte River
Nebraska's iconic river — a mile-wide, inch-deep braid of sand and channel running the length of the state, world-famous for the sandhill crane migration and a workhorse fishery for channel catfish, flathead, walleye, white bass, and wiper. Frame conditions as bank/boat safety and channel navigation, never a wading maximum: the sand shifts and the braids run swift when it's up.
Region: Platte Valley · Fish for: Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Walleye · USGS gauges: Platte River Near Overton, Nebr., Platte River Near Grand Island, Nebr., Platte River At North Bend, Nebr., Platte River At Louisville, Nebr.
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Missouri River
The great border river — the eastern edge of Nebraska from Sioux City past Omaha to Rulo, and one of the Midwest's premier big-river fisheries. Below Gavins Point the channelized river runs deep and swift past wing dams and revetment, holding trophy flathead and channel cats, walleye, sauger, paddlefish, and drum. This is strictly a boat-and-bank fishery: frame every number as boat/bank current safety, never a wading maximum.
Region: Lower Missouri & Southeast · Fish for: Flathead Catfish, Channel Catfish, Sauger · USGS gauges: Missouri River At Sioux City, Ia, Missouri River At Omaha, Ne, Missouri River At Nebraska City, Ne, Missouri River At Rulo, Ne
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Long Pine Creek
One of Nebraska's few genuine trout streams — a cold, clear, spring-fed creek tumbling through a wooded canyon near Long Pine, holding wild brown trout and stocked rainbows plus native smallmouth-water fish down low. A small, intimate wade fishery with good public access through the state rec area and WMAs.
Region: Niobrara & North · Fish for: Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: Long Pine Creek Near Riverview, Nebr.
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North Platte River
The Panhandle's big river — running out of Wyoming past Scottsbluff and Gering through the North Platte Valley, a broad prairie river for channel catfish, walleye, wiper, and carp. Irrigation diversions shape its flow; frame conditions as bank/boat safety, not a wading maximum.
Region: Panhandle & High Plains · Fish for: Channel Catfish, Walleye · USGS gauges: North Platte River At Scottsbluff, Nebr.
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North Loup River
A clear, spring-fed Sandhills river running east from the grasslands past Taylor toward St. Paul — sandy-bottomed, stable, and cool, holding channel catfish, smallmouth, and northern pike. A wade-and-float gem through quiet ranch country, kept fishable by Sandhills groundwater.
Region: Sandhills · Fish for: Channel Catfish, Smallmouth Bass · USGS gauges: North Loup River At Brewster, Nebr., North Loup River At Taylor, Nebr., North Loup River Near Saint Paul, Nebr.
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Middle Loup River
The classic Sandhills river — clear, shallow, and sandy, braiding east from Dunning through the grass past St. Paul. Stable spring-fed flows and long gravel-and-sand runs make it a favorite float for channel catfish, smallmouth, and northern pike.
Region: Sandhills · Fish for: Channel Catfish, Smallmouth Bass · USGS gauges: Middle Loup River At Dunning, Nebr., Middle Loup River Near Gates, Nebr., Middle Loup River At Saint Paul, Nebr.
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Dismal River
A tight, fast, spring-fed Sandhills river cutting a canyon near Thedford — cold, clear, and remarkably steady, one of the most unusual streams in the state. Its stable groundwater flow and cool temperatures support channel catfish, smallmouth, and even some trout in the coldest reaches; a technical wade-and-float through the grass.
Region: Sandhills · Fish for: Channel Catfish, Smallmouth Bass · USGS gauges: Dismal River Near Thedford, Nebr.
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Elkhorn River
A long, sandy northeast-Nebraska river running from the Sandhills margin past Norfolk and West Point down to its Platte confluence at Waterloo — a popular float and bank fishery for channel catfish, flathead, smallmouth, and walleye. Cleaner and cooler up top, broader and sandier down low; frame the lower reaches as float/bank safety.
Region: Elkhorn Valley · Fish for: Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Smallmouth Bass · USGS gauges: Elkhorn River At Ewing, Nebr., Elkhorn River At Norfolk, Nebr., Elkhorn River At West Point, Nebr., Elkhorn River At Waterloo, Nebr.
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South Loup River
The southern Sandhills fork, draining east past Arnold and Pressey WMA toward St. Michael — a clear, sandy wade-and-float river for channel catfish, smallmouth, and pike, quieter and skinnier than its sisters.
Region: Sandhills · Fish for: Channel Catfish, Smallmouth Bass · USGS gauges: South Loup River At Arnold, Nebr., South Loup River At Pressey Wma Near Oconto, Nebr., South Loup River At Saint Michael, Nebr.
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Republican River
The big river of southern Nebraska — running east from the Colorado line through Benkelman, McCook, and Orleans past a chain of irrigation reservoirs to Guide Rock. A broad, sandy, regulated prairie river for channel catfish, flathead, walleye, wiper, and white bass, with strong tailwater fisheries below the dams. Frame conditions as bank/boat safety, not a wading maximum.
Region: Republican Basin · Fish for: Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Walleye · USGS gauges: Republican River At Benkelman, Nebr., Republican River At Mccook, Nebr., Republican River Near Orleans, Nebr., Republican River At Guide Rock, Nebr.
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Big Blue River
A clearing southeast-Nebraska river running past Crete and Barneston toward Kansas — a popular channel-catfish, smallmouth, walleye, and white-bass stream with rockier structure than most prairie rivers. A wade-and-float river on the moderate reaches, bank fishery when high.
Region: Blue Basin · Fish for: Channel Catfish, Smallmouth Bass · USGS gauges: Big Blue River Near Crete, Nebr., Big Blue River At Barneston, Nebr.
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Loup River
The main-stem Loup formed where the North and Middle Loups join near Genoa — a broad, sandy, braided river carrying the combined Sandhills flow toward the Platte. Channel catfish, flathead, walleye, and carp hold in the deeper holes; a float-and-bank river more than a wade stream on the lower end.
Region: Sandhills · Fish for: Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish · USGS gauges: Loup River Near Genoa, Nebr.
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South Platte River
The South Platte enters far southwest Nebraska from Colorado near Roscoe before joining the North Platte at the state's namesake city — a broad, sandy, often shallow prairie river for channel catfish, carp, and the occasional walleye. A bank-and-wade river where flow allows; frame it as bank safety on higher water.
Region: Panhandle & High Plains · Fish for: Channel Catfish, Common Carp · USGS gauges: South Platte River At Roscoe, Nebr.
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Little Blue River
A clearing southeast-Nebraska river running past Fairbury toward Kansas — a channel-catfish, smallmouth, and walleye stream with gravel and rock structure, close to the historic Rock Creek Station. A wade-and-float river on moderate flows, bank fishery when up.
Region: Blue Basin · Fish for: Channel Catfish, Smallmouth Bass · USGS gauges: Little Blue River Near Deweese, Nebr., Little Blue River At County Line Nr Deshler, Nebr., Little Blue River Near Fairbury, Nebr.
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Salt Creek
Lincoln's home river — draining the saline wetlands and the city past Roca and Greenwood toward the Platte, channelized for flood control but holding channel catfish, carp, and largemouth in its deeper reaches and connected wetlands. A bank-and-wade fishery; frame the flood-control reaches as bank safety when high.
Region: Lower Missouri & Southeast · Fish for: Channel Catfish, Common Carp · USGS gauges: Salt Creek At Roca, Nebr., Salt Creek At 27Th Street At Lincoln, Nebr., Salt Creek At Greenwood, Nebr.
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Frenchman Creek
A cool, clear spring-influenced Republican tributary running past Palisade and Culbertson — cleaner and steadier than the muddy plains streams around it, holding channel catfish, smallmouth, and the odd trout in the coldest upper reaches. A pleasant wade-and-bank creek.
Region: Republican Basin · Fish for: Channel Catfish, Smallmouth Bass · USGS gauges: Frenchman Creek At Palisade, Nebr., Frenchman Creek At Culbertson, Nebr.
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Bazile Creek
A clear north-central creek draining the bluffs toward the Niobrara-Missouri confluence near Niobrara — a lightly pressured wade-and-bank stream for channel catfish, smallmouth, and northern pike, cool and clear where springs feed it.
Region: Niobrara & North · Fish for: Channel Catfish, Smallmouth Bass · USGS gauges: Bazile Creek At Center, Nebr., Bazile Creek Near Niobrara, Nebr.
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North Fork Elkhorn River
The Elkhorn's northern feeder draining past Pierce toward Norfolk — a smaller, sandy warmwater stream for channel catfish, smallmouth, and carp. A quiet wade-and-bank creek through farm country.
Region: Elkhorn Valley · Fish for: Channel Catfish, Smallmouth Bass · USGS gauges: North Fork Elkhorn River Near Pierce, Nebr.
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Big Nemaha River
A southeast-Nebraska river draining the loess hills past Falls City toward the Missouri — a sandy warmwater river for channel catfish, flathead, and carp, with the odd walleye near the confluence. A bank-and-float river more than a wade stream.
Region: Lower Missouri & Southeast · Fish for: Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish · USGS gauges: Big Nemaha River At Falls City, Nebr.
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Beaver Creek
A long Loup-basin prairie creek draining the eastern Sandhills margin past Genoa toward the Loup — a warmwater wade-and-bank stream for channel catfish, smallmouth, and carp through quiet ranch and farm country.
Region: Sandhills · Fish for: Channel Catfish, Smallmouth Bass · USGS gauges: Beaver Creek At Genoa, Nebr.
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North Fork Republican River
The northern headwater fork entering from Colorado near the state line — a small, sandy, spring- and irrigation-influenced prairie stream for channel catfish and carp, feeding the Republican system. A quiet bank-and-wade creek.
Region: Republican Basin · Fish for: Channel Catfish, Common Carp · USGS gauges: North Fork Republican River At Colorado-Nebraska
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Wood River
A small Platte-valley stream paralleling the big river through the crane country past Grand Island — a slow, sandy warmwater creek for channel catfish and carp. A quiet bank-and-wade stream, flow-dependent.
Region: Platte Valley · Fish for: Channel Catfish, Common Carp · USGS gauges: Wood River At Grand Island, Nebr.
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Little Nemaha River
A southeast-Nebraska river draining the loess hills past Auburn toward the Missouri — a sandy warmwater river for channel catfish, flathead, and carp. A bank-and-float stream through quiet farm country.
Region: Lower Missouri & Southeast · Fish for: Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish · USGS gauges: Little Nemaha River At Auburn, Nebr.
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South Fork Republican River
The southern headwater fork crossing the corner near Benkelman from Colorado/Kansas — a small, sandy, often thin prairie stream for channel catfish and carp feeding the Republican. Remote and lightly fished.
Region: Republican Basin · Fish for: Channel Catfish, Common Carp · USGS gauges: South Fork Republican River Near Benkelman, Nebr.
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Ponca Creek
A prairie creek running along the northern tier toward the Missouri near Verdel — a slower, sandy warmwater stream for channel catfish, carp, and the odd northern pike. A quiet bank-and-wade creek, lightly fished.
Region: Niobrara & North · Fish for: Channel Catfish, Common Carp · USGS gauges: Ponca Creek At Verdel, Nebr.
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Lodgepole Creek
A long High Plains creek paralleling the Panhandle railroad past Sidney and Bushnell toward the South Platte — a thin, sandy warmwater stream for channel catfish and carp, running through short-grass country. A quiet bank fishery, flow-dependent.
Region: Panhandle & High Plains · Fish for: Channel Catfish, Common Carp · USGS gauges: Lodgepole Creek At Bushnell, Nebr.
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Red Willow Creek
A Republican-basin creek dropping past Red Willow Reservoir toward McCook — a warmwater bank-and-wade stream for channel catfish and carp, with a tailwater reach below the dam. Quiet farm-country water.
Region: Republican Basin · Fish for: Channel Catfish, Common Carp · USGS gauges: Red Willow Creek Near Red Willow, Nebr.
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Logan Creek
An Elkhorn-basin farm-country creek draining past Wakefield and Uehling toward the lower Elkhorn — a slow, sandy warmwater stream for channel catfish and carp. Lightly pressured bank-and-wade water.
Region: Elkhorn Valley · Fish for: Channel Catfish, Common Carp · USGS gauges: Logan Creek At Wakefield, Nebr., Logan Creek Near Uehling, Nebr.
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West Fork Big Blue River
The Big Blue's western feeder draining the farm country past Dorchester — a slow, sandy warmwater stream for channel catfish and carp. A quiet bank-and-wade creek.
Region: Blue Basin · Fish for: Channel Catfish, Common Carp · USGS gauges: West Fork Big Blue River Near Dorchester, Nebr.
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Bow Creek
A small northeast-Nebraska creek draining to the Missouri near Wynot — a warmwater bank-and-wade stream for channel catfish and carp through the loess-hill farm country. Lightly pressured and best in the warm months.
Region: Niobrara & North · Fish for: Channel Catfish, Common Carp · USGS gauges: Bow Creek Near Wynot, Nebr.
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Sappa Creek
A long Republican-basin prairie creek crossing from Kansas past Stamford — a sandy warmwater stream for channel catfish and carp through farm country, feeding the lower Republican. Lightly fished bank water.
Region: Republican Basin · Fish for: Channel Catfish, Common Carp · USGS gauges: Sappa Creek Near Stamford, Nebr.
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North Fork Big Nemaha River
The Big Nemaha's northern feeder draining past Humboldt — a sandy warmwater creek for channel catfish and carp through southeast farm country. A quiet bank-and-wade stream.
Region: Lower Missouri & Southeast · Fish for: Channel Catfish, Common Carp · USGS gauges: North Fork Big Nemaha River At Humboldt, Nebr.
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Arikaree River
A far-southwest High Plains river slipping through the corner near Haigler on its way from Colorado toward the Republican — a small, sandy, often intermittent prairie stream for channel catfish and carp where flow holds. A remote, lightly fished bank creek.
Region: Panhandle & High Plains · Fish for: Channel Catfish, Common Carp · USGS gauges: Arikaree River At Haigler, Nebr.
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Beaver Creek
A Republican-basin prairie creek draining past Beaver City toward the lower Republican — a sandy warmwater bank-and-wade stream for channel catfish and carp through southern farm country. (Not to be confused with the Loup-basin Beaver Creek up north.)
Region: Republican Basin · Fish for: Channel Catfish, Common Carp · USGS gauges: Beaver Creek Near Beaver City, Nebr.
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Shell Creek
A Platte-valley farm-country creek draining past Columbus toward the Platte — a slow, sandy warmwater stream for channel catfish and carp, with restoration work improving its water quality. A quiet bank-and-wade creek.
Region: Platte Valley · Fish for: Channel Catfish, Common Carp · USGS gauges: Shell Creek Near Columbus, Nebr.
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Wahoo Creek
A lower-Platte-basin creek draining past Ithaca and Ashland toward the Platte — a slow, sandy warmwater stream for channel catfish and carp, with a chain of flood-control lakes on its headwaters. A quiet bank-and-wade creek.
Region: Lower Missouri & Southeast · Fish for: Channel Catfish, Common Carp · USGS gauges: Wahoo Creek At Ithaca, Nebr., Wahoo Creek At Ashland, Nebr.
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Prairie Creek
A low-gradient Platte-valley creek draining the farm country past Silver Creek toward the Platte — a slow, sandy warmwater stream for channel catfish and carp. Lightly pressured bank water.
Region: Platte Valley · Fish for: Channel Catfish, Common Carp · USGS gauges: Prairie Creek Near Silver Creek, Nebr.
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Weeping Water Creek
A southeast-Nebraska creek draining past Union toward the Missouri — a slow, rocky-and-sandy warmwater stream for channel catfish and carp through the limestone-quarry country. A quiet bank-and-wade creek.
Region: Lower Missouri & Southeast · Fish for: Channel Catfish, Common Carp · USGS gauges: Weeping Water Creek At Union, Nebr.
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Driftwood Creek
A small Republican-basin creek near McCook — a thin, sandy warmwater stream for channel catfish and carp through the plains. A quiet, flow-dependent bank creek.
Region: Republican Basin · Fish for: Channel Catfish, Common Carp · USGS gauges: Driftwood Creek Near Mccook, Nebr.
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Maple Creek
An Elkhorn-basin creek draining the farm country past Nickerson toward the lower Elkhorn — a slow, sandy warmwater stream for channel catfish and carp. A quiet, flow-dependent bank creek.
Region: Elkhorn Valley · Fish for: Channel Catfish, Common Carp · USGS gauges: Maple Creek Near Nickerson, Nebr.
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Omaha Creek
A northeast-Nebraska creek draining the loess hills past Homer toward the Missouri near the Omaha Reservation — a sandy warmwater stream for channel catfish and carp. A quiet, flow-dependent bank creek.
Region: Lower Missouri & Southeast · Fish for: Channel Catfish, Common Carp · USGS gauges: Omaha Creek At Homer, Nebr.
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Turkey Creek
A Big-Blue-basin creek draining past DeWitt toward the Big Blue — a slow, sandy warmwater stream for channel catfish and carp through southeast farm country. A quiet bank creek.
Region: Blue Basin · Fish for: Channel Catfish, Common Carp · USGS gauges: Turkey Creek Near Dewitt, Nebr.
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