Summer’s here! It’s time to get out of the house, enjoy the sun on the shore, and catch some waves. But you don’t need to book a flight to Hawaii or Florida – you’ve got access to hundreds of miles of pristine lakes, rivers, and reservoirs right here in Nebraska! Here’s your travel guide for enjoying the state’s local waterways.
Lake McConaughy
Located just miles off I-80 and a few minutes’ drive from Ogallala, McConaughy Lake is Nebraska’s largest and arguably most picturesque reservoir. With over 55 square miles of water and miles of white sand shores, McConaughy offers loads of campsites, boat launches, and RV parking for weeklong getaways.
Camp right on the beach for the easiest water access, with reservations available up to 180 days in advance. First-come, first-serve options are available from September 11 to May 19; note that campground spots are reservation-only during the peak season (May 20 to September 10).
Thanks to its predictable weather, clean water, and consistent temperatures, Lake McConaughy is a prime destination for boating and towed watersports – just remember you’ll need a life jacket for all passengers and towed riders (it’s the law). Ramps are located around the perimeter of the lake, with private dock mooring available.
Lake McConaughy is stocked with walleye, wiper, smallmouth bass, northern pike, and catfish aplenty, with Martin Bay, a popular sandy campsite on the northeastern corner, ripe with large white bass and trophy walleye.
Lewis and Clarke Lake
With nearly 50 square miles of coastline easily accessible by car, boat, or by simply hiking, Lewis and Clarke Lake is about as picturesque as Lake McConaughy and conveniently located for Nebraskans living closer to the north and eastern borders. Bisecting the Missouri river on the border of South Dakota.
The lake hosts more than a dozen recreation areas and campgrounds on the north and south shorelines, with snaking waterways on the western side offering endless twists and turns for boaters, wakeboarders, and water skiers, while the eastern side hosts Cottonwood Campground and the smaller Lake Yankton for fishing and daytime foot treks or train runs.
The Lewis & Clark Resort, located on the northeastern side of the lake – easily accessible via I-81 – offers cozy but well-equipped cabins for a weekend getaway. Weigand Marina offers RV parking and a boat launch, with plenty of shoreline for fishing and swimming.
The quaint town of Santee, located on the southwestern tributaries of the Missouri, offers a narrative of local history at the Santee Sioux Tribe Museum. Among the tributaries you’ll find plenty of opportunities to catch walleye and sauger, while large and smallmouth bass, catfish, and northern pike dot the shores along the length of the lake. Locals remark some of the biggest catches can be had at the South Shore Recreation Area, nestled up against the Gains Point Dam.
Harlan County Lake
Located on the central southern border with Kansas, Harlan County Lake offers just over 20 square miles of waterways, covered fishing coves, and wide-open boat runs made for watersports. With a maximum depth of 60 feet, the entire lake is perfectly suited for catching some of the state’s largest walleye, white bass, and catfish.
Settle into Harlan County Lake Recreation Area, then walk over to Prairie Dog Bay for calm waters and make a day of fly fishing. Or make camp at the Methodist Cove Campground and enjoy casting off from the south-facing pier.
Choose any of the four campgrounds on the eastern edge of the lake and launch from the Patterson Harbor Marina. The town of Alma on the northwestern edge of the lake also provides affordable lodging for short one- or two-day trips.
Harlan County Lake is known for its abundance of walleye, white bass, and catfish, with smaller populations of hybrid striped bass, and small and largemouth bass found throughout the reservoir’s relatively shallow depths. Local anglers remark the best places to land easy catches include the waters around the North Shore Marina and Gremlin Cove Campground on the north side, and Patterson Harbor on the southeastern side.
