When is walleye season in Nebraska?

Nebraska keeps walleye open to fishing year-round for the 2026 regulation year — there is no closed season, though the daily bag and size limits below still apply every day.

What is the Nebraska bag limit for walleye?

The Nebraska daily bag limit for walleye is 4 / day per angler statewide (one of the lowest walleye daily bags in the central plains region). The possession limit is 8 in possession. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.

What size walleye can you keep in Nebraska?

The Nebraska size rule for walleye is 15 in min + one over 22 in statewide on inland waters; Elwood + Harlan + Merritt one-15–18 + three-over-18 slot; Calamus two-15–18 + two-over-18 slot; Sherman 20–28 in protected slot at 3 / day; Missouri R downstream of Gavins Point no minimum. Trophy rule: Merritt + Harlan + Elwood (one 15–18 in + three over 18 in slot), Calamus (two 15–18 in + two over 18 in slot), and Sherman (20–28 in protected slot, 3 / day) carry the NGPC walleye slots; NE state-record walleye 16 lb 2 oz Merritt Reservoir 2008; Merritt + Snake River tributary self-sustaining naturally-reproducing walleye populations; NGPC ~10 million walleye fry + fingerlings stocked annually statewide.

Do you need a license to fish for walleye in Nebraska?

Yes. Nebraska requires a valid fishing license to fish for walleye, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Nebraska license — compare resident and non-resident Nebraska fees on the state regulations page below.

Are there gear restrictions for walleye in Nebraska?

Yes. In Nebraska, walleye fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trolling permitted (jigging + crank-bait crawling shoreline points most-effective spring tactic); Live minnow + nightcrawler bait permitted; NE Fishing Permit + Aquatic Habitat Stamp required ages 16+ ($40 res / $76 NR + $15 Aquatic Habitat Stamp res or NR); Confirm current-year NGPC Fishing Regulations for trophy waters list.

Do specific Nebraska waters have different walleye rules?

Yes. 9 named Nebraska waters carry rules that override the statewide walleye regulation, including Merritt Reservoir, Lake McConaughy, Calamus Reservoir, and 6 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

Nebraska Walleye 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules

Sander vitreus

Last updated June 8, 2026

Nebraska walleye fishery is one of the most extensive in the central plains — the species is the NGPC flagship target across the Sandhills Reservoir tier + the Republican / Niobrara / Platte River main stems + the Missouri River boundary. Merritt Reservoir (2,906 acres on the Snake River in Cherry County — Bureau of Reclamation 1965, Sandhills region) is the state-record water — NE state-record walleye 16 lb 2 oz from Merritt in 2008, with naturally-reproducing walleye on the Snake River tributary spawning run. Lake McConaughy (35,700 acres on the North Platte River in Keith County — Bureau of Reclamation Kingsley Dam 1941 — Nebraska's largest reservoir, locally known as 'Big Mac') is the high-volume tournament water producing trophy walleye routinely on the North Platte tributary inflow + main-lake humps. Calamus Reservoir (5,123 acres on the Calamus River — Bureau of Reclamation 1986, Sandhills region), Sherman Reservoir (3,000 acres on Oak Creek — USACE 1962), Harlan County Lake (13,250 acres on the Republican River — USACE Kansas City District 1952, near the KS border), Box Butte Reservoir (1,640 acres on the Niobrara River — Bureau of Reclamation 1946 — western Panhandle), Lewis & Clark Lake (31,400 acres on the Missouri River — USACE Omaha District Gavins Point Dam 1955 — NE/SD boundary), Branched Oak Lake (1,800 acres on Oak Creek in Lancaster County — NGPC State Recreation Area), and Pawnee Lake (740 acres in Lancaster County) round out the walleye tier. NGPC stocks ~10 million walleye fry + fingerlings annually statewide via the North Platte + Calamus + Valentine + Rock Creek State Fish Hatcheries. The statewide standard rule is a 15-inch minimum with no more than one fish 22 inches or longer + 4 fish per angler per day on inland waters — one of the lowest walleye daily bags in the central plains region (compared to KS 5/day, IA 5/day, SD 4-8/day, OK no specific walleye reg), reflecting NGPC's quality-management approach to walleye. The trophy reservoirs carry NGPC special slots instead of a flat minimum: Elwood + Harlan + Merritt allow one fish 15–18 in plus three over 18 in (or four over 18 in), Calamus allows two from 15–18 in plus two over 18 in (each at 4 per day, one over 22 in max), and Sherman runs a 20- to 28-inch protected slot at 3 per day; the Missouri River downstream of Gavins Point Dam has no minimum. Open year-round statewide. The April – June spawning run on the Sandhills + Republican + Niobrara + Missouri River tributaries is the densest fishing window of the year — walleye stage on tributary inflow + shallow rocky shoals for spawning, and the spring trolling + jigging fishery produces the densest catches of the year.

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Season

Open year-round Open year-round statewide; April – June spawning run on Sandhills + Republican + Niobrara + Missouri River tributaries is the densest fishing window of the year.

Bag & possession

Daily bag: 4 / day per angler statewide (one of the lowest walleye daily bags in the central plains region)
Possession: 8 in possession

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: 15 in min + one over 22 in statewide on inland waters; Elwood + Harlan + Merritt one-15–18 + three-over-18 slot; Calamus two-15–18 + two-over-18 slot; Sherman 20–28 in protected slot at 3 / day; Missouri R downstream of Gavins Point no minimum
Trophy rule: Merritt + Harlan + Elwood (one 15–18 in + three over 18 in slot), Calamus (two 15–18 in + two over 18 in slot), and Sherman (20–28 in protected slot, 3 / day) carry the NGPC walleye slots; NE state-record walleye 16 lb 2 oz Merritt Reservoir 2008; Merritt + Snake River tributary self-sustaining naturally-reproducing walleye populations; NGPC ~10 million walleye fry + fingerlings stocked annually statewide

Gear restrictions

Hook-and-line; trolling permitted (jigging + crank-bait crawling shoreline points most-effective spring tactic)
Live minnow + nightcrawler bait permitted
NE Fishing Permit + Aquatic Habitat Stamp required ages 16+ ($40 res / $76 NR + $15 Aquatic Habitat Stamp res or NR)
Confirm current-year NGPC Fishing Regulations for trophy waters list

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific Nebraska waters:

Merritt Reservoir
One 15–18 in + three over 18 in OR four over 18 in, no more than one over 22 in; 4 / day NGPC SLOT; NE state-record walleye 16 lb 2 oz Merritt 2008; Snake River tributary self-sustaining naturally-reproducing walleye
Lake McConaughy
15 in min + one over 22 in, 4 / day (statewide inland rule — not a listed walleye slot exception); high-volume tournament walleye water
Calamus Reservoir
Two 15–18 in + two over 18 in, no more than one over 22 in; 4 / day NGPC SLOT
Sherman Reservoir
20- to 28-inch protected slot (no harvest), two between 15 and 20 in + one over 28 in; 3 / day NGPC SLOT
Lewis & Clark Lake
15 in min, 4 / day on NE side under Missouri River reciprocal compact; NE/SD boundary reservoir
Harlan County Lake
One 15–18 in + three over 18 in OR four over 18 in, no more than one over 22 in; 4 / day NGPC SLOT (incl. the Republican River upstream to the Hwy 89 bridge); southwestern NE Republican River tier near KS border
Box Butte Reservoir
15 in min, 4 / day; western Panhandle reservoir
Branched Oak Lake
15 in min, 4 / day; Lincoln-area sport-fishing flagship
Elwood Reservoir
One 15–18 in plus three over 18 in OR four over 18 in, no more than one 22 in or longer; 4 / day; Gosper County Central NE Public Power canal reservoir (the same NGPC walleye slot as Harlan County Lake + Merritt Reservoir)

Official source

Nebraska Game & Parks Commission (NGPC) publishes the authoritative 2026 Nebraskafishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.

Visit official Nebraska fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

Walleye closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to Nebraska Game & Parks Commission's emergency-order feed — check it before any Nebraska trip during the active season.

Frequently asked questions

When is walleye season in Nebraska?: Nebraska keeps walleye open to fishing year-round for the 2026 regulation year — there is no closed season, though the daily bag and size limits below still apply every day.
What is the Nebraska bag limit for walleye?: The Nebraska daily bag limit for walleye is 4 / day per angler statewide (one of the lowest walleye daily bags in the central plains region). The possession limit is 8 in possession. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size walleye can you keep in Nebraska?: The Nebraska size rule for walleye is 15 in min + one over 22 in statewide on inland waters; Elwood + Harlan + Merritt one-15–18 + three-over-18 slot; Calamus two-15–18 + two-over-18 slot; Sherman 20–28 in protected slot at 3 / day; Missouri R downstream of Gavins Point no minimum. Trophy rule: Merritt + Harlan + Elwood (one 15–18 in + three over 18 in slot), Calamus (two 15–18 in + two over 18 in slot), and Sherman (20–28 in protected slot, 3 / day) carry the NGPC walleye slots; NE state-record walleye 16 lb 2 oz Merritt Reservoir 2008; Merritt + Snake River tributary self-sustaining naturally-reproducing walleye populations; NGPC ~10 million walleye fry + fingerlings stocked annually statewide.
Do you need a license to fish for walleye in Nebraska?: Yes. Nebraska requires a valid fishing license to fish for walleye, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Nebraska license — compare resident and non-resident Nebraska fees on the state regulations page below.
Are there gear restrictions for walleye in Nebraska?: Yes. In Nebraska, walleye fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trolling permitted (jigging + crank-bait crawling shoreline points most-effective spring tactic); Live minnow + nightcrawler bait permitted; NE Fishing Permit + Aquatic Habitat Stamp required ages 16+ ($40 res / $76 NR + $15 Aquatic Habitat Stamp res or NR); Confirm current-year NGPC Fishing Regulations for trophy waters list.
Do specific Nebraska waters have different walleye rules?: Yes. 9 named Nebraska waters carry rules that override the statewide walleye regulation, including Merritt Reservoir, Lake McConaughy, Calamus Reservoir, and 6 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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