Fish Salvage Underway in Portions of Kansas’ Platte River

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Platte River from the Nebraska Highway 92 bridge at Clarks to its confluence with the Loup River below the U.S. Highway 81 bridge south of Columbus is experiencing a fish die-off due to low water flows and high water temperatures. Several species of fish have been found dead and dying.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will allow the harvest of stranded fish of all species in the designated area by any method, except electricity, explosives, poisons, chemicals, other fish toxicants, firearms, and seines or nets other than legal baitfish seines, dip, or landing nets from June 28 through July 31.

Other legal methods of fishing include snagging, hand fishing, spearing and archery. All daily bag limits will be maintained, but length limits will be rescinded for this area during this period. Salvaged fish cannot be sold or used for stocking purposes into either public or private water bodies.

The extended weather forecast calls for air temperatures in the mid to upper 90s and limited chances of rain. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will monitor other stretches of the river for fish die-offs.

Anglers are having good success with rod and reel for channel catfish above and below the designated area of the Platte.