It’s a fishing day

Lake McConaughy (Ogallala) fishing conditions · Nebraska

Now until 6 pmWalleye

The bite peaks at 94.

Log a trip here
Right now: 90 for walleye, go · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Walleye, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 902 pm
  2. 94
  3. 94
  4. 905 pm
  5. 76
  6. 76
  7. 768 pm
  8. 76
  9. 80
  10. 8011 pm
  11. 76Sun
  12. 76
  13. 762 am
  14. 76
  15. 76
  16. 765 am
  17. 80
  18. 76
  19. 768 am
  20. 76
  21. 80
  22. 8011 am
  23. 80
  24. 76
  25. 762 pm
  26. 76
  27. 80
  28. 765 pm
  29. 76
  30. 76
  31. 768 pm
  32. 76
  33. 76
  34. 8011 pm
  35. 80Mon
  36. 76
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
No reading

Walleye range 50–72°

Wind
10 mph

From the west-northwest

Light
Daylight

Sunset 4:35 pm

Sky
Sunny

No rain expected

Air
63°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Falling

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
5% lit

Waning crescent

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Nebraska non-tidal regulations for these waters.

Walleye

Walleye

Sander vitreus

94GoNow until 6 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Walleye bite in 50–72° water, best near 62°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Walleye feeds aggressively in low light. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 10–40 ft down.

Keep

15" minimum · 4 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Nebraska inland waters: 4 walleye, sauger and saugeye a day in aggregate, 8 in possession, 15" minimum, only one 22" or longer.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Nebraska non-tidal

Last checked 20 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Mar–May, Oct–Dec, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on walleye

Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth bass

Micropterus dolomieu

82Worth the tripNow until 6 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Smallmouth bass bite in 55–78° water, best near 68°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 3–30 ft down.

Keep

15" minimum · 5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Nebraska inland waters: 5 black bass a day in aggregate, 10 in possession, 15" minimum, only one 21" or longer.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Nebraska non-tidal

Last checked 20 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Nov, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on smallmouth bass

Yellow Perch

Yellow perch

Perca flavescens

82Worth the tripNow until 6 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Yellow perch bite in 45–70° water, best near 58°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 5–30 ft down.

Keep

15 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Nebraska: panfish (crappie, yellow perch, rock bass and sunfish) are 15 a day in aggregate, 30 in possession, with no minimum length statewide. A few lakes add length rules.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Nebraska non-tidal

Last checked 20 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Feb–May, Oct–Dec, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on yellow perch

White Bass

White bass

Morone chrysops

47Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. White bass bite in 55–80° water, best near 68°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. White bass is here Apr–Oct. Holds 4–30 ft down.

Keep

15 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Nebraska inland waters: 15 striped bass, white bass and wipers a day in aggregate, 30 in possession, no minimum, only one 18" or longer.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Nebraska non-tidal

Last checked 20 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Oct. More on white bass

Channel Catfish

Channel catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

47Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. Channel catfish bite in 60–85° water, best near 75°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Channel catfish is here Apr–Oct. Holds 5–30 ft down.

Keep

5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Nebraska standing water (reservoirs, lakes, ponds and pits): 5 channel catfish a day, 20 in possession, no minimum, only one 30" or longer. Rivers, streams and canals allow 10 a day.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Nebraska non-tidal

Last checked 20 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Oct, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on channel catfish

Common Carp

Common carp

Cyprinus carpio

47Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. Common carp bite in 52–86° water, best near 72°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Common carp is here May–Oct. Holds 1–15 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Nebraska sets no size, bag or possession limit on nongame fish such as common carp. Nongame fish may be taken by archery or surface spear statewide, 24 hours a day, year-round.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Nebraska non-tidal

Last checked 20 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Oct, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on common carp

The water

  • Water temperatureNo reading
  • Barometer30.10 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today4:35 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow6:26 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 3:00 pm–4:00 pm
  • Major solunarTonight 9:40 pm–11:40 pm
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 5:40 am–6:40 am

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. Nebraska Game & Parks publishes a report for the state.

Licenses and rules: Nebraska Game & Parks · fish-consumption advisory

About this spot

Nebraska’s largest reservoir — 30,000 acres of clear water with white-sand beaches behind Kingsley Dam on the North Platte. "Big Mac" is the state’s premier walleye and white-bass fishery, with smallmouth bass on the rock, channel catfish, and yellow perch. Miles of public shoreline and multiple ramps ring the lake.

Nebraska: 4 walleye/day, 15" minimum, no more than one over 22". A state-park entry permit is required for vehicles.

Nearby

The closest public spots we cover, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Harlan County Reservoir155 mi · NebraskaBest now until 7 pm
94Go
Boyd Lake183 mi · ColoradoBest now until 5 pm
90Go
Horsetooth Reservoir186 mi · ColoradoBest now until 6 pm
94Go
Glendo Reservoir189 mi · WyomingBest tonight 2 am to Monday 2 am
80Worth the trip
Cherry Creek Reservoir199 mi · ColoradoBest now until 5 pm
90Go
Chatfield Reservoir212 mi · ColoradoBest now until 5 pm
86Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Lake McConaughy (Ogallala)?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Lake McConaughy (Ogallala) you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Lake McConaughy (Ogallala)?

Lake McConaughy (Ogallala) is listed on this site for 6 commonly-targeted species: Walleye, White Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, and 2 more. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Lake McConaughy (Ogallala)?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Lake McConaughy (Ogallala) against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Lake McConaughy (Ogallala) have?

Lake McConaughy (Ogallala) has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. Nebraska: 4 walleye/day, 15" minimum, no more than one over 22". A state-park entry permit is required for vehicles.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Lake McConaughy (Ogallala)?

state agency regulations apply at Lake McConaughy (Ogallala). Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Lake McConaughy (Ogallala) tidal water?

No. Lake McConaughy (Ogallala) is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.