Willow Lake (WMA)
Fishing and stocking
Yellow perch, black crappie, and 2 other species water, stocked 5 times in 2026, spread June to September, heaviest in June; 172,440 fish reported. A 402-acre lake.
Brown County · Nebraska · see it on the national map
The year here
stocked last 7 days announced ahead · tap a tick for details
What swims here
Yellow perch
Saugeye
Black crappie
Bluegill
Stocking record 2026
Agency feed checked today.
| Date | Species | Size | Fish | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 3 | Saugeye | fingerling | 27,248 | completed |
| Jun 24 | Yellow perch | fingerling | 2,106 | completed |
| Jun 24 | Yellow perch | fingerling | 43,009 | completed |
| Jul 2 | Black crappie | fingerling | 50,043 | completed |
| Sep 1 | Bluegill | fingerling | 50,034 | completed |
When to fish Willow Lake (WMA)
| Major periods (~2 h) | Minor periods (~1 h) | |
|---|---|---|
| Today | 10:20 am-12:20 pm and 10:43 pm-12:43 am | 4:38-5:38 am and 4:51-5:51 pm |
| Tomorrow | 11:06 am-1:06 pm | 5:48-6:48 am and 5:13-6:13 pm |
Moon: waxing gibbous, 92% lit. These are solunar periods, the traditional feeding-time theory: majors around the moon's transit overhead and underfoot, minors around moonrise and moonset. Theory, not a measurement. Times are Central Time (CDT).
What the record actually says
- Last stocked Sep 1
Computed this evening, Oct 23 · Nebraska fishing forecast
Gear for this water
The last plant has had time to disperse; work outward from the obvious spots.
For the panfish (yellow perch stocked 2 times here in 2026, stillwater)
| Long telescoping pole | reach the pockets without spooking the school |
| Ultralight rod and small jigs | 1/32 to 1/64 oz jigs under a float; 2 to 4 lb line |
| Live bait | waxworms, crickets, and redworms out-fish everything for bluegill |
For the walleye (saugeye stocked 1 time here in 2026, stillwater)
| Jigging raps and blade baits | vertical over deep structure in the cold months |
| Jig and minnow | 1/8 to 1/4 oz round jigs tipped live or plastic; drag the bottom slowly |
| Crawler harness | slow-trolled over flats and breaks once water warms |
Suggestions follow from what the state actually stocks here and what kind of water it is, nothing else. No sponsored placements.
Nearby stocked waters
The closest waters with stocking pages of their own, straight-line miles from this one.
| Water | Distance | Most recent |
|---|---|---|
| Hackberry Lake (FWS) | 37 mi | Jul 2 |
| Cub Creek Lake | 38 mi | Jul 2 |
| Big Alkali | 38 mi | Jun 11 |
| Watts Lake (FWS) | 39 mi | Sep 22 |
| Long Pine Creek | 41 mi | Sep 14 |
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