Valentine Refuge Trip

[SDPerchPounder]

Greetings,

I'm new to the site! Just wondering if it is actually worth a trip to refuge to get on some Bluegills early next year.. I'm coming from SE SD so it's only about a 4hr drive, but I just want to know if it is actually worth a trip down there. I know some of these shallow lakes can hold huge fish and I'm looking to strictly catch and release. I would really like to get a nice replica of a 2lber for the wall.  Any tips welcomed, feel free to PM me. Also, if you want me to fish your private pond I will accept an invite. 

Thanks Nebraskans!

[whitetips]

Greetings,

I'm new to the site! Just wondering if it is actually worth a trip to refuge to get on some Bluegills early next year.. I'm coming from SE SD so it's only about a 4hr drive, but I just want to know if it is actually worth a trip down there. I know some of these shallow lakes can hold huge fish and I'm looking to strictly catch and release. I would really like to get a nice replica of a 2lber for the wall.  Any tips welcomed, feel free to PM me. Also, if you want me to fish your private pond I will accept an invite. 

Thanks Nebraskans!

These will give you some idea of the potential:

http://outdoornebraska.org/Fishing/pdfs/FishForecast.pdf

http://outdoornebraska.org/Fishing/programs/sampling/2014/VNWR2015.pdf

Honest to goodness 1-lb+ bluegills, yep, every winter.  Two pounders are still a possibility, hear of a handful every winter, but do not expect to make a trip and catch a fish like that.

Some more visuals to tempt you:

http://neblandvm.outdoornebraska.gov/2015/01/adventure-report-water-new-years-2015/

http://neblandvm.outdoornebraska.gov/2015/03/second-season/

If you have more questions, just ask!

Daryl B.

[SDPerchPounder]

Thanks for the reply.. 1+lbers will do for me! I'll be bugging you next year when I'm getting ready to make the trip. Thanks!

[Sandbilly]

I would really like to get a nice replica of a 2lber for the wall.

  Me too. Been a goal of mine for 24 years. 

Good advice from Mr. B. Other thing I will mention is Ne Sandhill Lakes are very volatile. These shallow wind swept natural lakes are pan fish producing phenomenons in the right conditions. Right conditions being operative. Drought is our #1 enemy. Common carp and too an extent, exploitation can also be a player. Flash drought of 2012 hurt but did not have near the destructive impact as any sustained drought period like say the early 2000's.

In essence the timing of your fishing trip to the Sandhills holds merit. Opportunities to catch large bluegill increase dramatically after a few years of sustained or increased water levels. At this point I would say next ice season looks very promising with normal spring/summer precipitation.

Just wondering if it is actually worth a trip to refuge to get on some Bluegills early next year.

A few from 14/15 season.













dc 

               

[grizzlyhackle]

Great info Daryl and Don!

If anyone knows the big Western Nebraska bulls, it's definitely Sandbilly! Awesome pics!

[SDPerchPounder]

Thanks for helping a newb out.. Looking forward to December next year. 

[swoab47]

I really wish I hadn't seen this...It makes me mad that I didn't make it out there this season.  I won't make that mistake again.

Awesome fish guys!!!

Pray for rain.

[Slimdog]

What swoaby said...

[hankthecrank]

We'll help him pound some NE gills then he can get us on some SD perch, sounds like a good trade to me!