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Loup River Fishing Report

Updated Fri, Sep 4, 2026 from live gauge and weather data

A Sandhills river: the Loup runs clear over sand through central Nebraska, holding catfish and bass.

4/5
Good. Solid day ahead.Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up.
Flow
358 cfs
Air / High
90 / 92 F
Wind
SE 5 mph

Sources: USGS gauge 06793000, Open-Meteo, solunar calculated for these coordinates.

Satellite view
Friday
4
September 2026

Today's Fishing Report

Generated this morning from live readings: gauge, weather model, sun and moon. A fresh report is published here every morning.

4/5Good. Solid day ahead.Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up.

Loup River sits in the sweet spot of the season: active fish and workable weather. The river is running 358 cfs, on the rise. Today brings cloud cover, wind SE around 5 mph, steady pressure near 1008 hPa and a high of 92. Water sits around 66 F for the season (estimated). With the last quarter, the solunar majors run 5:39 AM-7:39 AM and 5:39 PM-7:39 PM: the windows to build the day around.

The plan, species by species

WalleyeExcellent

Jig and minnow on rock reefs and points; the evening bite on wind-blown shores is the one to plan around.

Northern pikeExcellent

Weedline spinnerbaits, spoons and jerkbaits; bays with fresh green weed hold the active fish.

White bassGood

The spring river run: small crankbaits and roadrunners up the tributaries.

CrappieFair

Spawning shallow around cover in spring; jigs under a float near buck brush and laydowns.

Tomorrow: Similar at 94 F. The solunar majors shift about 50 minutes later.Next report: Sat, Sep 5, 6:30 AMHow this report is made →

Water and weather

Live readings from Loup River near Genoa.

Flow, last 30 days

USGS gauge 06793000.

1,6764,3256,974358 cfs08/0508/1508/2509/04

Right now

Latest readings

Air temp90 F
High / Low92 / 69 F
WindSE 5-6 mph
Pressure1008.0 hPa, steady
Sky / Rain100% cloud, 10%
Sunrise / Sunset07:00 / 19:59
MoonLast Quarter, 50%
Water temp (seasonal)~66 F est.

Bite planner

Hour-by-hour bite forecast for today. Tap a bar to see why.

5 AM8 AM11 AM2 PM5 PM8 PMsunrisesunsetPRIMEPRIME

Next 7 days

Tap a day for the detailed outlook.

Fri Sep 4 · Showers, 92/69 F, wind 8 mph, rain 10%

Fair or better. A 8 mph breeze puts a working chop on the banks it hits: fish the wind-blown side.

Species guide

The species that matter on Loup River: seasons, structure and how to fish each one. Today's ratings live in the report above.

Walleye illustration

Walleye

Best: May-Jun, Oct

The glass-eyed prize of northern lakes. Low light, wind-blown structure and live bait. Jig and minnow on rock reefs and points; the evening bite on wind-blown shores is the one to plan around.

White bass illustration

White bass

Best: Mar-May run

River-run spawners and open-water schoolers. Fast limits when you find them. The spring river run: small crankbaits and roadrunners up the tributaries.

Northern pike illustration

Northern pike

Best: spring, early winter

The ambush predator of weedbeds and cabbage edges. Aggressive, big and always worth a wire leader. Weedline spinnerbaits, spoons and jerkbaits; bays with fresh green weed hold the active fish.

Crappie illustration

Crappie

Best: Nov-Mar

Brush piles, bridge pilings and standing timber. The fish fry favorite. Spawning shallow around cover in spring; jigs under a float near buck brush and laydowns.

When to come: the Loup River calendar

Activity by species and month, and how the water warms through the year. Tap any cell.

Species activity by month

1 = slow, 5 = peak. Current month highlighted.

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Walleye
White bass
Northern pike
Crappie
SlowPeak

Water temperature through the year

Typical surface temperature for this water type; today is around 66 F (estimated, not a reading).

304050607080JanMarMayJulSepNovSep, ~66 F now

Angler reports

Real reports from real anglers, reviewed before publishing. The water log below tracks each day automatically.

No angler reports yet this weekBe the first: your report helps every angler who checks Loup River today, and we feature the best catch of the week.

Water log, last days

Auto-logged from live data
Thu, Sep 3

4/5 Good. Solid day ahead. Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up. Walleye led the card at excellent. High of 92 F, wind to 13 mph.

Wed, Sep 2

3/5 Fair. Fish the windows. A steady pattern: dawn and dusk carry the day. Walleye led the card at good. High of 91 F, wind to 17 mph.

Tue, Sep 1

4/5 Good. Solid day ahead. Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up. Walleye led the card at excellent. High of 88 F, wind to 10 mph.

Where roughly, what depth, what bait. Skip anything you want to keep secret.
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Before you go

License

Nebraska requires a valid fishing license for adults. Buy online from the state agency; one-day options exist for visitors.

Regulations

Nebraska license. Catfish and bass limits per current Game and Parks regulations.

Access

Bridge crossings and public wildlife management areas along the main river and its branches.

About this water

A Sandhills-fed river system in central Nebraska joining the Platte near Columbus.

Fishing Loup River: the full guide

A river out of the Sandhills

The Loup River drains the Nebraska Sandhills, forming from the North, Middle and South Loup branches and running east to the Platte near Columbus. Fed by the vast groundwater of the Sandhills, it runs remarkably steady and clear for a plains river, over shifting sand bars and braided channels holding channel catfish, flathead catfish and bass.

Catfish in the channels

Channel catfish are the river’s mainstay, taken on cut bait, worms and prepared baits in the deeper holes and along the outside bends. Flatheads grow large in the deeper water and are taken on live bait at night. The braided sand channel means holes shift with every flood: reading the water fresh each trip is the skill.

Bass and other species

Smallmouth and largemouth are present in the deeper pools and structure, and white bass move up from the Platte system. Northern pike hold parts of the upper branches in the Sandhills, where spring-fed creeks join the river. It is an underfished system where local knowledge matters more than tackle.

Central Nebraska logistics

Access is via bridge crossings, public wildlife areas along the corridor and the branches through the Sandhills. Columbus, Fullerton and Broken Bow serve different reaches. Sand-bar wading is straightforward but currents cut channels: read the river before crossing, and expect it to have changed since last year.

Common questions

Why is it clear?

Sandhills groundwater feeds it steadily, giving it better clarity and steadier flow than most plains rivers.

What is the main catch?

Channel catfish, with flatheads in the deeper holes and bass in the structure and pools.

Does the channel change?

Constantly: it is a braided sand river, and holes shift with every high water. Read it fresh each trip.

Is fishing good at Loup River right now?

Check the daily report at the top of this page: it is regenerated every morning from live data. Today's read: Good. Solid day ahead. Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up.

Nearby waters

Branched Oak Lake56 miSherman Reservoir64 miLake Wanahoo68 miElkhorn River76 miCalamus Reservoir83 miLewis and Clark Lake97 mi
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