Nebraska · Fishing permit · Free days
Free fishing days in Nebraska
May 16, 2026
On these days you can fish Nebraska waters without a permit. Nothing else changes: limits, sizes, seasons and closed waters all still apply.
freshwater
May 16, 2026
Nebraska Game and Parks designates one Free Fishing and Park Entry Day each year, held on the Saturday preceding Memorial Day weekend. No fishing permit or Nebraska Vehicle Park Entry Permit is needed that day; all other fishing regulations, camping and lodging fees, and museum entrance fees stay in force.
Confirmed on the agency's own page.
What a free day does not cover
- Bag limits, size limits and closed seasons are unchanged.
- Waters that are closed stay closed.
- Separate permits can still be required — Nebraska charges for aquatic habitat stamp, annual, aquatic habitat stamp, 3 year, aquatic habitat stamp, 5 year, aquatic habitat stamp, lifetime, permit agent fee. Check before you rely on a free day.
- A free day waives the permit, not the rules the permit comes with.
