Fishing near Valentine, NE

Valentine sits in Cherry County at the heart of Nebraska's Sandhills, a region defined by hundreds of spring-fed lakes, the Niobrara River, and the Snake River. The Valentine National Wildlife Refuge puts nine fishable lakes within easy reach of town, while Merritt Reservoir to the southwest draws anglers chasing trophy-class gamefish. The Valentine Fish Hatchery, one of five in the state, stocks roughly 675,000 fish into Cherry County lakes in a typical year, keeping local waters consistently productive.