Fishing Report For Glenn Cunningham Reservoir, NE

Current Report: Fair To Good

Because of the 5 mph speed limit, Glenn Cunningham Lake is an ideal lake for trolling, which is how many of the walleye are being caught here.

WINTER. This Winter, fishing for walleye has been pretty good, as it has been for the last few years. Currently, anglers report catching them in the main basin area, in 12 to 20 feet of water, along deep creek channel edges, rocky humps and ledges. Steep drops in the area toward the dam are also producing during these cold months. These same areas and depths are classic spots during the upcoming ice fishing season. Note that no permanent ice shelters are allowed. They primarily feed on small fish, staying close to the bottom.

SPRING. After ice-out blade baits, jigs, swimbaits, spoons, deep-diving crankbaits, and worm harness spinners, all work while deep trolling or drifting. Early Spring brings warming water in the shallows, and draws walleye here to feed, especially rocky areas and inlet channels. In Spring, work points, drop offs, submerged structure, rock ledges, and flats adjacent to deeper water. The upriver end, in the northern half of the lake, is where they make an annual spawn run, starting in late February. Here, in 2 to 12 feet deep, they will spawn when the water warms to the mid to high 40's. When they are shallow, bright colored jigs, tipped with grubs or nightcrawlers typically catch them. Spinnerbaits, jerkbaits and crankbaits are also working when walleye are up shallow. Afterwards, they move to 8 to 15 feet deep around points, flats, shoals and ledges, nearby shore, often staying in close proximity to their spawning locations. Main basin drop offs tend to produce nice fish.

SUMMER. Water temperatures rise notably in Summer, and walleye fishing is good if you can get your bait deep enough. Early in Summer, walleye tend to concentrate in 10 to 12 feet of water. As Summer develops they descend in deeper water, around 10 to 18 feet deep. Throughout Summer, early in the morning, and from dusk to long after dark are good times to catch walleye. At those times they move slightly shallower to feed in low-light conditions. Night fishing is often good in Summer, as well. When the bite is slow, grubs and nightcrawlers, fished just off the bottom typically catch walleye.

FALL. Fall brings cooler temperatures to shallow water, drawing walleye and baitfish into coves and bays. Walleye continue to be a major draw for anglers, even as the weather cools. Locals report catching nice walleye on long points, flats along the river and creek channels, and structure off shore. Jigs, swimbaits, spoons, crankbaits, jerkbaits, and spinnerbaits are all historically good for catching walleye this time of year. Early and late in the day finds them in 6 to 8 feet of water, mid day they hold 8 to 15 feet deep. Dragging jigs, bottom bouncers, or worm harnesses with nightcrawlers or leeches, around ledge drop-offs is catching walleye fairly consistently. Watch for the bigger walleye to be slightly deeper than the majority of the school.

Current Report: Fair To Good

Most of the eastern shores are loaded with vegetation, which attracts baitfish and crappie. Fishing for crappie has been okay, but not spectacular. Light tackle with 4 lb to 8 lb line is ideal.

WINTER. The current water temperature is in the 30's, and now that the shallows have turned cold, crappie have migrated to deeper holding areas, mostly off shore. Recently they are being caught using a very slow presentation, in 12 to 18 feet of water. Most were caught around creek channel bends, submerged timber, deep brush piles, and main-lake structure. Ice is starting to set in, and once safe, ice fishing is possible, but not monitored. When they suspend in open water, they often relate to some cover, or structure change, directly below them. During warming trends, especially warm afternoons, they are drawn into 10 to 14 feet of water to feed.

SPRING. In early Spring, crappie begin staging in 8 to 14 feet of water, just outside spawning bays and shallow flats. Spring is prime time to be on the water, as crappie have moved shallow to spawn. At that time, they are typically caught in 2 to 6 feet of water. Vegetation, rip rap, docks, brush and wood are where most anglers catch crappie using small crappie jigs. The north and northeast shallow flats are ideal spawning areas, and deliver good reports annually. After the spawn, crappie typically move outside the spawning area and hold on cover close by, in 6 to 12 feet of water. Once they move deep, anglers report success using fish finders and forward facing sonar to locate schools of crappie, which tend to stack vertically around cover.

SUMMER. Water temperatures get quite warm, and crappie fishing is usually pretty good. They feed in 8 to 12 feet of water early and late in the day, until the hot Summer sun causes them to retreat to depths of 10 to 15 feet. Also, a few have embedded in the shade of slightly shallower vegetation. This is a good time to focus around brush piles, standing timber, and rock piles. Anglers are also locating schools of crappie hanging over deep structure, and around creek channel edges, using fish-finder electronics.

FALL. As Fall begins warming the shallows, baitfish, move into shallow flats, coves and bays, which draws crappie into these areas. They will be feeding heavily in preparation for the cold Winter, in 8 to 14 feet of water. Hair jigs, small spoons and crappie jigs, are good options during this feeding marathon. Late Fall which turns the shallows cold, starts pushing crappie deeper, toward winter holding areas. Small flutter spoons, fished in 10 to 14 feet of water, are a good option during this transition. Good results typically come around points, creek channels, and brush piles. The points and channel bends near the marina, and rip rap around the dam, are popular areas in Fall.

Current Report: Good

The lake doesn't get much fishing pressure, so this is a quick get-away for catching a few bass. The typical bass are 11" to 14", but there are larger ones swimming here.

WINTER. The cold of Winter has isolated largemouth around deeper structure, flats, points and creek channels. Water temperatures are currently in the low 40's, and bass can be found from 10 to 18 feet deep. Often, some of the larger bass will isolate away from schools in 5 or so feet deeper water. They are currently being caught around the main marina basin. As the lake freezes over, they hold, feeding less frequently, awaiting warmer water to return in Spring. Slow presentations with drop shots, jigs, finesse worms, or lipless crankbaits are often the key to getting bites, just before, during and after, ice fishing.

SPRING. Once water temperatures rise into the low 60's, largemouth will move from deep wintering holes, to shallower water near spawning areas. Anglers report good topwater action from mid Spring through Summer, especially early in the morning, and on cloudy days. Frog fishing and buzzbaits are popular as the water warms, which this shallow lake does quickly. Vibrating jigs, crankbaits, jerkbaits and spinnerbaits typically get bites just away from the shoreline. At this time they are feeding aggressively in about 6 to 12 feet of water, and preparing for the spawn. Once water warms into the mid to high 60's, they will move into 1 to 5 feet of water, and create nests, then lay their eggs. Immediately afterwards, females move to deeper water and males remain to guard the eggs, and then the fry. After a couple weeks, the males also move to slightly deeper water, around 10 to 14 feet deep. Deep-diving crankbaits, vibrating jigs, drop shots, plastic worms, jigs, spoons, and swimbaits catch bass during this period.

SUMMER. Water temperatures will warm considerably in Summer. Bass will feed shallow, early and late in the day, where they are typically caught in 6 to 10 feet of water, on topwater lures, square-bill crankbaits, spinnerbaits and a variety of other lures. During Summer, keep an eye on the thermocline to determine the maximum depth to fish, as there is very little oxygen below the thermocline. Largemouth bass here feed on shad, herring, small sunfish and crawfish. During the hotter parts of the day, they are being caught on points, channel edges, and ledges 10 to 15 feet deep. Wacky-rigged stick worms always catch finicky bass when the bite is slow.

FALL. When Fall arrives, bass here will follow schools of baitfish into coves and shallow bays where crankbaits, swimbaits, and slow-rolled spinnerbaits have been successful in prior years. In early Fall, anglers typically have success in 6 to 8 feet of water, around points and shallow flats leading to deeper water. As deeper water cools, bait and bass move out to ledges, channel edges, points and humps. Here flutter spoons are often the ideal bait in 10 to 12 feet of water. Some of the larger bass will seclude themselves away from the school, often in slightly deeper water.