Fishing Report For Harlan County Lake, NE

Current Report: Fair To Good

The Corps of Engineers and Nebraska Game and Parks introduced fish habitat into Harlan County Lake at Cedar Point, Patterson Point, Indian Hill and Hunter Cove. The purpose was to improve fishing for predator fish, including walleye. Walleye tend to stay in the general area of these fish attractors, close to the congregation of baitfish and small fish.

FALL. Fall brings cooler temperatures to shallow water, drawing walleye and baitfish shallower. Walleye continue to be a major draw for anglers. 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 Fall finds them in 8 to 20 feet of water. Later in Fall, they move out slightly deeper. 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.

WINTER. This Winter fishing for walleye has been pretty good through the ice, for the last few years. Before, during and after the ice, anglers report catching them in the main basin area, in 18 to 35 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. They primarily feed on small fish, staying close to the bottom. After ice-out blade baits, jigs, swimbaits, spoons, deep-diving crankbaits, and worm harness spinners, all work while deep trolling or drifting.

SPRING. 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, flats and edges adjacent to deeper water. Here, in 5 to 15 feet deep, they will spawn once the water warms to the mid to high 40's. When they move shallow, bright colored jigs, tipped with minnows or nightcrawlers typically catch them. Spinnerbaits, jerkbaits and crankbaits are also working when walleye are up shallow. Afterwards, they move to 15 to 20 feet deep around points, flats, shoals and ledges, nearby shore, often staying in close proximity to their spawning locations.

SUMMER. Water temperatures rise in Summer, and walleye fishing is good if you can get your bait deep enough. Early in Summer, walleye tend to concentrate in 15 to 25 feet of water. 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. The rest of the time they are cruising flats and creek channel edges, 25 to 35 feet deep , preferring the cooler temperatures. When the bite is slow, grubs and nightcrawlers, fished just off the bottom typically catch walleye.

Current Report: Poor To Fair

FALL. Schooling white bass wander about the lake following baitfish, so they are always close by the food supply. Trolling or casting with baitfish-imitating lures is catching white bass here. Good electronics can help locate schools of baitfish and white bass, Once located, work the school with a variety of baits to find their preference for the day. Early Fall finds white bass chasing baitfish that have moved into shallow coves and bays, from 5 to 25 feet deep. Small spinnerbaits, lipless crankbaits and underspins are catching good numbers of whites. Later, once the shallows cool considerably from chilly Fall temperatures, schools of white bass, along with baitfish, move deeper. They are relating to most any structure, which includes drops, humps, timber, and creek channels, in deeper water.

WINTER. Winter for white bass is a continuation of Fall patterns, except slightly deeper, around 15 to 35 feet. They are being caught on the same lures, but most are caught using a slower retrieve. They often concentrate in the main lake basin, around drop offs, points and humps.

SPRING. The Spring run, when white bass move into the river sections of the lake, inflowing creeks, or along windy points where they stay for several weeks. to spawn. This makes it easier to locate schools in 3 to 15 feet of water. Live minnows on a bobber, small swimbaits and small crankbaits all are working for white bass. White bass start their spawn run once the water temperature reaches the mid 50'sEarly Spring is a prime time to fill the livewells with some fat white bass. Spinnerbaits, curly-tail jigs, underspins, small crankbaits, small jerkbaits, and most any lure that resembles baitfish, will catch these feeding whites. As the water temperatures continues warming, they move out of spawning areas, into slightly deeper water. Look for them following schools baitfish in 8 to 25 feet deep. Also, watch for feeding frenzies when they chase schools of bait to the surface, and the fishing can be spectacular.

SUMMER. Summer finds white bass congregating in the main lake area, following and feeding on baitfish. They tend to stay in 15 to 35 feet of water, moving up and down the water column with the baitfish. They are being caught on slow-rolled spinnerbaits, curly-tail jigs, underspins, spoons, blade baits and small crankbaits, depending on the depth of the baitfish. Middle of the lake channel edges, points and deeper flats hold both bait and white bass in the warmest months.

Current Report: Fair To Good

FALL. Fall is one of the better times of year for catching channel catfish. Early in Fall they cruise the 6 to 20 feet deep shallows, in search of food. Structure, flats and points outside Methodist Cove, Tipover Cove, Mill Creek, and Prairie Dog Bay are ideal feeding areas for catfish. Later, in the season they migrate away from the shallows and current, to moderately deep flats and channel edges on the main body of the lake. They can typically be found from 10 to 25 feet deep. Fishing for channel catfish is often productive around any kind of structure. Road beds, creek channels and rocky points are all good places to begin. Drift fishing or slow-trolling baits along mid-depth structure is popular and generally productive. Use a slip sinker or Carolina rig setup. Use cut bait, nightcrawlers, shrimp or prepared baits. They remain in these areas and feed aggressively in preparation for Winter.

WINTER. In Winter, the channel cats gather in deep holes and go virtually dormant, especially if water cools into the 40's. They hole up in pockets, deeper holes, channels, ledges, and the basin areas from 15 to 35 feet deep and await warmer water. Slow presentations, especially cut bait, can still entice strikes. Often during mid day, through the afternoon, anglers are catching them a bit shallower on the same structure.

SPRING. In Spring, when water temperatures rise into the high 40's, channel catfish start their migration into coves and up river. Early in the season, look for them in 3 to 12 feet of water along shallow flats and around creek mouths. They hold here, and feed aggressively, around relatively shallow cover until water warms into the mid 70's, at which time they begin the spawn process. Anglers are using slip sinkers, 3-way rigs, or Carolina rigs to get, and keep, the bait close to the bottom. Later in Spring, focus on shallower flats into late evening.

SUMMER. In Summer, slow-moving water, at the river end of the lake may draw catfish to feed. Otherwise they are scattering, locating cover in slightly cooler water. Reports indicate the most successful anglers are using nightcrawlers, cut bait, minnows or shrimp. Most channel cats hold in 15 to 30 feet during the day, and 4 to 15 feet during the night. Fishing from late in the day until midnight produces some of the best results, as this is their prime feeding time.