Fishing Report For Lake McConaughy, NE

Current Report: Good To Very Good

Lake McConaughy is one of the best walleye fisheries in the Midwest, and currently holds the state record for walleye, at over 16 pounds. The lake is turning out quality walleye with a reasonable chance to catch a 10 to 12 pound trophy.

WINTER. This Winter, fishing for walleye has been pretty good, as it has been for the last few years. Before, during and after the ice, anglers report catching them in the main basin area, in 15 to 30 feet of water, along deep creek channel edges, rocky humps and ledges. Steep drops in the area toward the dam, around Lemoyne and near Martin Bay 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, and wind-blown flats adjacent to deeper water, especially in the Kingsley Dam area. Here, in relatively shallow water, they will spawn once the water warms to the mid to high 40's. When they are 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 25 feet deep around points, flats, shoals and ledges, nearby shore, often staying in close proximity to their spawning locations. Main lake drop offs tend to produce some nice fish.

SUMMER. Water temperatures rise notably in Summer, and walleye fishing is good if you can get your bait deep enough. From Sand Point to the area around Lone Eagle Campground is a hot area fro Summer trolling. Early in Summer, walleye tend to concentrate in 12 to 20 feet of water. As Summer develops they descend in deeper water, around 20 to 25 feet deep. Throughout Summer, early in the morning, and from dusk to long after dark are good times to catch walleye a little shallower. 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 Martin Bay, ledges 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 in Fall finds them in 5 to 15 feet of water, in late Fall they hold 20 to 25 feet deep. Dragging jigs, bottom bouncers, or worm harnesses with nightcrawlers or leeches, around ledge drop-offs catches walleye fairly consistently. Watch for the bigger walleye to be slightly deeper than the majority of the school.

Current Report: Good To Very Good

WINTER. Winter has isolated smallies around deeper structure, points, flats and creek channels, often suspending in open water above these features. Before, during and after ice fishing (if safe ice exists), they can generally be found from 20 to 40 feet deep. Locals report catching nice fish in rocky areas around Lemoyne, off North Point, along the face of Kingsley Dam, and rocky points along the south shore. Jigging spoons, tube baits, drop-shot worms, jigs and Ned rigs are tempting smallmouth to bite in deep water. I like to work these deeper haunts very slowly, as the bass are somewhat sluggish. Here they hold, feeding less frequently, awaiting warmer water to return in Spring.

SPRING. After ice out, when water temperatures rise into the 50's, smallmouth move from deep wintering spots to shallower water, just outside spawning areas. They feed heavily in 15 to 25 feet of water at this time, and are typically caught on jerkbaits, crankbaits, tube baits, Ned rigs, and crayfish imitating plastics. Once water warms into the high 50's, they move into shallower water, 6 to 15 feet deep and create nests in gravel or sand areas, then lay their eggs. Some of the better spawning areas include protected, shallow flats, and coves west of the main boat ramp. Females then move to deeper water and males remain to guard the eggs, and then the fry. After a couple weeks, the males also move into 15 to 20 feet deep, and feed aggressively. Crankbaits, tube baits, Ned rigs, plastic worms, spoons and swimbaits are catching smallies during this period.

SUMMER. Smallmouth bass typically feed shallow early and late in the day, in 3 to 8 feet of water. They are being caught on topwater, crankbaits, swimbaits, Ned rigs and tube baits. Smallmouth bass here feed on crawfish, gizzard shad, alewives, and small sunfish. They prefer rocky or gravel bottom areas, as this is where crayfish live. Popular Summer holding areas include rip rap at the dam, as well as rocky points, humps and structure near the thermocline. During the hotter parts of the day, they are being caught on points, humps, and ledges around 10 to 25 feet deep. Often these deeper fish tend to school, so finding them can deliver some fast action. Anglers fishing the face of Kingsley Dam and the rocky points and ledges on south shore, report good catches during these warmer months.

FALL. Once Fall arrives smallmouth move into coves and bays 10 to 20 feet deep. Popular areas include the points along the south and southeast shorelines. They thrive in the cooler, shallow water, which is an ideal environment for them. Locals report that tube jigs, and drop shot rigs with small worms or shad shaped plastics, are popular in 10' water or deeper. Worms, jigs, deep-diving crankbaits, swimbaits, and slow-rolled spinnerbaits, are also successful, when bass are shallow to mid depth. Later in Fall, smallies move to slightly deeper water, around 15 to 25 feet deep.

Current Report: Fair To Good

Most wipers caught here weigh about 2 to 4 pounds, and fish over 7 pounds are not uncommon. Swimbaits, jerkbaits, crankbaits, spoons, live bait and cut bait are all effective here for hybrid stripers. Their primary diet is the schools of baitfish throughout the lake, and they follow these schools to stay close to food supply. Use electronics and fish finders to locate both bait and wipers.

WINTER. Now that it's Winter, hybrid stripers hang out in deeper water and feed close to the bottom. They most often feed 20 to 40 feet deep before, during and after ice over. Warm afternoons occasionally draw stripers shallower, so look for them around 20 feet deep as they feed on roaming schools of gizzard shad and alewives. In Winter, it is important to locate schools of bait, then look for wipers schooling below the bait. Hybrids concentrate along the main river channel, on deep channel ledges, and some of the deepest holes around the river channel. Fish finders, and forward facing sonar, are a big help in locating these roaming schools. Nice fish are being caught while trolling or drift fishing. Spoons, swimbaits, blade baits, crankbaits, live bait and cut bait are typically effective this time of year. Due to slower metabolism, anglers are triggering more strikes as deep as 40 feet, by making very slow presentations.

SPRING. When water temperatures rise into the mid 60's now, it's the ideal time for hybrid stripers to spawn. Big hybrid stripers chase baitfish all over the lake. They are being caught up lake toward the incoming current as they feed and prepare to spawn. Expect to find hybrids in 10 to 12 feet of water early and late in the day, deeper during mid day. Most schools gather around the mouths creek-channels, channel bends, humps and points. They can be found in 8 to 15 feet of water on flats and points, or around 10 to 20 feet deep along channel edges. In Spring, work wind-blown points, creeks, bays along the northern shore, and the upper end of the lake if there is inflowing water. If they spawn, they will lay eggs in flowing water. The flats between Cedar View Campground and Otter Creek are popular in Spring. Look for deeper holes in the river channels, as they are a good holding place for hybrid stripers after the spawn. Vertical jigging, or trolling with deep crankbaits are popular.

SUMMER. In Summer, these wipers typically hang out in 15 to 30 feet of water, as do schools of baitfish. They stay above the thermocline, in oxygenated water. Sometimes during the heat of the day they move close to the bottom. Morning often draws hybrid stripers to much shallower water, so look for them around 10 to 15 feet deep as they feed on shallow on roaming schools of shad. Channel ledges and humps in the main basin of the lake can be productive. Trolling with spoons, crankbaits, umbrella rigs or swimbaits produces a lot of nice catches in Summer. Live or cut bait can also be effective here. Being successful at fishing for stripers in Summer is often a matter of locating schools of bait, and the wolf packs of wipers are likely to be nearby. Fish finders, and sonar electronics, are a big help in locating these roaming schools.

FALL. In early Fall, baitfish and hybrid stripers return to shallow water preferring areas as shallow as 8 feet deep on points and flats, to 30 feet deep along channel edges. Some of the bigger fish may be slightly deeper than the average fish in the large schools. During Fall, hybrids are very aggressive when feeding. Most wipers concentrate from mid lake to the incoming-river end of the lake. Expect to find schooling activity around creek mouths, flats, main channel points, and humps. Early in the day wipers chase bait to the surface and feed aggressively, making this an excellent time for topwater action. Mid day they move into around 30 feet of water. Look for structure nearby deeper sections in channels, and fish them thoroughly. Most any lure that resembles shad will catch wipers at this time of year.