Fishing Bluestem Lake

AKA: Bluestem Lake Reservoir

Popular Fish Species
Bluestem Lake Fishing Video
Available Fish Species
Amenities
Today's Weather & Forecast
Boat Launch Ramps
Local Fishing Guides
Fishing License
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Bluestem Lake, NE

Popular Fish Species Bluestem Lake, NE

Bluestem Lake Popular Fish - White Crappie

White Crappie Fishing

Quality schools of healthy white crappie reside in Bluestem Lake. The fish population is healthy and crappie fishing is excellent. The best time to catch crappie tends to be at dawn and dusk. Crappie always like cover and structure, so locate shallow brush and vegetation in Spring and Fall focusing on the 8 to 12 foot range. As the crappie move deep in summer and winter, follow points out to as deep as 30 to 35 feet, as well as ledges near channels at these depths. Live bait and small jigs are the most common method for crappie here.

Bluegill Fishing

Fishing for bluegill is a time-honored tradition at Bluestem Lake. Young and old, beginners and seasoned anglers alike, all enjoy catching a bunch of fat bluegill. This year, much like recent years, the bluegill population is healthy and always looking for something to eat. Bluegill fishing is as basic as fishing gets. Any pole, reasonably small line and small hooks baited with anything edible, creates the ideal setup. Add a bobber and you can set the depth you prefer the bait to position. Bluegill hang around brush, rocks, vegetation or any cover available.

Bluestem Lake Popular Fish - Channel Catfish

Channel Catfish Fishing

To fish for catfish, most any rod and reel will work, as long as the line is strong enough. For serious catfish enthusiasts, using the right equipment improves success. A medium action, to medium-heavy action rod is ideal, in the 6' to 7' range. Use a slip sinker or Carolina rig with popular catfish baits on at least 10-pound line. Use sharp hooks with bait holders on the shank, or circle hooks for live bait. Bluestem Lake has a decent population of channel catfish, and they are eager to bite. The typical fish are about 2 pounds, with larger ones caught frequently. The state record channel catfish is over Bluestem Lake pounds. Night fishing for catfish often delivers better results than daytime fishing. Fishing for channel catfish is often most productive around any kind of structure in the area. In Spring channel catfish migrate toward incoming water, so stay up river away from the main lake. In early summer look for rocky banks, the bigger the rocks the better. In summer and winter deeper structure is where to look. The river end of the lake is often the area where the bigger catfish are caught. Road beds, creek channels and rocky points are all good places to begin.

Bluestem Lake Fishing Video

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, channel catfish, black crappie, white crappie, walleye, bluegill, green sunfish, redear sunfish, wiper and northern pike at Bluestem Lake in Nebraska.

Located just southeast of Lincoln, with about 325 surface acres and 6 miles of shoreline. Bluestem Lake has a reputation as a good bass fishing lake. The lake is home to a variety of fish species, including largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, channel catfish, and walleye. Anglers can fish from shore, or from fishing boats.

Primary fish species residing in Bluestem Lake

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

Bluestem Lake Amenities

Marina: NO
Boat Rental: NEARBY
Boat Launch Ramp: TWO
Campgrounds: YES
RV Hookups: NO
Lodging: NEARBY
Convenience Store: NEARBY
Bait & Tackle: NEARBY
Restaurant: NEARBY

Today's Weather & Forecast

Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings

Area Five Campground Boat Ramp
Located in the northeast section of the lake, off W Martel Road, this is a one-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and gravel parking.

Area Three Campground Boat Ramp
Located in the southeast section of the lake, off W Sprague Road, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and gravel parking.

Bluestem Boat Ramp
Located in the southeast corner of the lake, off W Sprague Road, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and gravel parking.