Andys Lake Fishing near Norfolk, Nebraska

• Overview

  Andys Lake is one of the Madison County waters in Nebraska. Around the bank it is rolling bush. Surface area runs to about 17 acres — small enough to read in one session. Some 2.4 miles away sits Norfolk, the nearest settlement. The nearest city of size is Omaha, 91 miles away. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Andys Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Reported across Madison County: common carp, black crappie, flathead catfish, green sunfish and largemouth bass. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Fish Andys Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 75°F in July and bottoms out near 20°F in January. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Once it clears, about late March, the fishing comes on quickly. Averages suggest open water from about late March through to roughly early December. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Andys Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Recorded parking is half a mile off, far enough to travel light. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Failing this one, try Skyview Lake, 3.7 miles away. Treat Andys Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.