Bean Creek Reservoir 5-4 Fishing near Falls City, Nebraska

• Overview

  This water sits in Richardson County, Nebraska. Height above sea level is 1,020 feet. At 3 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Most waters listed here for Richardson County are larger. Falls City sits 7.1 miles from here and is the nearest stop. Mound City follows at 13 miles, then Hiawatha at 17 miles. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on Bean Creek Reservoir 5-4

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Species logged across Richardson County include common carp, flathead catfish and green sunfish. The county list is broader than any single water. On this water the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 24°F in January to roughly 77°F in July. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough early March. Break-up near early March, freeze-up near late December: that is the shape of an average year. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Time your trip to this water by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. Records show it does not hold water year-round. Mapping shows an empty shoreline: no ramp, no jetty, no marked entry. Catfish want bait on the bottom: cut bait or worms, a simple running rig, and patience after dark. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. The nearest alternative is Big Lake, 7.3 miles out. Treat access at this water as something to verify.