Bear Creek Reservoir 2-A near Beatrice: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Bear Creek Reservoir 2-A is set in Gage County, Nebraska. The bank gives way to mixed forest. Surface area runs to about 22 acres — small enough to read in one session. It ranks high for size among our Gage County listings. Supplies mean a trip to Beatrice, 4.8 miles off. Wymore lies 13 miles off, Wilber another 19 miles. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Bear Creek Reservoir 2-A

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. County-wide records name common carp, flathead catfish and orangespotted sunfish. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. The shape of this water decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 78°F in July and bottom out at 24°F in January. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from mid March. Averages place the thaw at mid March and the freeze at mid December. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. This water runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. There is somewhere to leave the car, half a mile off. A campsite is mapped about 120 yards away, which makes an early start easier. For the catfish, fish bottom baits into the deeper holes and let them sit. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. The nearest alternative is Bear Creek Reservoir 2-B, 0.9 miles out. Confirm before you fish this water.