Bear Creek Reservoir 8-B Fishing in Gage County, Nebraska

• Overview

  In Nebraska, Bear Creek Reservoir 8-B falls inside Gage County. Height above sea level is 1,394 feet. At roughly 13 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. For a base, Beatrice sits 8.5 miles out. Wymore is 15 miles and Hickman 20 miles. There is no boundary nearby to worry about. The setting is plain rather than dramatic, and it fishes well for it.

• Where to Fish on Bear Creek Reservoir 8-B

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Species logged across Gage County include common carp, flathead catfish and orangespotted sunfish. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. This water gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 24°F in January up to 77°F in July. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. The lid usually goes in mid March, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Averages place the thaw at mid March and the freeze at mid December. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Expect this water to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. Catfish want bait on the bottom: cut bait or worms, a simple running rig, and patience after dark. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Bear Creek Reservoir 6-3, 1.3 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Nothing on this water should be assumed from this page alone.