Brownell Creek Reservoir 18-2 in Otoe County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Brownell Creek Reservoir 18-2 is one of the Otoe County listings for Nebraska. It sits at 1,168 feet above sea level. About 4 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Otoe County. Syracuse sits 3.5 miles from the bank. Lincoln is the closest city, 30 miles away. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Brownell Creek Reservoir 18-2

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Fish documented in Otoe County include common carp, green sunfish and black bullhead. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. On this water a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 23°F and July at about 77°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. Once it clears, about mid March, the fishing comes on quickly. Averages place the thaw at mid March and the freeze at mid December. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. On this water the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. For a change of water, Brownell Creek Reservoir 1-4 is 0.5 miles distant. Ask locally about this water if anything is unclear.