Bucktail Lake in Arthur County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Bucktail Lake is one of the Arthur County listings for Nebraska. It lies 3,445 feet above sea level. It runs to roughly 53 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. The closest town, Sutherland, is 29 miles distant. Ogallala is 29 miles and North Platte 43 miles. The boundary is near enough that local access rules are worth double-checking.

• Where to Fish on Bucktail Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Records held for Arthur County cover chain pickerel, rock bass and yellow perch. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Bucktail Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 24°F in January and 74°F in July. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from mid March. On average, mid March opens the water and mid December closes it again. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Plan any trip to Bucktail Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Little Diamond Bar Lake at 4.5 miles is the sensible second choice. Confirm access to Bucktail Lake locally before you travel.