Fishing at Calamus Reservoir, Loup County, Nebraska

• Overview

  You will find Calamus Reservoir in Loup County, Nebraska. It sits in pine and birch country. At roughly 7.9 sq miles it ranks among the larger waters in the region. The perimeter is close to 24 miles, and wind can be flat in one arm and rough in the next. It ranks among the bigger water on our Nebraska list. The nearest town is Burwell, 8.9 miles away. After that come Ord at 25 miles and Broken Bow at 38 miles. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Calamus Reservoir

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Species logged across Loup County include brook trout, common carp and white sucker. The county list is broader than any single water. At Calamus Reservoir the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 75°F in July and bottom out at 22°F in January. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from late March. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about late March until roughly early December. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Calamus Reservoir runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. You can launch: the ramp is half a mile away. The closest car park is half a mile away, so pack accordingly. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Bald Lake, 6.8 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. None of that is settled for Calamus Reservoir in what we hold.