Fishing at Carter-David West Reservoir, Harlan County, Nebraska

• Overview

  In Nebraska, Carter-David West Reservoir falls inside Harlan County. This is pine and birch country. A pocket of water where every cast reaches cover. You are 12 miles from Holdrege. Lincoln is the closest city, 151 miles away. You are close to a county edge here; who manages the access can change within a short drive. It sits away from the main road, which keeps the noise down.

• Where to Fish on Carter-David West Reservoir

  Our records hold no depth for this water. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Reported across Harlan County: common carp, flathead catfish, striped bass and white crappie. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. On Carter-David West Reservoir that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 24°F in January and 76°F in July. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. Ice-out usually falls in mid March, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Climate averages put the opening at about mid March and the closing near mid December. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Carter-David West Reservoir.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Failing this one, try McDonald Reservoir, 2.2 miles away. Check the position at Carter-David West Reservoir before loading the car.