Fishing Dodd Reservoir in Dawes County, Nebraska

• Overview

  Dodd Reservoir sits in Dawes County, out in Nebraska. The water sits 3,898 feet up. This is a pocket water of some 18 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. It is high ground by Nebraska standards. Chadron sits 24 miles from here and is the nearest stop. The nearest city of size is Fort Collins, 166 miles away. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Dodd Reservoir

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Records held for Dawes County cover brown trout, brook trout, white sucker and bluegill. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. On Dodd Reservoir that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 24°F and July at about 72°F, the water has a wide range to work through. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near late March. From about late March to around early December, expect open water on the long-run figures. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. The season on Dodd Reservoir rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. If the gate is shut, McDowell Reservoir Number 1 at 3.5 miles is the nearest alternative. Nothing here settles the position at Dodd Reservoir for certain.