Ell Lake Fishing in Sheridan County, Nebraska

• Overview

  Set in Sheridan County, Nebraska, this is Ell Lake. The country round it is lake country bush from end to end. Roughly 30 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. The edge runs 1.2 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. You are 34 miles from Gordon. The nearest city of size is Greeley, 203 miles away. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Ell Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Reported across Sheridan County: white sucker, brown trout and rock bass. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. At Ell Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 72°F at the top of summer and 22°F at the bottom of winter. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Break-up comes around late March, and the run that follows is short and strong. The water is typically free of ice between late March and early December. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. At Ell Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. The nearest alternative is Dillie Lake, 1.2 miles out. Check the position at Ell Lake before loading the car.