Exley Reservoir Fishing near Bennington, Nebraska

• Overview

  Look for Exley Reservoir in Washington County, Nebraska. It sits in mixed forest country. At 3 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. It lies lower than most water we list in Nebraska. Bennington lies 8.7 miles from the water. Further out sit Carter Lake (8.9 miles) and Hillsborough (9.9 miles). Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Exley Reservoir

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Open biodiversity records for Washington County list common carp, green sunfish, rainbow smelt and black bullhead. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. At Exley Reservoir the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 76°F and January near 22°F. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Ice is part of the season here, ending near mid March. Averages place the thaw at mid March and the freeze at mid December. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. That is the shape of the year on Exley Reservoir.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. No launch point is recorded nearby, so this is a bank water unless you carry a boat in. Catfish want bait on the bottom: cut bait or worms, a simple running rig, and patience after dark. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Failing this one, try Lonergan Lake, 2.9 miles away. Treat Exley Reservoir as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.