Hershey Lake near Sutherland: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Hershey Lake sits within Lincoln County in Nebraska. This is pine and birch country. It measures about 56 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. About 1.6 miles of bank, so nothing stays unexplored for long. Sutherland is the closest town at 7.2 miles. For a city, Greeley is 201 miles off. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Hershey Lake

  The basin has been measured to about 21 feet. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. County-wide records name common carp, white sucker, flathead catfish, green sunfish and bluegill. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. Hershey Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 74°F on average, January about 24°F. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. Break-up comes around mid March, and the run that follows is short and strong. Averages place the thaw at mid March and the freeze at mid December. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. That shapes the year on Hershey Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. Hershey Lake sits 40 yards away and is marked for fishing. The water borders Hershey State Wildlife Management Area, so expect the reserve rules to apply. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. East Hershey Lake sits 3.2 miles off and takes the overflow. Where Hershey Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.