Fishing Hitchcock Reservoir Number 3 in Keya Paha County, Nebraska

• Overview

  The Keya Paha County end of Nebraska holds Hitchcock Reservoir Number 3. It lies 2,014 feet above sea level. The water measures roughly 6 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. Gregory at 19 miles is the nearest place to stop. Sioux Falls sits 136 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Hitchcock Reservoir Number 3

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Open biodiversity records for Keya Paha County list green sunfish, black bullhead, Iowa darter and largemouth bass. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Anyone new to this water should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 20°F in January up to 75°F in July. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around late March. The open-water window runs from around late March to about early December in an average year. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. It holds true on this water more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. The nearest alternative is Hitchcock Reservoir, 0.4 miles out. Check the position on this water before loading the car.