James Reservoir Number 1, Nebraska: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  You will find James Reservoir Number 1 in Garfield County, Nebraska. Height above sea level is 2,218 feet. This is a pocket water of some 3 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Supplies mean a trip to Burwell, 6.7 miles off. Beyond it, Ord at 12 miles and Loup City at 34 miles. The boundary is near enough that local access rules are worth double-checking.

• Where to Fish on James Reservoir Number 1

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Public occurrence data for Garfield County names black bullhead, Iowa darter and yellow perch. The county list is broader than any single water. The shape of this water decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 74°F and January about 22°F. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Winter locks it down, and late March brings it back. On average, late March opens the water and early December closes it again. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. On this water that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. No built facilities appear in mapping around this water. Catfish want bait on the bottom: cut bait or worms, a simple running rig, and patience after dark. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Failing this one, try Burwell-Sumter Diversion Reservoir, 6.7 miles away. For this water, the notice at the access point is the final word.