Jesse Lake Fishing near Alliance, Nebraska

• Overview

  Jesse Lake lies within the bounds of Sheridan County, Nebraska. Elevation runs to 3,875 feet. The water covers some 244 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The full circuit measures close to 2.9 miles on foot. On our Sheridan County list it sits near the top for size. Nearest town is Alliance, 12 miles off. The nearest city of size is Greeley, 158 miles away. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Jesse Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Survey and observation records for Sheridan County include white sucker, brown trout, rock bass, yellow perch and green sunfish. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Read Jesse Lake before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 24°F and July at about 74°F, the water has a wide range to work through. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Look for the thaw near mid March; the fishing lifts straight after. The water is typically free of ice between mid March and early December. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. That shapes the year on Jesse Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. For a change of water, Peterson Lake is 2.7 miles distant. Nothing on Jesse Lake should be assumed from this page alone.