Lily Lake in Sheridan County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Lily Lake lies within the bounds of Sheridan County, Nebraska. It sits in lake country bush. With some 56 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. There is roughly 1.3 miles of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. It sits higher than most water we list in Nebraska. The nearest place of any size is Alliance, 15 miles away. Bridgeport is 40 miles and Bayard 45 miles. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Lily Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Sheridan County records list white sucker, brown trout, rock bass and yellow perch among the fish reported. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. On Lily Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 23°F in January up to 73°F in July. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from mid March. On the long-run averages the water opens up around mid March and starts locking again about early December. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. At Lily Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Bower Lake at 0.6 miles is the sensible second choice. The position on Lily Lake is worth confirming on the day.