McCarthy Lake in Morrill County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Set in Morrill County, McCarthy Lake is a Nebraska water. The surroundings are rolling bush. The water covers some 231 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. About 2.3 miles of bank, so nothing stays unexplored for long. It is among the larger waters listed here for Morrill County. The nearest place of any size is Alliance, 13 miles away. Greeley sits 149 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on McCarthy Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Survey and observation records for Morrill County include brown trout, rainbow trout, longnose sucker, white sucker and yellow perch. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. On McCarthy Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 74°F, with January the cold end at about 24°F. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. Count the season from break-up, usually mid March. Average temperatures cross freezing around mid March in spring and again near mid December in autumn. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. At McCarthy Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. The nearest alternative is Ryan Lake, 1.2 miles out. Signs at McCarthy Lake carry more weight than any list.