Merritt Reservoir Fishing in Cherry County, Nebraska

• Overview

  Merritt Reservoir lies in Cherry County, Nebraska. The bank gives way to lake country bush. Around 4.0 sq miles of open water: conditions change from one end to the other. With about 31 miles of shoreline, local advice saves a lot of walking. Nothing else we list in Cherry County covers more water. For supplies, Valentine is 24 miles out. It is 219 miles to Sioux Falls, the nearest city. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Merritt Reservoir

  Survey data gives a maximum of roughly 100 feet. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Records held for Cherry County cover white sucker, common carp, green sunfish, rock bass and redfin pickerel. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Anyone new to Merritt Reservoir should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 22°F in January and 73°F in July. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Winter locks it down, and late March brings it back. The water is typically free of ice between late March and early December. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. It holds true on Merritt Reservoir more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. A boat ramp sits about half a mile from the water. Mapping shows a campsite some half a mile from the water. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Lone Tree Lake, 8.8 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Signs at Merritt Reservoir carry more weight than any list.