Fishing at Norman Reservoir Number 3, Sioux County, Nebraska

• Overview

  Nebraska holds Norman Reservoir Number 3, in Sioux County. Everything around it is pine and birch. Surface area is around 53 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. About 1.2 miles of bank, so nothing stays unexplored for long. Chadron at 28 miles is the nearest place to stop. The big place round here is Fort Collins, 175 miles distant. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Norman Reservoir Number 3

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Species logged across Sioux County include yellow bullhead, fathead minnow and sand shiner. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. At this water light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 73°F and January near 23°F. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. The lid usually goes in late March, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Climate figures give an open season running late March to early December. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. At this water the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. Catfish want bait on the bottom: cut bait or worms, a simple running rig, and patience after dark. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Norman Reservoir at 0.9 miles is the sensible second choice. The position on this water is worth confirming on the day.