Rock Bass Reservoir, Nebraska: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Dawes County, Nebraska, is where Rock Bass Reservoir sits. The bank is 3,583 feet above sea level. Small at around 12 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Chadron at 20 miles is the nearest place to stop. It is 176 miles to Fort Collins, the nearest city. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Rock Bass Reservoir

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Survey and observation records for Dawes County include brown trout, brook trout, white sucker and bluegill. The county list is broader than any single water. Read Rock Bass Reservoir before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 24°F in January to roughly 74°F in July. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from mid March. Ice clears near mid March and comes back about early December in a typical year. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Plan any trip to Rock Bass Reservoir around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Big Cottonwood Allot 1 Reservoir, 1.7 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Check the position on Rock Bass Reservoir before loading the car.