Rock Creek Reservoir 23-A in Pawnee County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  The Pawnee County end of Nebraska holds Rock Creek Reservoir 23-A. It lies 1,312 feet above sea level. About 17 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. The closest town, Tecumseh, is 11 miles distant. Wymore lies 20 miles off, Beatrice another 23 miles. No border sits close enough to matter. Trees come down to the water on one side more than the other.

• Where to Fish on Rock Creek Reservoir 23-A

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Open biodiversity records for Pawnee County list flathead catfish, green sunfish and black bullhead. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. On this water the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 77°F, the coldest about 24°F. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Look for the thaw near mid March; the fishing lifts straight after. Break-up sits around mid March on average, with the water closing again about late December. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. This water fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. Nothing is listed nearby for parking or launching a boat. For the catfish, fish bottom baits into the deeper holes and let them sit. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Mayberry Lake sits 0.7 miles off and takes the overflow. For this water, the notice at the access point is the final word.