Fishing Sargent Reservoir in Custer County, Nebraska

• Overview

  Custer County, Nebraska, is where Sargent Reservoir sits. It lies 2,530 feet above sea level. At 11 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Some 16 miles away sits Broken Bow, the nearest settlement. The nearest city of size is Lincoln, 170 miles away. Not far off: Ansley Reservoir 30 miles away, Calamus Reservoir (31 miles), Morgan Reservoir Number 1 33 miles away, Goldman Lake (33 miles) and Philpott Lake 34 miles away. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Sargent Reservoir

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Records held for Custer County cover common carp, green sunfish, black bullhead and Iowa darter. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Take Sargent Reservoir a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 74°F in July and bottoms out near 22°F in January. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around late March. The open-water window runs from around late March to about mid December in an average year. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. Plan any trip to Sargent Reservoir around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. For the catfish, fish bottom baits into the deeper holes and let them sit. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Ansley Reservoir, 30 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Signs at Sargent Reservoir carry more weight than any list.