Schick Lake Fishing Guide, McPherson County, Nebraska

• Overview

  In Nebraska, Schick Lake falls inside McPherson County. Everything around it is mixed forest. This is a pocket water of some 17 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. For supplies, Sutherland is 28 miles out. The nearest city of size is Greeley, 196 miles away. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Schick Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. McPherson County records list brown trout, rock bass and yellow perch among the fish reported. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Treat Schick Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 24°F in January to roughly 74°F in July. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Winter locks it down, and mid March brings it back. The water is typically free of ice between mid March and early December. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Schick Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Formal access is not mapped, so the last stretch is likely on foot. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Diamond Bar Lake at 4.3 miles is the sensible second choice. Check the position on Schick Lake before loading the car.