Fishing Schmidt Reservoir in Butler County, Nebraska

• Overview

  Look for Schmidt Reservoir in the Butler County part of Nebraska. Elevation runs to 1,391 feet. At 5 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. The nearest town is Seward, 16 miles away. Then David City, 16 miles, and Wahoo, 17 miles. You are close to a county edge here; who manages the access can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Schmidt Reservoir

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Across Butler County, recorded fish include common carp, green sunfish and tadpole madtom. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. The near bank of Schmidt Reservoir is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 76°F in July and bottoms out near 22°F in January. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around mid March. The open-water window runs from around mid March to about mid December in an average year. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. Schmidt Reservoir runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Nothing is listed nearby for parking or launching a boat. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. If the gate is shut, Oak-Middle Reservoir 63-C at 2.8 miles is the nearest alternative. Ask locally about Schmidt Reservoir if anything is unclear.