Slim Jim Lake Fishing in Grant County, Nebraska

• Overview

  Slim Jim Lake belongs to Grant County, Nebraska. It stands 3,753 feet above sea level. With some 26 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. On size it sits at the modest end of our Grant County list. Gordon sits 45 miles from the bank. After that come Alliance at 55 miles and Martin at 66 miles. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Slim Jim Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Reported across Grant County: bluegill, green sunfish, white perch and yellow perch. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. At Slim Jim Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 72°F in July and bottoms out near 22°F in January. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Look for the thaw near late March; the fishing lifts straight after. Open water usually runs from late March until about early December. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. On Slim Jim Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Failing this one, try Big Buck Lake, 0.5 miles away. For Slim Jim Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.