Summit Lake in Burt County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Summit Lake lies in Burt County, in Nebraska. Height above sea level is 1,152 feet. The perimeter runs near 3.2 miles, so plan the walk before you start. It is low-lying compared with other Nebraska water we list. For a base, Tekamah sits 3.7 miles out. Omaha sits 39 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. You are close to a county edge here; who manages the access can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Summit Lake

  Depth records show about 30 feet at the bottom of the basin. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Survey and observation records for Burt County include bluegill, common carp and green sunfish. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. On Summit Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 75°F at the top of summer and 20°F at the bottom of winter. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near late March. On the long-run averages the water opens up around late March and starts locking again about mid December. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. The season on Summit Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. Boat Ramp sits about half a mile away and carries the launch. For the carp, bait a margin spot and sit on it; corn and bread still work. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. If the gate is shut, Tekamah-Mud Creek Reservoir 9-A at 3.9 miles is the nearest alternative. Rules at Summit Lake are worth checking on the day.