Upper Big Nemaha Reservoir J-42 Fishing near Hickman, Nebraska

• Overview

  Upper Big Nemaha Reservoir J-42 is a Johnson County water, Nebraska side. It stands 1,276 feet above sea level. This is a pocket water of some 5 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Johnson County. Start from Hickman, 14 miles down the road. It is 24 miles to Lincoln, the nearest city. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Upper Big Nemaha Reservoir J-42

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Species logged across Johnson County include common carp, green sunfish and johnny darter. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. At this water the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 77°F; by January the average is down near 23°F. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough mid March. Average temperatures cross freezing around mid March in spring and again near mid December in autumn. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. Expect this water to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. The nearest alternative is Upper Big Nemaha Reservoir J-12a, 0.7 miles out. None of that is settled for this water in what we hold.