Upper Big Nemaha Reservoir L-5 in Lancaster County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  This water sits in Lancaster County, Nebraska. The setting is lake country bush. It covers about 2 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. On size it sits at the modest end of our Lancaster County list. For supplies, Hickman is 6.5 miles out. For a city, Lincoln is 19 miles off. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Upper Big Nemaha Reservoir L-5

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Species logged across Lancaster County include green sunfish, common carp, flathead catfish, bluegill and black bullhead. The county list is broader than any single water. On this water the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 77°F; by January the average is down near 23°F. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly mid March. Open water usually runs from mid March until about mid December. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. On this water that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. Catfish want bait on the bottom: cut bait or worms, a simple running rig, and patience after dark. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. For a change of water, Upper Big Nemaha Reservoir L-17 is 0.2 miles distant. For this water, the notice at the access point is the final word.