Walgren Lake in Sheridan County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Set in Sheridan County, Nebraska, this is Walgren Lake. The water sits 3,737 feet up. The water covers some 108 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. There is roughly 1.4 miles of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. For a base, Chadron sits 23 miles out. The big place round here is Greeley, 187 miles distant. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Walgren Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. County-wide records name white sucker, brown trout and rock bass. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. On Walgren Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 22°F to 72°F. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. Break-up comes around late March, and the run that follows is short and strong. Averages place the thaw at late March and the freeze at early December. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. On Walgren Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. 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. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. The nearest alternative is Dorshorst Reservoir, 5.6 miles out. Check the position at Walgren Lake before loading the car.