Fishing Wilson Creek Reservoir 8-B in Otoe County, Nebraska

• Overview

  Set in Otoe County, Nebraska, this is Wilson Creek Reservoir 8-B. Lake country bush runs right down to the water. It covers about 15 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. It lies lower than most water we list in Nebraska. The town to know is Syracuse, 6 miles out. It is 32 miles to Lincoln, the nearest city. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Wilson Creek Reservoir 8-B

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. County-wide records name common carp, green sunfish and black bullhead. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. The shape of this water decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 77°F and January near 22°F. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Break-up comes around mid March, and the run that follows is short and strong. The lid tends to go about mid March and return around mid December. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. This water fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Wilson Creek Reservoir 8-12 sits 0.9 miles off and takes the overflow. None of that is settled for this water in what we hold.