Fishing at Ziegler Creek Reservoir Z-5-1, Otoe County, Nebraska

• Overview

  You will find Ziegler Creek Reservoir Z-5-1 in Otoe County, Nebraska. The water sits 1,024 feet up. At 5 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. By elevation it sits in the lower part of our Nebraska listings. 3.1 miles away sits Syracuse, the nearest town. The big place round here is Lincoln, 29 miles distant. The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Ziegler Creek Reservoir Z-5-1

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Survey and observation records for Otoe County include common carp, green sunfish, black bullhead and channel catfish. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Work this water in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 77°F, while January sits near 23°F. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around mid March. Averages place the thaw at mid March and the freeze at mid December. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. The season on this water rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Failing this one, try Janssen Reservoir, 0.9 miles away. Confirm before you fish this water.