Fishing Pawnee Lake

AKA: Pawnee Reservoir, Lake Pawnee

Popular Fish Species
Pawnee Lake Fishing Video
Available Fish Species
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Pawnee Lake, NE

Popular Fish Species Pawnee Lake, NE

Walleye Fishing

If you like tasty, white filets, you will enjoy catching walleye here at Pawnee Lake. Thanks to a significant baitfish population, and presence of numerous small sunfish in the lake, walleye are thriving in these waters this year. May and June tend to be the best time for weekend anglers to catch them. During this time they tend to move shallower, closer to shore and begin spawning. Rock and gravel are preferred areas for the spawn. Other times of the year they are more likely to roam around in deeper water. As always, stay around schools of baitfish. They are eager to feed throughout the lake, but tend to concentrate around structure on points, flats and ledges off the river channels. Walleye have excellent, low-light vision which helps them find food in deep or murky water. Make an effort to be on the water during low light conditions. A proven method for catching walleye here is trolling with spinners tipped with live bait, or trolling with long-billed, deep diving crankbaits. However casting live bait, jigs, worms and spoons also works well at times.

Pawnee Lake Popular Fish - Channel Catfish

Channel Catfish Fishing

For weekend anglers, most any rod and reel will work for catching channel catfish at Pawnee Lake, as long as the line is strong enough. For serious catfish enthusiasts, using the right equipment enhances success, especially when you hook one of the big boys. A medium action, to medium-heavy action rod is ideal, in the 6' to 7' range. Use a slip sinker or Carolina rig with popular catfish baits on at least 10-pound line. Use sharp hooks with bait holders on the shank, or circle hooks for live bait. The state record channel catfish is over 41 pounds, and Pawnee Lake holds some pretty big ones. Flathead catfish also reside in the lake and fishing for them is often good as well. Night fishing for catfish often delivers better results than daytime fishing. Fishing for channel catfish is often most productive around any kind of structure in the area. In Spring channel catfish migrate toward incoming water, so stay up river away from the main lake. In early summer look for rocky banks, the bigger the rocks the better. In summer and winter deeper structure is where to look. The river end of the lake is often the area where the bigger catfish are caught. Road beds, creek channels and rocky points are all good places to begin.

Pawnee Lake Popular Fish - Largemouth Bass

Largemouth Bass Fishing

Pawnee Lake continues to deliver great catches of largemouth bass, as it has for several years now. Careful fisheries management by the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission has maintained a thriving bass fishery, providing both quantity and quality for anglers. Recent results by locals, and bass fishing tournament participants, attest to the fact that fishing for largemouth bass has been very rewarding lately. Also, there is the potential for catching a monster. Big mouth bass often move shallow and become fairly aggressive when they are in a feeding mood. If they seem disinterested in your presentations, try slowing down and use smaller, lighter baits. Use shallow crankbaits around rip rap. Around grass use worms, jigs, topwater and spinnerbaits. In deeper water, big worms, jigs and spoons are three good options. In winter, spend your time fishing Pawnee Lake on deeper structure where the bass spend much of their time. Fishing for largemouth bass can range from fair to very good here, year round.

Pawnee Lake Fishing Video

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish, black crappie, walleye, bluegill and white bass at Pawnee Lake in Nebraska.

Just one mile from I-80, this 740 acre lake in southeast Nebraska is a favorite of anglers around Lincoln, NE. Walleye, bass and white bass are at the top of a list of species that also includes catfish, crappie and bluegill.

Plenty of rocky shoreline and vegetation offer cover for baitfish and predator fish as well. Fishing from the bank is very popular here with easy access to numerous stretches of bank around the lake.

Primary fish species residing in Pawnee Lake

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

Pawnee Lake Amenities

Marina: NO
Boat Rental: NO
Boat Launch Ramp: YES
Campgrounds: YES
RV Hookups: YES
Lodging: NEARBY
Convenience Store: NEARBY
Bait & Tackle: NEARBY
Restaurant: NEARBY

Today's Weather & Forecast

Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings

Pawnee Lake East Boat Ramp
Located in the northeast corner of the lake, off Pawnee Lake State Recreation Road, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.

Pawnee Lake West Boat Ramp
Located in the southwest corner of the lake, off Adams Street, this is a one-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.