Fishing Sutherland Reservoir

AKA: Sutherland Lake

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Sutherland Reservoir Fishing Video
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Sutherland Reservoir, NE

Popular Fish Species Sutherland Reservoir, NE

Sutherland Reservoir Popular Fish - Walleye

Walleye Fishing

Sutherland Reservoir is home to a hearty population of walleye. Good fisheries management by Nebraska Game & Parks Commission and plenty of forage in the lake have them growing fat and healthy. Use GPS to locate fishing spots you normally fish during other times of the year. Walleye have excellent vision in low light scenarios which helps them find food in deep or murky water. Make an effort to be on the water anytime there are low light conditions. During May and June is the optimal time to catch them, while feeding in shallower water. Other times of the year they are more likely to roam around in deeper water. Concentrate around structure like points, flats and ledges off the river channels. One of the proven methods 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.

Sutherland Reservoir Popular Fish - Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth Bass Fishing

Smallmouth bass are the most sought-after species at Sutherland Reservoir, with fish over 3 pounds very common. Smallmouth bass fishing is particularly good when they move to shallow water. Use shallow spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, crankbaits, tube baits and jerkbaits around any sort of rip rap. Around grass, use worms, jigs, topwater and spinnerbaits. Other times, focus your time on deeper structure with drop-shot rigs, small worms, jigs and spoons. Rock piles and points are prime areas for smallmouth as these areas are also home to crawfish.

Sutherland Reservoir Popular Fish - Channel Catfish

Channel Catfish Fishing

To fish for catfish on Sutherland Reservoir, most any rod and reel will work, as long as the line is strong enough. For serious catfish enthusiasts, using the right equipment improves success. 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. Sutherland Reservoir has a decent population of channel catfish, and they are eager to bite. The typical fish are about 2 pounds, with larger ones caught frequently. 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.

Sutherland Reservoir Fishing Video

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for smallmouth bass, channel catfish, black crappie, walleye, rainbow trout, bluegill, white bass, yellow perch, striped bass and wiper at Sutherland Reservoir in Nebraska.

Open for access by all boats, Sutherland Reservoir is a great place to enjoy water sports in the southwest part of Nebraska. This 3,000-acre lake is also a great fishery with multiple fish species.

Sutherland Reservoir, located near Sutherland, Nebraska, is a popular destination for fishing enthusiasts. Spanning over 3,000 acres, this reservoir offers fishing for walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, white bass, crappie, catfish, trout, striped bass and bluegill. sunfish and striped bass are caught here. With quick access off I-80, this is an easy getaway for a family vacation or a quick fishing trip. Three boat ramps and two docks are available for public use.

Primary fish species residing in Sutherland Reservoir

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

Sutherland Reservoir Amenities

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

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Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings

Hershey Beach Boat Ramp
Located mid lake, east side, off S Bubble Road, this is a one-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and gravel parking.

Westshore Boat Ramp
Located mid lake, west side, off Great Plains Indian Highway, this is a one-lane, concrete ramp with gravel parking.