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Best bluegill lakes in Nebraska

109 Nebraska waters hold bluegill, 109 mapped with real state-agency depth surveys. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality — open any water to see exactly where to fish it: depth contours, scored spots with plain-English reasons, seasonal windows and bait picks. The classic panfish. Shallow cover in summer, deeper weed edges otherwise.

1. Desoto Bend — 24 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Crappie
2. Pelican Lake — 10 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Crappie
3. Maloney Reservoir — 20 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Crappie
4. Lake Wanahoo — 24 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, Bluegill
5. Cottonwood Steverson Lake — 20 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Crappie
6. Crescent Lake — 16 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Crappie
7. Hackberry Lake — 6 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Crappie
8. Island Lake — 7 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Crappie
9. Willow Creek Lake — 24 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Crappie
10. Carter Lake — 24 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Crappie
11. Cunningham Lake — 20 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Crappie
12. Oliver Reservoir — 21 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Crappie
13. Flanagan Lake — 33 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Crappie
14. Blue Lake — 20 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Crappie
15. Willow Lake — 10 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Crappie
16. Kramper Lake (Pigeon Jones) — 50 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Crappie
17. Wagon Train — 18 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Crappie
18. Summit Lake — 30 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Crappie
19. Yankee Hill Lake — 14 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Crappie
20. Smith Lake — 14 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Crappie
21. Maple Creek Reservoir — 29 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Crappie
22. Bluestem Lake — 15 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Crappie
23. Wehrspann Reservoir — 24 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, Bluegill
24. Prairie Queen Recreation Area — 45 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Crappie
25. Zorinsky Lake — 33 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, Bluegill

…plus 84 more Nebraska waters holding bluegill.

When to fish bluegill in Nebraska

• Spring 1–6 ft — Bedding colonies on sandy shallow flats — sight-fish the light spots.
• Summer 4–15 ft — Weed edges and dock shade; bigger 'gills hold slightly deeper.
• Fall 6–18 ft — Schools tighten on remaining green weeds and first drops.
• Winter 10–25 ft — Soft-bottom basins with invertebrates; finesse presentations.

Also in Nebraska: best largemouth bass lakes · best walleye lakes · best white bass lakes · best crappie lakes · best channel catfish lakes · best white bass & hybrids lakes · best flathead catfish lakes · best freshwater drum lakes · best common carp lakes

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