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17-acre lake in Dawson County, Nebraska. The lake tops out around 14 ft. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Drawn out, this is 17 acres of water rimmed by 0.7 miles of bank. Its 1.2 shoreline index means few bank features; the contours below do the pattern work. Every acre of it sits shallower than ~15 ft: one big littoral zone, cover and forage throughout. Tip to tip the water measures near 0.3 mi. The water lies in Dawson County. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Willow Island, 5 mi northwest of here.
Start shallow in spring: crappie sit in 2 to 8 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 4 to 14 ft, and winter fish settle into 4 to 14 ft. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 14 ft of water that rates prime for crappie in winter. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) until the fish tell you otherwise.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | open water | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 4 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (12 ft) | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 4 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 20 ft | dawn | Break off the point (12 ft) | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 4 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (14 ft) | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: channel catfish in 3 to 12 ft. As the season builds they drop to 4 to 14 ft, wintering in 4 to 14 ft. Top water on the chart: Deep basin, a deep basin in the 14 ft range, prime in winter. Time it for after dark and the evening.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | open water | |
| Summer | 4 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 25 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (14 ft) | |
| Fall | 4 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dusk | Deep basin (14 ft) | |
| Winter | 4 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | midday | Deep basin (14 ft) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: largemouth bass in 2 to 10 ft. As the season builds they drop to 4 to 14 ft, wintering in 4 to 14 ft. Top water on the chart: Main-lake point, a point in the 6 ft range, prime in fall. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait gets it done.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (6 ft) | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 4 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (12 ft) | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (6 ft) | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 4 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday | Break off the point (12 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
In spring, bluegill run shallow here, mostly 1 to 6 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 4 to 14 ft, and winter fish settle into 4 to 14 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 14 ft, rated prime for winter bluegill. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a small sponge spider (fly) or a micro tube jig most summer days.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 6 ft | midday & dusk | open water | 1/32 oz jig + micro plastic, Tiny popper (evenings) |
| Summer | 4 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 4 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Small sponge spider (fly), Micro tube jig |
| Fall | 4 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 6 to 18 ft | midday | Break off the point (12 ft) | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 4 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 25 ft | midday | Deep basin (14 ft) | Tungsten ice jig + plastic, Tiny spoon |
Come spring, look for walleye tight to the bank in 4 to 14 ft. Through summer count on 4 to 14 ft; the winter hold is 4 to 14 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Break off the point: a drop-off around 12 ft that scores prime in fall. Best bite is the evening and early morning. A crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) is the honest summer answer here.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (6 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 4 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (12 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 4 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Break off the point (12 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 4 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (14 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Spring white bass on Cozad hold shallow, usually 2 to 12 ft. They move out to 4 to 14 ft in summer and finish the year down in 4 to 14 ft. Put Main-lake point first on the milk run — a point near 6 ft that grades prime for fall. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a slab spoon or a small topwater (schooling fish).
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (6 ft) | Curly-tail jig (white), Small lipless crank |
| Summer | 4 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (6 ft) | Slab spoon, Small topwater (schooling fish) |
| Fall | 3 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 6 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (6 ft) | Jigging spoon, Blade bait |
| Winter | 4 to 14 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 40 ft | midday | Deep basin (14 ft) | Jigging spoon (deep), Blade bait |
Cozad also holds common carp (3 to 14 ft in summer), yellow perch (4 to 14 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
4 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deep basin, around 14 ft, is the deepest of them.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Nebraska waters are set by the Nebraska Game and Parks — and special regulations can apply to Cozad specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Nebraska fishing regulations →
Cozad is about 14 ft (4 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Anglers target crappie, channel catfish, largemouth bass, bluegill, walleye, white bass, common carp, yellow perch on Cozad.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 14 ft of water that rates prime for crappie in winter. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by species and season.
For crappie, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Cozad is regulated by the Nebraska Game and Parks. Check the official Nebraska regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Willow Island 5 mi · East Gothenburg WMA 7 mi · Darr 8 mi · Lake Helen 12 mi · Johnson Lake 12 mi · Dogwood WMA 22 mi · Brady Lake 23 mi · Medicine Creek 32 mi · Blue Hole West Lake 33 mi · Sandy Channel SRA 34 mi · Union Pacific SRA 40 mi · Wellfleet Lake 40 mi
See how Cozad stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Nebraska · best walleye lakes in Nebraska · best white bass lakes in Nebraska · best crappie lakes in Nebraska
More water nearby: Dawson County fishing maps (6 charts). Browse all Nebraska fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry: published agency survey data. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.