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Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
100-acre lake near Lincoln. The lake tops out around 16 ft. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
The drawn water covers 101 acres wrapped in 3.6 miles of bank. The 2.6 development index tells the story — a convoluted bank whose fishable edge far outruns the acreage. All of it is shallow-zone water — under ~15 ft across the entire basin, so the food chain has the run of the place. Figure 0.8 mi of water from one end to the other, 0.7 mi at the beam. It sits in Lancaster County. If the bite dies, Yankee Hill Lake is 9 mi to the southwest.
Spring rainbow trout on Holmes Lake hold shallow, usually 4 to 16 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 4 to 16 ft in summer, 3 to 16 ft once it turns cold. The chart's best answer is Break off the point — drop-off, 4 ft, prime for winter. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon.
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 16 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (6 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 4 to 16 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (4 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 5 to 16 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (6 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 3 to 16 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (4 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
In spring, walleye run shallow here, mostly 4 to 15 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 5 to 16 ft before dropping to 5 to 16 ft for winter. Winter walleye concentrate at Deep basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 16 ft. Fish it in the evening and early morning and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) 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 | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (6 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 5 to 16 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (6 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 5 to 16 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Main-lake point (6 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 5 to 16 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (16 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Come spring, look for largemouth bass tight to the bank in 2 to 10 ft. They move out to 5 to 16 ft in summer and finish the year down in 5 to 16 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Shallow bay flat: a weed flat around 2 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait 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 | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 5 to 16 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (6 ft) | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (6 ft) | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 5 to 16 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday | Break off the point (4 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Early season white perch use the shallows, holding in 4 to 15 ft. Expect a summer slide to 5 to 16 ft, then a winter hold in 5 to 16 ft. Put Deep basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 16 ft that grades prime for summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Tie on a small spinner rig drifted or a 1/8 oz jigging spoon and you're in the game.
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 15 ft | dusk | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Summer | 5 to 16 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 40 ft | dawn | Deep basin (16 ft) | Small spinner rig drifted, 1/8 oz jigging spoon |
| Fall | 5 to 16 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 45 ft | midday | Deep basin (16 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Blade bait |
| Winter | 5 to 16 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 50 ft | dusk | Deep basin (16 ft) | Small rattle spoon, Tungsten + spikes |
When the water first warms, crappie slide up into 2 to 8 ft. Summer is a 5 to 16 ft game here, winter a 5 to 16 ft one. Start at Deep basin. It's a deep basin holding about 16 ft of water and rates prime come winter. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. Keep a jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) rigged through the warm months.
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 | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 5 to 16 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Dock / pier line (10 ft) | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 5 to 16 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 20 ft | dawn | Dock / pier line (10 ft) | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 5 to 16 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (16 ft) | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
Come spring, look for bluegill tight to the bank in 1 to 6 ft. Expect a summer slide to 4 to 15 ft, then a winter hold in 5 to 16 ft. Start at Shallow bay flat. It's a weed flat holding about 2 ft of water and rates prime come spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A small sponge spider (fly) or a micro tube jig 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 | 1 to 6 ft | midday & dusk | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | 1/32 oz jig + micro plastic, Tiny popper (evenings) |
| Summer | 4 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Dock / pier line (10 ft) | Small sponge spider (fly), Micro tube jig |
| Fall | 5 to 16 ft chart-limited; documented 6 to 18 ft | midday | Break off the point (4 ft) | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 5 to 16 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 25 ft | midday | Deep basin (16 ft) | Tungsten ice jig + plastic, Tiny spoon |
Holmes Lake also holds channel catfish (5 to 16 ft in summer), common carp (3 to 15 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
7 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deep basin, around 16 ft, is the deepest of them.
Access data: Nebraska Game & Parks - Boat Ramps. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
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 Holmes Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Nebraska fishing regulations →
Holmes Lake is about 16 ft (5 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 rainbow trout, walleye, largemouth bass, white perch, crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, common carp on Holmes Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 16 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in winter. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
For rainbow trout, 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 Holmes Lake 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.
Yankee Hill Lake 9 mi · Bowling Lake 10 mi · Wagon Train 11 mi · Cottontail Lake 11 mi · Conestoga Lake 12 mi · Stagecoach Lake 12 mi · Hedgefield Lake 13 mi · Bluestem Lake 13 mi · Pawnee Lake 14 mi · Merganser Lake 17 mi · Twin Lakes WMA (East) 17 mi · Walnut Creek 2A 17 mi
See how Holmes Lake stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Nebraska · best walleye lakes in Nebraska · best crappie lakes in Nebraska · best bluegill lakes in Nebraska
More water nearby: Lancaster County fishing maps (15 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.