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Gavins Point Dam tailwater to Ponca State Park The river tops out around 31 ft. Depth here is modeled from the true shoreline and max depth rather than surveyed; use it to plan, not to navigate. What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
Missouri River maps at 5,256 acres behind 108.1 miles of shoreline. With a shoreline index of 10.6, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 50% of the surface on the model — that's where the groceries are. Figure 42.9 mi of water from one end to the other, 5.6 mi at the beam. Cedar County claims this one. Its nearest charted neighbour, Missouri River (Gavins Point), is 7 mi to the northwest.
Spring puts walleye in skinny water — 4 to 15 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 9 to 31 ft, wintering in 9 to 31 ft. Fall walleye concentrate at Channel bar / point (mile 21.1), a prime-rated point around 12 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around the evening and early morning. A crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Channel bar / point (mile 21.1) (12 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 9 to 31 ft | dusk & dawn | Channel bar / point (mile 21.1) (12 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 9 to 31 ft | dusk & night | Channel bar / point (mile 21.1) (12 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 9 to 31 ft | dusk & dawn | Outside-bend hole (mile 4.3) (23 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
In spring, sauger run shallow here, mostly 4 to 18 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 10 to 30 ft before dropping to 9 to 31 ft for winter. Summer sauger concentrate at Outside-bend hole (mile 4.3), a prime-rated creek channel around 23 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a bottom bouncer + crawler or a 3-way rig with stickbait most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 0.6) (17 ft) | 3/8 oz jig + ringworm, Hair jig + minnow |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 4.3) (23 ft) | Bottom bouncer + crawler, 3-way rig with stickbait |
| Fall | 9 to 31 ft | dusk & dawn | Outside-bend hole (mile 4.3) (23 ft) | Jig + big minnow, Blade bait |
| Winter | 9 to 31 ft | dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 4.3) (23 ft) | Heavy jigging spoon, Jig + minnow (vertical) |
When the water first warms, channel catfish slide up into 3 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 8 to 25 ft, and by winter most fish are in 9 to 31 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Outside-bend hole (mile 4.3): a creek channel around 23 ft that scores prime in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Slackwater eddy (mile 26.6) (17 ft) | |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | night & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 4.3) (23 ft) | |
| Fall | 10 to 30 ft | dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 4.3) (23 ft) | |
| Winter | 9 to 31 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 4.3) (23 ft) |
Come spring, look for flathead catfish tight to the bank in 5 to 20 ft. They move out to 8 to 30 ft in summer and finish the year down in 9 to 31 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Slackwater eddy (mile 26.6): an eddy pocket around 17 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | night & dusk | Slackwater eddy (mile 26.6) (17 ft) | |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | night & dusk | Slackwater eddy (mile 26.6) (17 ft) | |
| Fall | 9 to 31 ft | night & dusk | Slackwater eddy (mile 26.6) (17 ft) | |
| Winter | 9 to 31 ft | midday | Slackwater eddy (mile 26.6) (17 ft) |
Spring puts blue catfish in skinny water — 5 to 25 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 8 to 31 ft; cold water stacks them in 9 to 31 ft. Outside-bend hole (mile 4.3) is the standout, a creek channel at roughly 23 ft, rated prime for spring blue catfish. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 4.3) (23 ft) | |
| Summer | 8 to 31 ft | dawn & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 4.3) (23 ft) | |
| Fall | 9 to 31 ft | dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 4.3) (23 ft) | |
| Winter | 9 to 31 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 4.3) (23 ft) |
Spring freshwater drum on Missouri River hold shallow, usually 5 to 20 ft. They move out to 8 to 30 ft in summer and finish the year down in 9 to 31 ft. Put Outside-bend hole (mile 4.3) first on the milk run — a creek channel near 23 ft that grades prime for summer. The feeding windows run the evening. The summer box starts with a jig + crawler combo or a small crankbait (slow).
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | midday & dawn | Slackwater eddy (mile 26.6) (17 ft) | Jig + curly tail (bounced), Small blade bait |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 4.3) (23 ft) | Jig + crawler combo, Small crankbait (slow) |
| Fall | 9 to 31 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 4.3) (23 ft) | Blade bait (vertical), Jigging spoon |
| Winter | 9 to 31 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 4.3) (23 ft) | Jigging spoon (slow) |
Structure-wise the chart holds 28 features, led in depth by Main-channel hole (mile 8.1) at roughly 25 ft.
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 Missouri River specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Nebraska fishing regulations →
Missouri River is about 31 ft (9 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
Anglers target walleye, sauger, channel catfish, flathead catfish, blue catfish, freshwater drum on Missouri River.
Outside-bend hole (mile 4.3) is the top-rated area: a creek channel in about 23 ft of water that rates prime for sauger in summer. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
For walleye, the summer bite is best in the evening and early morning. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Missouri River 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.
Missouri River (Gavins Point) 7 mi, SD/NE · Buckskin Hills Lake 11 mi · Chalkrock Lake 15 mi · Powder Creek Reservoir 17 mi · Marindahl Lake 23 mi, SD · Beaver Lake 26 mi, SD · Lewis and Clark Lake 32 mi, SD/NE · McCook Lake 32 mi, SD · Swan Lake 33 mi, SD · Kramper Lake (Pigeon Jones) 36 mi · Henry Lake 42 mi, SD · Willow Creek Lake 46 mi
See how Missouri River stacks up: best walleye lakes in Nebraska · best channel catfish lakes in Nebraska · best flathead catfish lakes in Nebraska · best freshwater drum lakes in Nebraska
Browse all Nebraska fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. 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.