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Cornell Dam (Valentine) to Rocky Ford The river tops out around 8 ft. The depth picture is modeled, anchored to the true shoreline and the water's published max depth — a scouting aid, never a chart to run a boat by. What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:
Drawn out, this is 1,510 acres of water rimmed by 69.3 miles of bank. A development index of 12.7 means a maze of bays and points: far more casting targets than a round bowl of the same size. The whole water is littoral — nothing here runs deeper than ~15 ft, so it's all weed-and-bait territory. End to end it runs roughly 26.2 mi, about 5.3 mi across. You'll find it in Cherry County. The nearest mapped water is Valentine Mill Pond, 16 mi to the west.
Start shallow in spring: channel catfish sit in 2 to 8 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 2 to 8 ft covers summer, 2 to 8 ft covers winter. Top water on the chart: Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6), a creek channel in the 6 ft range, prime in summer. Fish it in after dark and the evening and you'll meet the bite.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (6 ft) | |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft | night & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (6 ft) | |
| Fall | 2 to 8 ft | dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (6 ft) | |
| Winter | 2 to 8 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (6 ft) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: smallmouth bass in 2 to 8 ft. The depth story barely changes: 2 to 8 ft through summer, 2 to 8 ft in winter. The spot to know is Current seam (mile 10.6), a current seam in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 10.6) (4 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 10.6) (4 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Current seam (mile 10.6) (4 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 2 to 8 ft | midday | Current seam (mile 10.6) (4 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
In spring, common carp run shallow here, mostly 2 to 8 ft. Summer keeps them at 2 to 8 ft, and they winter in 2 to 8 ft. Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) is the standout, a creek channel at roughly 6 ft, rated prime for fall common carp. Time it for early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | open water | |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | |
| Fall | 2 to 8 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (6 ft) | |
| Winter | 2 to 8 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (6 ft) |
Count 17 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6), sits near 6 ft.
Access data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) — community-mapped launches. 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 Niobrara River specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Nebraska fishing regulations →
Niobrara River is about 8 ft (2 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 channel catfish, smallmouth bass, common carp on Niobrara River.
Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) is the top-rated area: a creek channel in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for channel catfish in summer. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
For channel catfish, the summer bite is best in after dark 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 Niobrara 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.
Valentine Mill Pond 16 mi · Hackberry Lake 29 mi · Pelican Lake 31 mi · West Long Lake 33 mi · Merritt Reservoir 39 mi · Roosevelt Lake 40 mi, SD · Willow Lake 43 mi · Twin Lakes North 53 mi · Twin Lakes South 54 mi · Lake Francis Case 68 mi, SD · Cottonwood Lake 73 mi · Swan Lake 77 mi
See how Niobrara River stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Nebraska · best channel catfish lakes in Nebraska · best common carp lakes in Nebraska
More water nearby: Cherry County fishing maps (9 charts). 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.