Midwest Fishing Lake Guide, Box Butte Reservoir

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Box Butte Reservoir is located 10 miles north of Hemingford Nebraska, in Dawes County. It has an estimated 1,600 surface acres of water, but actual level may drop several feet due to its use as a source of irrigation water. On one of our visits in late summer the water level had dropped so low as to make the boat ramp unusable. None the less, this lake should not be overlooked for good fishing, either from boat, or from the shore. Fishing types and style will vary considerably over the year and we also found water quality may vary with the time of year. When water levels stay somewhat level the fishing is considerably good for Large Mouth Bass, Crappie, and Rock Bass with traditional crankbaits and lures. When water levels are lower we found that the fishing became somewhat inconsistent, possibly due to the fish moving to different cover or changing to different feeding habits. In lakes which water often drops like Box Butte, we often switch to fishing directly off the bottom with live baits and directly relying on a graph to chart the location of the fish. Using this technique we were able to catch a few Walleye and Perch on minnows and worms. Using shad and chicken livers we also caught some catfish from the shoreline at night. Box Butte State Recreation Area has facilities available for primitive camping, picnic shelters, and restrooms. This area of the state is sparsely populated and facilities are several miles away, so come prepared.