You will find catfish in almost every body of water across the Cornhusker State.
Channel, blue, and flathead catfish are the three prized species we will focus on; however, you might stumble across bullhead catfish in many ponds and small lakes all over Nebraska.
Keep reading to find out which body of water you should fish next to catch a mess of big catfish!
Nebraska’s Best Catfishing Lakes & Rivers
I love catfishing because it’s pretty simple. All you need is a heavy-duty rod and reel, strong fishing line, ½ to an ounce weights, 8-aught or 10-aught hooks, and some bait.
Cut bait (small chunks of fish) is my favorite bait for channel cats and blues, while live bait (bluegill, bullheads, and shad) works best for flatheads. Dip bait, stickbait, chicken liver, earthworms, and shrimp work well throughout the year, especially on channel catfish.
Catfish are most active during the summer, and unlike many other species, they are challenging to catch in the late spring while they spawn.
Fall and even early winter can also be good times to go catfishing, but the action slows as water temps drop.
I love fishing ledges, creek channels, and flats for catfish. However, flatheads are also known for hanging out under brush piles, log jams, and rocky ledges.
Speaking of where to fish, these are the best catfishing locations in Nebraska.
Box Butte Reservoir
Located in northwestern Nebraska, Box Butte Reservoir is a 1,600-acre impoundment with plenty of channel catfish. This body of water has a few depth changes or ledges, so be prepared to fish flats and points. Since this is an irrigation reservoir, the water fluctuates quite a bit.
In times of high water, casting earthworms on 6/0 or 8/0 hooks into the flooded areas will catch the most channel cats. In times of low water, you’ll be forced to find the deepest holes with small chunks of cut bait or prepared catfish baits.
While catfish are tougher to catch in the dead of winter, Box Butte Reservoir is known as one of Nebraska’s top ice-fishing lakes.
Camping is available at the Box Butte State Recreation Area, and there are hotels in a few towns less than an hour away, including Alliance and Chadron.
Burchard Lake
Located in southeast Nebraska, Burchard Lake is a popular destination for largemouth bass fishing, but don’t overlook the channel catfishing when you visit. This small 150-acre impoundment has a few creek channels to fish, but your best bet will be to fish the flats along the points and in the small coves.
Since channel cats don’t get as big as blues or flatheads, a 6/0 or 8/0 hook will suffice. Channel cats also tend to be the least picky of the three species, so earthworms, hotdogs, cut bait, or most prepared baits will get you a bite.
The closest hotels are in Tecumseh and Beatrice, so you’ll have to travel a ways to reach the lake if you plan on staying in a hotel. There are primitive campsites at the lake.
Branched Oak Lake
Since it’s located just northwest of Lincoln, Branched Oak Lake is a popular spot. At roughly 1,800 acres, Branched Oak Lake offers plenty of habitat for all three species of catfish.
Channel catfish are typically 3-20 pounds here and are the most abundant. The coves, creek channels, and rock jetties are all great places to wet a line for channel cats. The timber in the western portion of the lake is a favorite catfishing spot of many locals.
Blue catfish are less abundant than channel cats, but a healthy population of 3-30 pounders still exists. You’ll find these fish in similar areas as channel cats. If you’re trying for giants, I recommend using larger baits and hooks (10/0) to weed out the smaller fish.
Flathead catfish are one of the biggest draws to the lake, mainly because there’s a solid population, and they can grow 40+ pounds in this impoundment.
During the summer heat, July and August are the best times to catch flatheads along the northeast section of the lake. There are special catfishing regulations for Branched Oak Lake, so be sure to read them before hitting the water.
Several campgrounds are around the lake, home of the Branched Oak SRA. The nearest hotels are under 30 minutes away in Lincoln.
Lewis & Clark Lake
Lewis & Clark Lake currently has a very healthy population of channel catfish. The second largest lake in Nebraska sits on the northeastern border with South Dakota north of Norfolk.
While there are a few flatheads in the reservoir, the population has been declining, so you’ll have to go below the dam to have the best chance of landing a flathead catfish.
I recommend fishing along the bluffs on the Nebraska side of the lake, as this is where the main river channel will be, and most fish will congregate in the channel. Shrimp and cut bait would be my go-to bait for Lewis and Clark Lake.
Camping is available at Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area, and the nearest hotels are in Yankton, SD.
Lake McConaughy
While walleye reign supreme at Lake Mac, the channel catfish can turn a slow day of fishing into a great one. The Cornhusker State’s largest lake offers catfish anglers plenty of water to explore in the southwest portion of the state.
The west end of McConaughy Lake offers anglers the opportunity to catch catfish year-round as it’s the deepest, and the wind tends to keep it unfrozen throughout the winter.
When the catfish are feeding, you’ll likely find them in the shallow coves and near the main lake points. The typical catfish baits work well at “Big Mac,” but since the water is very clear, you might need to downsize your hook so the catfish don’t see it as well.
Campgrounds are spaced around the lake, with more information on the Lake McConaughy State Recreation Area webpage. Hotels are available nearby in Ogallala.
Merritt Reservoir
If you want to catch big channel catfish, head to Merritt Reservoir in northern Nebraska. The channel cat population is booming and healthy, with regulations in place to protect big fish.
Find a depth change with bait, and you’re bound to find hungry catfish nearby. Shrimp, stinkbait, earthworms, and cut bait will get you bites from bigger fish. If you want to target only big fish, use larger bait chunks.
Merritt Reservoir also is among Nebraska’s better bass fishing lakes.
Several campgrounds are on different parts of the lake in the Merritt Reservoir SRA, and the nearest hotels are in Valentine.
Missouri River
The Missouri River forms the northeast and eastern border of Nebraska, and this full length is home to all three species of catfish.
I’ve always had the best luck fishing creek mouths when fishing a river; however, catfish will also hang out in eddies and deeper pools. I love fishing rivers because they often concentrate fish in reliable spots, so if you find a really good ledge holding fish, chances are you can recreate that pattern down the river.
The typical catfish baits work well in the Missouri River, but cut bait will be my number one choice when fishing below the Lewis & Clark Lake Dam. However, if I’m targeting flatheads, live bait is a must.
Pawnee Lake
Stocked with channel cats and blue cats, Pawnee Lake offers anglers in Lincoln and southeastern Nebraska another excellent option for catfishing.
This 740-acre lake might be small compared to most others on the list, but it makes up for it with the quality of fish available.
Find the wind-blown bank and start fishing there; the catfish will follow their food (baitfish) pushing into the shallows with the current. Cut bait, earthworms, shrimp, and stink baits will all get bites at Pawnee Lake.
Pawnee Lake also packs plenty of good crappie fishing into its small footprint.
A couple of campgrounds are at the lake, so check the Pawnee State Recreation Area if that’s your goal. Lincoln has plenty of hotels.
Platte River
Channel cats and flatheads are the two primary catfish species found in the Platte River, cutting across the Cornhusker State, but don’t be surprised if you catch a few blues now and then.
The key to fishing the Platte River is finding the deep holes where fish can survive the winter and droughts. Fishing current breaks, creek mouths, and channel swings are also great places to begin your search for catfish.
A major Platte River tributary, the Elkhorn River, joins the Platte southwest of Omaha (west of Gretna). It is another potentially good catfishing option in this river system.
Live bait works best for flatheads, while channel cats are not picky, and various types of bait will work for them.
Catch More Catfish
Check out our simple catfishing guide, including tackle and bait suggestions.