Lewis and Clark Lake fishing conditions · Nebraska

Tonight 10 pm to tomorrow 2 pmWalleye

The bite peaks at 68.

Right now: 58 for walleye, marginalTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Walleye, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

582 am
58
58
585 am
58
58
588 am
58
58
5811 am
58
58
582 pm
58
23
235 pm
23
23
238 pm
23
65
6811 pm
68Tue
68
682 am
68
68
685 am
68
68
688 am
68
68
6811 am
68
68

Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Water: No reading
Wind: 10 mph
Light: Dark
Sky: Rain Showers
Air: 43°F
Moon: 100% lit

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Nebraska non-tidal regulations for these waters.

Walleye

Sander vitreus

68MarginalTonight 10 pm to tomorrow 2 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Walleye bite in 50–72° water, best near 62°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 10–40 ft down.

Keep

15" minimum · 4 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Nebraska inland waters: 4 walleye, sauger and saugeye a day in aggregate, 8 in possession, 15" minimum, only one 22" or longer.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Nebraska non-tidal

Last checked 8 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–May, Oct–Nov, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on walleye

White bass

Morone chrysops

68MarginalTonight 10 pm to tomorrow 2 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. White bass bite in 55–80° water, best near 68°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 4–30 ft down.

Keep

15 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Nebraska inland waters: 15 striped bass, white bass and wipers a day in aggregate, 30 in possession, no minimum, only one 18" or longer.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Nebraska non-tidal

Last checked 8 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Oct. More on white bass

Channel catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

68MarginalTonight 10 pm to tomorrow 2 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Channel catfish bite in 60–85° water, best near 75°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 5–30 ft down.

Keep

5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Nebraska standing water (reservoirs, lakes, ponds and pits): 5 channel catfish a day, 20 in possession, no minimum, only one 30" or longer. Rivers, streams and canals allow 10 a day.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Nebraska non-tidal

Last checked 8 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Oct, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on channel catfish

Crappie

Pomoxis spp.

68MarginalTonight 10 pm to tomorrow 2 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Crappie bite in 50–80° water, best near 65°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

15 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Nebraska: panfish (crappie, yellow perch, rock bass and sunfish) are 15 a day in aggregate, 30 in possession, with no minimum length statewide. A few lakes add length rules.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Nebraska non-tidal

Last checked 8 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Jun, Oct, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on crappie

Smallmouth bass

Micropterus dolomieu

68MarginalTonight 10 pm to tomorrow 2 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Smallmouth bass bite in 55–78° water, best near 68°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 3–30 ft down.

Keep

15" minimum · 5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Nebraska inland waters: 5 black bass a day in aggregate, 10 in possession, 15" minimum, only one 21" or longer.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Nebraska non-tidal

Last checked 8 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Nov, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on smallmouth bass

Common carp

Cyprinus carpio

68MarginalTonight 10 pm to tomorrow 2 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Common carp bite in 52–86° water, best near 72°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 1–15 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Nebraska sets no size, bag or possession limit on nongame fish such as common carp. Nongame fish may be taken by archery or surface spear statewide, 24 hours a day, year-round.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Nebraska non-tidal

Last checked 8 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Oct, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on common carp

The water

Water temperatureNo reading
Barometer30.50 inHg

Sun, moon & solunar

Sunrise today7:56 am
Sunset today6:31 pm
MoonFull, 100% lit
Major solunarToday 12:10 am–2:10 am
Minor solunarToday 8:10 am–9:10 am
Major solunarToday 12:30 pm–2:30 pm

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. Nebraska Game & Parks publishes a report for the state.

Licenses and rules: Nebraska Game & Parks · fish-consumption advisory

About this spot

A 31,000-acre Missouri River reservoir on the Nebraska–South Dakota line behind Gavins Point Dam — a walleye, sauger, and catfish fishery with white bass and crappie in the bays. The river above the lake and the tailwater below the dam at Yankton are both productive. Public ramps line the Nebraska shore.

Missouri River rules apply on the lake: 4 walleye a day with a 15" minimum, and no one-over limit on bigger fish. The Gavins Point tailwater is a famous walleye and catfish spot.

WaterReservoir
AccessPier, shore and ramp
RulesNebraska non-tidal
WhereKnox County · 42.8600, -97.4900

Nearby

The closest public spots we cover, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Lake Francis Case (Chamberlain)113 mi · South DakotaBest tonight 6 pm to tomorrow 2 pm

68Marginal

West Okoboji Lake123 mi · IowaBest tomorrow 1 am–2 pm

80Worth the trip

Spirit Lake127 mi · IowaBest now until 6 am

87Go

Lake Sharpe (Pierre)178 mi · South DakotaBest now until 5 am

78Worth the trip

Lake Oahe (Oahe Downstream, Pierre)182 mi · South DakotaBest now until 5 am

78Worth the trip

Harlan County Reservoir212 mi · NebraskaBest today 1 pm to tonight 3 am

68Marginal

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Lewis and Clark Lake?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Lewis and Clark Lake you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Lewis and Clark Lake?

Lewis and Clark Lake is listed on this site for 6 commonly-targeted species: Walleye, White Bass, Channel Catfish, Crappie, and 2 more. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Lewis and Clark Lake?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Lewis and Clark Lake against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Lewis and Clark Lake have?

Lewis and Clark Lake has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. Missouri River rules apply on the lake: 4 walleye a day with a 15" minimum, and no one-over limit on bigger fish. The Gavins Point tailwater is a famous walleye and catfish spot.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Lewis and Clark Lake?

state agency regulations apply at Lewis and Clark Lake. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Lewis and Clark Lake tidal water?

No. Lewis and Clark Lake is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.