Harlan County Reservoir fishing conditions · Nebraska

Now until 7 pmWalleye

The bite peaks at 94.

Right now: 90 for walleye, go · inside the best windowTap 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.

903 pm
94
94
906 pm
76
66
669 pm
66
70
80Sun
76
76
763 am
76
76
766 am
80
76
769 am
66
70
7012 pm
66
66
663 pm
66
70
766 pm
76
76
769 pm
76
76
80Mon
80
76

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

Water: No reading
Wind: 5 mph
Light: Daylight
Sky: Sunny
Air: 69°F
Barometer: Falling
Moon: 5% 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

94GoNow until 7 pm

Water

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

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Walleye feeds aggressively in low light. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 10–40 ft down.

Keep

15" minimum · 4 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Harlan County Lake: 4 a day, 8 in possession. Either one from 15 to 18 inches and three longer than 18, or four longer than 18, with no more than one 22 inches or longer.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Harlan County Lake

Last checked 20 days ago. Rules may have changed.

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

Channel catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

82Worth the tripNow until 7 pm

Water

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

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. 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 20 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 channel catfish

Crappie

Pomoxis spp.

82Worth the tripNow until 7 pm

Water

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

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. 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 20 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 crappie

Northern pike

Esox lucius

82Worth the tripNow until 7 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Northern pike bite in 50–70° water, best near 63°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 4–30 ft down.

Keep

3 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Nebraska: 3 northern pike a day, 10 in possession, no minimum, only one 34" or longer. Several lakes have their own rules, including a 24–34" protected slot on some Sandhills refuge lakes.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Nebraska non-tidal

Last checked 20 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Year-round. More on northern pike

White bass

Morone chrysops

47Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

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

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. White bass is here Apr–Oct. 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 20 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Oct. More on white bass

Common carp

Cyprinus carpio

47Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

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

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Common carp is here May–Oct. 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 20 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
Barometer30.08 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

Sunset today5:28 pm
Sunrise tomorrow7:14 am
MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
Minor solunarToday 4:00 pm–5:00 pm
Major solunarTonight 10:30 pm–12:30 am
Minor solunarTomorrow 6:30 am–7:30 am

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 13,000-acre Republican River reservoir in south-central Nebraska — the state’s top walleye and wiper fishery, with white bass, channel catfish, crappie, and northern pike. Wind-driven and fertile, it produces strong walleye year-classes; Corps ramps and state-recreation-area access ring the lake.

Walleye are 4 a day: either one 15–18" and three over 18", or four over 18", with only one 22" or longer. Northern pike are 3 a day. White bass and wipers are 15 a day combined, only one 18" or longer.

WaterReservoir
AccessPier, shore and ramp
RulesNebraska non-tidal
WhereHarlan County · 40.0700, -99.2000

Nearby

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

Wilson Lake87 mi · KansasBest now until 7 pm

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Milford Lake141 mi · KansasBest now until 7 pm

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Tuttle Creek Lake149 mi · KansasBest now until 7 pm

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Lake McConaughy (Ogallala)155 mi · NebraskaBest now until 6 pm

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Lewis and Clark Lake212 mi · NebraskaBest now until 7 pm

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Lake Francis Case (Chamberlain)258 mi · South DakotaBest now until 7 pm

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Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Harlan County Reservoir?

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

What fish are commonly targeted at Harlan County Reservoir?

Harlan County Reservoir 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 Harlan County Reservoir?

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 Harlan County Reservoir 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 Harlan County Reservoir have?

Harlan County Reservoir has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. Walleye are 4 a day: either one 15–18" and three over 18", or four over 18", with only one 22" or longer. Northern pike are 3 a day. White bass and wipers are 15 a day combined, only one 18" or longer.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Harlan County Reservoir?

state agency regulations apply at Harlan County Reservoir. 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 Harlan County Reservoir tidal water?

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