It’s a fishing day

Lewis and Clark Lake fishing conditions · Nebraska

Now until 7 pmWalleye

The bite peaks at 94.

Log a trip here
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.

  1. 903 pm
  2. 94
  3. 90
  4. 906 pm
  5. 76
  6. 76
  7. 769 pm
  8. 76
  9. 80
  10. 80Sun
  11. 76
  12. 76
  13. 763 am
  14. 76
  15. 76
  16. 766 am
  17. 80
  18. 76
  19. 769 am
  20. 76
  21. 80
  22. 8012 pm
  23. 76
  24. 76
  25. 763 pm
  26. 76
  27. 80
  28. 766 pm
  29. 76
  30. 76
  31. 769 pm
  32. 76
  33. 76
  34. 80Mon
  35. 80
  36. 76
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
No reading

Walleye range 50–72°

Wind
5 mph

From the southwest

Light
Daylight

Sunset 5:15 pm

Sky
Mostly Sunny

No rain expected

Air
63°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Falling

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
5% lit

Waning crescent

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

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. Missouri River waters above Gavins Point Dam, including Lewis and Clark Lake: 4 a day, 8 in possession, 15-inch minimum, and no cap on how many of them may be over 22 inches.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Lewis and Clark Lake

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 walleye

Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth bass

Micropterus dolomieu

82Worth the tripNow until 7 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Smallmouth bass bite in 55–78° 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. Holds 3–30 ft down.

Keep

5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Missouri River between Nebraska and South Dakota, including Lewis and Clark Lake: 5 black bass a day, 10 in possession, no minimum length, only one 21 inches or longer.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Lewis and Clark Lake

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 smallmouth bass

White Bass

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. Missouri River waters, including Lewis and Clark Lake: 15 striped bass, white bass and wipers a day, 30 in possession, no length limit.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Lewis and Clark Lake

Last checked 20 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Oct. More on white bass

Channel Catfish

Channel catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

47Sit it outNo window clears the bar

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. Channel catfish is here May–Oct. Holds 5–30 ft down.

Keep

10 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Lewis and Clark Lake is listed with the flowing waters: 10 channel catfish a day, 20 in possession, no minimum, only one 30 inches or longer.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Lewis and Clark Lake

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 channel catfish

Crappie

Crappie

Pomoxis spp.

47Sit it outNo window clears the bar

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

Common Carp

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
  • Barometer30.02 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today5:15 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow7:13 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 3:40 pm–4:40 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 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.

Nearby

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

Lake Francis Case (Chamberlain)113 mi · South DakotaBest now until 7 pm
94Go
West Okoboji Lake123 mi · IowaBest now until 7 pm
59Marginal
Spirit Lake127 mi · IowaBest now until 7 pm
90Go
Lake Sharpe (Pierre)178 mi · South DakotaBest now until 6 pm
94Go
Lake Oahe (Oahe Downstream, Pierre)182 mi · South DakotaBest now until 6 pm
94Go
Harlan County Reservoir212 mi · NebraskaBest now until 7 pm
94Go

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.