"Some have special limits: Recharge Lake is a 49-acre impoundment west of York, and the minimum-length limit on bass is 21 inches; others with the same regulation include Swan Creek 5-A, near Tobias, and Verdon SRA, just west of the town."

Some lakes are totally catch-and-release for bass: Wildwood, near Agnew; the five lakes at the Louisville State Recreation Area; Prairie View Lake, Lakes Nos. 3 and 4 at Two Rivers SRA, and Memphis Lake SRA.

The northeast doesn't have many small ponds or reservoirs in public domain, but Jeff Schuckman, district fisheries supervisor at Norfolk, says that there are enough to give fishermen a choice.

"The bass fishermen here have at least a half-dozen pretty good places to choose from when they go after bass on the small lakes," he said. "Chalkrock Lake WMA is a good bass lake, as are Buckskin Hills, Pibel Lake SRA, Grove Lake, Maskenthine and Lake Erickson, as well as lakes 7 and 8 at the Fremont SRA. I also have to throw in Summit Lake, even though it's larger than 100 acres (190); it was renovated a couple of years ago, and the bass have really showed some good growth. I look for some of them to hit 15 to 16 inches this year."

The Sandhills of Nebraska have numerous bass lakes. Most of the lakes in this vast ranchland are natural; many are on private land. Joel Klammer, the district fisheries supervisor, says that a few small ones open to the public are good, as are a few artificial ones.

"Cub Creek Lake near Springview is one of the better manmade lakes in the district," he offered. "Hull Lake in Boyd County is worth some fishing time for bass as are Keller Park Ponds 1 and 2, Tower Lake, Bessey Fish Pond on the Halsey National Forest and Melham Park Lake at Broken Bow.

"There are a few small Sandhill lakes under 100 acres in public domain in the district," Klammer said. "West Long and Duck lakes on the Valentine Refuge are good bass lakes. Cottonwood Lake south of Merriman has a reasonably good bass population."

Bass fishermen in Nebraska's Panhandle are really on the short end of the stick when it comes to lakes. Fort Robinson State Park has about 10 ponds and a lake (Ice House) and Grabel ponds and Carter P. Johnson Lake (15 acres) that hold bass. Chadron City Reservoir (totaling 20 acres) serves up a few big bass each year, as does the Chappell Interstate Lake. The Bridgeport SRA has five sandpit lakes. Buffalo Creek WMA near Melbeta has bass, as does the Morrill Sandpits, south of Morrill, Terry's Pit at Terrytown, and Walgren Lake SRA east of Hay Springs.

For details on the public waters, check the 2005 edition of the Nebraska Fishing Guide. It is available at permit vendors, or by calling (402) 471-0641.