Cottonwood Steverson Lake

Cottonwood Steverson Lake is a lake in Cherry County, Nebraska with 758.5 acres, a recorded maximum depth of 20 feet and about 8,139.6 acre-feet of storage.

Cottonwood Steverson is a shallow Sandhills lake with weeds and open pockets that suit panfish, bass and toothy fish.

How to Fish Cottonwood Steverson Lake

With only 20 feet at its deepest recorded spot, the lake often rewards careful work along weeds, flats and minor drops.

For the lake, run a lure along the weed edge, then drop a small jig into clean pockets when crappie or bluegill are the target.

Fish and Baits at Cottonwood Steverson Lake

Fish listed for the lake include Black Crappie, Bluegill, Common Carp, Largemouth Bass, Muskellunge, Saugeye, Walleye, White Crappie, Wiper, and Yellow Perch.

Bass

For largemouth bass at Cottonwood Steverson Lake, try a plastic worm, jig or spinnerbait around weeds, wood and quiet points.

Crappie, Sunfish and Perch

For black crappie at Cottonwood Steverson Lake, try a small jig or minnow beside brush, weed edges and drop-offs; for white crappie at the lake, try a small jig or minnow around wood, creek channels and open-water schools. For bluegill at Cottonwood Steverson Lake, try a worm, tiny jig or cricket near weeds and shallow cover; for yellow perch at the lake, try a small jig, minnow or worm close to bottom near weeds or a drop.

Walleye and Open-Water Fish

For walleye at Cottonwood Steverson Lake, try a jig and minnow, crawler rig or crankbait on points, flats and channel edges; for saugeye at the lake, try a jig, crankbait or crawler rig along rocky points and the old creek channel. For wiper at Cottonwood Steverson Lake, try a shad-colored swimbait, spoon or crankbait cast to fast-moving schools.

Pike and Muskie

For muskellunge at the lake, try a large bucktail, jerkbait or swimbait along weeds and major points.

Catfish and Carp

For common carp at Cottonwood Steverson Lake, try corn, dough bait or a worm on a simple bottom rig.

Seasonal Fishing at Cottonwood Steverson Lake

As Cottonwood Steverson Lake warms in spring, check shallow cover and the first drop leading away from it. Summer fishing on Cottonwood Steverson Lake is often best along healthy weeds, clean pockets and the windblown side before the water gets too dirty. In fall, follow cooling water and moving bait toward points, green weeds and wind-hit banks at Cottonwood Steverson Lake.

A Practical Plan for Cottonwood Steverson Lake

On the first pass at Cottonwood Steverson Lake, use one moving bait to find active fish and one slower bait to work the best-looking cover, changing depth before replacing everything in the box.

Wind can help on Cottonwood Steverson Lake by pushing food toward a bank or point, but hard wind can muddy shallow water; compare the windy side with one protected area before settling in.

Keep a short note after fishing Cottonwood Steverson Lake: water color, wind direction, useful depth and the cover that produced. Those details from Cottonwood Steverson Lake make the next trip easier to plan.

Tackle for Cottonwood Steverson Lake

A medium spinning rod with 8- to 12-pound line covers jigs, small crankbaits and many bait rigs on Cottonwood Steverson Lake; add a heavier outfit only when the listed fish or thick cover calls for it.

Cottonwood Steverson Lake FAQs

What should I check first after the wind changes on Cottonwood Steverson Lake?

Compare the windy weed edge with a protected bank on Cottonwood Steverson Lake, then stay with the side that has cleaner water and signs of bait.

What is a simple bait for largemouth bass at Cottonwood Steverson Lake?

A good first choice on Cottonwood Steverson Lake is a worm or spinnerbait; change its depth before replacing everything in the box.

Does the 20-foot maximum tell me where fish hold in Cottonwood Steverson Lake?

No. The number for Cottonwood Steverson Lake only marks its deepest recorded spot; fish may be much shallower near food, cover or comfortable water.