Philips Lake

Philips Lake is a reservoir in Gosper County, Nebraska with 142 acres and about 1,743 acre-feet of storage.

The best map clues on Philips Lake are points, creek turns and places where shallow water meets a quick drop.

Fish and Baits at Philips Lake

Fish listed for Philips Lake include Black Crappie, Channel Catfish, Freshwater Drum, Sauger, Walleye, White Bass, White Crappie, and Wiper.

Crappie, Sunfish and Perch

For black crappie at Philips Lake, try a small jig or minnow beside brush, weed edges and drop-offs; for white crappie at Philips Lake, try a small jig or minnow around wood, creek channels and open-water schools.

Walleye and Open-Water Fish

For walleye at Philips Lake, try a jig and minnow, crawler rig or crankbait on points, flats and channel edges; for sauger at Philips Lake, try a jig and minnow close to the bottom where current meets deeper water. For white bass at Philips Lake, try a small spoon, jig or shad-colored crankbait where baitfish bunch up; for wiper at Philips Lake, try a shad-colored swimbait, spoon or crankbait cast to fast-moving schools. For freshwater drum at Philips Lake, try a worm, jig or small piece of cut bait near bottom.

Catfish and Carp

For channel catfish at Philips Lake, try cut bait, a nightcrawler or prepared bait on flats and channel edges.

How the Seasons Change Philips Lake

As Philips Lake warms in spring, check shallow cover and the first drop leading away from it. During summer at Philips Lake, fish early around shallow cover, then back out toward the creek path or a nearby drop. In fall, follow cooling water and moving bait toward points, green weeds and wind-hit banks at Philips Lake.

A Simple Fishing Plan for Philips Lake

Make the first trip to Philips Lake easy to read by fishing one shallow spot, one nearby drop and one piece of cover, then return to the type of water that gives the first solid bite.