Branched Oak is Lincoln’s big lake, and it fishes like one. The headline here is flathead catfish: it’s strictly catch-and-release for flatheads, and Game and Parks flatly calls the flathead fishing as good as any that can be found. Night anglers working the shallows with live bait tangle with genuine giants.
The supporting cast is deep — wipers, channel and blue cats, largemouth bass, walleye (statewide regs now apply: four fish, 15-inch minimum, one over 22), and crappie with a 10-inch minimum. It’s also one of the most developed lakes in the system: a private marina with fuel, bait, and a summer restaurant and bar, four-plus boat ramps, fish-cleaning stations, and more than 600 campsites.
Summer weekends are crowded — it’s the closest big water to Lincoln — so fish early or come in fall. Watch for the no-wake zones: 400 feet off the dam and 90 feet from all other shorelines.