Calamus is the reservoir Nebraska anglers recommend to each other when nobody’s listening. The water is remarkably clear for the Plains, the sand bottom keeps it clean, and the fishery is deep: walleye, pike, muskies, white bass, crappie, and wipers all have real populations here.
The local setup matters: the upper five miles are no-wake, which keeps the ski boats out and the fishing calm, and when the lake draws down in summer a genuine sand beach rings the shoreline. The Calamus State Fish Hatchery sits just below the dam near Burwell and is worth a stop — it’s open weekdays and the kids can see where a lot of Nebraska’s stocked fish start life.
Unlike some reservoirs that go low and stay low, Calamus reliably comes back to full pool. Fish it spring through fall; the walleye regulation here is specific (two from 15–18 inches, two over 18), so check the current guide before you keep.