Lewis and Clark is two fisheries in one. The lake itself — Nebraska’s second-largest reservoir, straddling the South Dakota line — holds walleye, sauger, both bass species, pike, and catfish, with the rock jetties at the Weigand-Burbach area built specifically to create fish habitat. Then there’s the tailrace below Gavins Point Dam, which might be the more famous of the two: the “Fishing Wall” right below the spillway stays ice-free all winter, October brings the annual paddlefish snagging season, and June is bowfishing time.
The Nebraska side, near Crofton, is the quieter side — less developed access than South Dakota’s, which suits anglers who’d rather not share a boat ramp with fifty trailers. The Weigand Marina runs Memorial Day through Labor Day with bait, tackle, and fuel.
Come in January and you might time it with Bald Eagle Days at the Lewis and Clark Visitor Center, when eagles stack up around the open water below the dam. It’s the rare Nebraska fishing trip with a legitimate wildlife spectacle attached.