Pawnee is the lake Lincoln fishes after work. A mile off I-80, 740 acres, and one of the best-developed fisheries in the Salt Valley system: walleye in the 12-to-18-inch range along the weed edges and drop-offs, largemouth and white bass, both channel and flathead cats, crappie, bluegill, and pike averaging 18 to 24 inches.
Bank anglers get a fair shake here — there’s easy shoreline access around much of the lake, and the north shore near the boat ramp is a reliable starting point. Boats get you to the coves and channels where the bigger fish hold. Rocky shoreline and vegetation give baitfish and predators plenty of cover.
It’s a state recreation area, so you’ll need a park permit plus your fishing license, and campgrounds with RV hookups make it an easy overnighter. Like many Salt Valley lakes it can get weedy in late summer; spring and fall fish cleanest.