My brother Tim and I went to Kearney, NE to visit my son and founded some open water at Yanney Park Lake next to the bridge by the handicap pier. We brought our fishing poles and decided to see if we can catch anything in the open water. I caught a Master Angler 24 inch rainbow trout on a jig after making about dozen casts along the drop off next to the rocks by the bridge.

I fished at a private sand pit lake (open water) for a few hours in the afternoon on both days. I caught 8 largemouth bass between 11 and 14 inches around underwater brush piles in depths of  25 feet or less using suspending jerkbaits and a small jig.

My friends and I went ice fishing at Swanson Reservoir on both days. We caught good numbers of white bass, crappies, yellow perch, and channel catfish in depths of 34 feet or less next to the dam areas. I caught them on 1/8-, 1/4-, and 3/4 oz. Lytle ’s Secret Lures, and my friends was using small jigging spoons. The ice thickness is averaging between 3 and 4 inches near the dam areas.

I fished at the same private sand pit lake for a few hours in the afternoon on both days. I caught largemouth bass up to 17 inches, crappies up to 13 inches, and a few bluegills up to 8 inches. I caught these fish around underwater brush piles and deep points in depths of 28 feet or less using small jigs.