Midwest Fishing Lake Guide, Calamus Reservoir and Calamus Reservoir State Recreation Area.


Calamus Reservoir is located northwest of Burwell Nebraska in Loup and Garfield counties. The Reservoir was created on the Calamus River by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in May of 1986. It has approximately 5,123 surface acres of water with 31 miles of shoreline. It is administered by Twin Loups Reclamation and Irrigation District and irrigates nearly 53,000 acres of Nebraska farmland. Calamus Reservoir offers excellent facilities including four boat ramps, parking facilities, wheelchair accessible fishing facilities (Gracie Creek), primitive and modern camping facilities, dump stations, fresh water, shower facilities, fish cleaning stations, and picnic areas. There is a 5 mile per hour speed limit (No Wake) on boating on the upper part of the lake. The Nebraska state game and parks commission lists the lake as containing Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Wiper, and Yellow Perch. Anglers should note: There is an 18 inch minimum length limit on Walleye with only one Walleye over 25 inches allowed in bag. The Daily bag limit is 3 on wipers, with no more than 1 fish over 18 inches. The lake is excellent fishing with major concentration in 2 areas. The upper part of the lake has good submerged structure that yields good bass and bluegill all year. The lower part of the lake has a deep channel that yields excellent walleye and wipers when fished with down riggers and bottom bouncers. A graph or a depth sounder are very useful tools when locating areas of fish habitat in this lake. The lake regularly produces in excess of a dozen master angler awards each year.