Crappie

If you're looking to fill your cooler with crappie near Bennet, Nebraska, Branched Oak Lake is your best bet. This large reservoir offers plenty of submerged timber and brush piles that these panfish love. Spring is prime time, as crappie move into the shallows to spawn, making them accessible from shore. Early morning and late evening are generally the most productive times. A simple jig and bobber rig, tipped with a minnow or crappie nibble, is tough to beat. Local tip: Check the water clarity before you head out; if it's murky after a rain, try fishing slightly deeper near the dam. Crappie in Branched Oak tend to run a bit smaller than in some other Nebraska lakes, but what they lack in size, they make up for in numbers. Don't overlook the smaller ponds and lakes in the area either, as some can hold surprisingly good crappie populations.