Spotted Bass

While Gothenburg, Nebraska might not be the first place that springs to mind for spotted bass, the local reservoirs and the Platte River offer some surprisingly good fishing. The best time to target them is during the spring spawning season, as they move into shallower waters. Early morning and late evening are your prime times, especially around submerged structure. A key to success here is to work the rocky areas and creek channels with crankbaits or Texas-rigged plastics. Access to the Platte River can be a bit tricky in some areas, so be sure to scout out access points beforehand. Consider using lighter tackle than you might for largemouth; the spotted bass in this region tend to be a bit smaller, but scrappy fighters nonetheless.