Nebraskaland

46 Nebraskaland • July 2019 Calamus The Perfect Getaway STORY AND PHOTOS BY ERIC FOWLER O n the eastern edge of the Sandhills, tucked into a narrow valley topped by high dunes, lies Calamus Reservoir. This summertime oasis, ringed by white sand beaches, draws sun seekers from throughout the region all summer long, anglers for much of the year and other outdoor enthusiasts year-round. Fishing is the main draw at the 5,200-acre reservoir, especially for walleyes. With high fishing pressure, anglers might have to stay a while to find a trophy, but they will find plenty of keeper-sized fish. The lake is one of the top spots in the state for white bass and wipers in terms of both the size and numbers. In the late summer, flocks of gulls picking gizzard shad from the surface tell anglers they can find white bass below. Calamus is also a top muskellunge lake in the state, and those who know and target this predator, as well as others who luck into one, can find fish up to 40 inches. Channel catfish are abundant, and Gracie Creek and the pond it feeds are stocked with keeper-sized rainbow trout year-round, giving anglers yet another option. About 5,000 acres of public land, most of it designated as a wildlife management area, surrounds the reservoir, including two miles of the Calamus River above the lake. A variety of wildlife can be found in these rolling Sandhills, riparian areas and wetlands, including pheasants, quail, turkeys, prairie grouse, waterfowl and white-tailed and mule deer. Calamus Reservoir has been designated an Important Birding Area by the National Audubon Society for the diversity of species it is home to, including grasshopper sparrow and Bell's vireo, and those it attracts during migration, including numerous shorebirds and waterfowl, thousands of American white pelicans in the spring and fall, and, in the winter, hundreds of trumpeter swans and bald eagles. There are 132 sites in three campgrounds – Homestead Knolls, Nunda Shoal and Valley View Flat – where campers can plug in their RV, and another 52 sites without electricity for RVs or tents in those campgrounds and Hannaman Bayou. The reservoir is the end of the 56-mile long Calamus River Water Trail, which begins at Highway 7 south of Ainsworth. Those not up for a multi-day paddle can float the river in tube or tank through Calamus Outfitters, which provides other unique recreational opportunities, including Sandhills eco- and birding tours. The 96-foot high Virginia Smith Dam, completed in 1986 on the Calamus River northwest of Burwell, forms the reservoir. Built by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, it stores most of the water the Twin Loups Irrigation District provides to farmers to water 53,000 acres of cropland. It was and likely will remain the last large reservoir built in the state. There isn't much beach to be found around the reservoir's 30-plus miles of shoreline until the irrigation season begins in mid-June. By July, there is plenty of room to play near the day-use areas and campgrounds, but many hop in their boat and head out to find a stretch of sand to call their own for the day. There are four boat docks on the 9-mile long reservoir, the western half of which limits boats to 5 mph. The wind seems to blow more often than not in this country, which can limit boating but is a big draw to windsurfers from around the region. Whether you want to ski, land a walleye, enjoy a cool Sandhills night around the campfire, or just take in a spectacular view of the western sky from Sunset Bay at Little York Point, you will find what you're looking for at Calamus Reservoir this summer. Whether they're casting for white bass, getting one more ride behind the boat or walking the beach, people find plenty to do at Calamus Reservoir on a summer evening.

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