May 2026 • Nebraskaland 51
WALLEYE
Walleye is by far the most chased species on the lake. And
people are targeting them immediately after ice out from
Admirals Cove all the way to the dam on the north side of the
lake throwing jigs or slab spoons. These fish will be located
in this area in a pre-spawn condition.
One of the biggest fishing spectacles of the year is the
actual walleye spawn. Spawning usually takes place on
the face of the dam, but do not overlook the southern rocky
points and also the rocky area from Admirals to North shore.
The end of walleye spawning coincides with alewife
spawning in the lake. At this point, a majority of the
walleyes are in the shallows, where a lot of wind-driven
bites occur. Throwing jigs, crankbaits and spinnerbaits, and
trolling or dragging live bait can be done all over the lake in
1 to 15 feet of water. It is not uncommon to have strikes in
1 to 2 feet of water right off of the banks. Often I see people
wade out waist deep from the bank to throw jigs out deeper
to catch walleyes. On many occasions, they are probably
behind you if the water is murky.
Once the alewife spawn wanes, the bait moves deeper and,
from late June through October, most of the walleyes are
in 10 to 40 feet of water. This is when trolling spinnerbaits,
worm spinner rigs and crankbaits shines.
If you do get a super windy day, fish you caught in 20 feet
of water the previous day will move into a churned-up bank
in 5 feet of water. They also turn back up on the dam at
nights during the summer.
When the fall sets in August to ice up, the primary
method is slabbing spoons off of points and humps all
around the lake.
SMALLMOUTH
When you arrive at Lake McConaughy and seek
smallmouth, you will obviously see the dam and southern
rock features of the lake. These are the primary areas
for smallmouth fishing. Almost everything you use
with smallmouth in other lakes will work here as well,
including Ned rigs, creature baits, topwaters and black jigs.
But in May and June, do not overlook the sand points
on the north side of the lake extending all the way out to
Sandpoint. With the alewife spawning, you can often find
nice smallmouth in these areas chasing bait as well.
For fly-fishing, top waters, brown woolly bugger and
the ever trusty micro black leech are my go-tos when I'm
fly-fishing.
NOW, FOR
A SPECIES-BY-
SPECIES LOOK.
The smallmouth bass fishery seems to get better each year.
Jerry Steinke of Ogallala and Kevin Jenny of Gretna hold
a pair of big walleyes.
