The Salt Creek - Part 1

The Salt Creek

The Salt Creek is a tributary of the Platte River which connects to the Platte just outside Ashland, NE.  A popular public access point is Catfish Run, which can be found just off Highway 6 just east of Ashland.

Living in Ashland, NE has given me excellent access to the Salt Creek (Saline Creek) that runs right through town. I've fished the creek near Waverly, Nebraska, where it empties into the Platte River, and everything bit of water in-between. The creek has never been a disappointment. With a canoe, there is no part of the creek that cannot be explored and tested with rod and reel, so gear up and get on the water. In my Salt Creek posts, I will be covering about everything you need to know about fishing the Salt Creek, including many of my personal experiences over the years. So, without further ado, let's get to it.

The Fish

The Salt Creek is an excellent location for Carp, Catfish, Drum, and Gar. Some may consider these to be trash fish, but if you're like me and enjoy the fight more than the meal, it is a perfect place to land an abundant variety of species.

The carp are an excellent target in the Salt Creek. Their size typically ranges from 2lbs to 15lbs, and if you're lucky, you may hook larger. Most of the carp I've seen out of the creek are your Common Carp, but have occasionally come across the Grass Carp and of course, the invasive Silver Carp.

Another fish of the creek's population is the Channel Catfish.  The water is very muddy most of the summer, and not very fast moving in the dryer months. They have been seek chomping on the surface of the water in schools, munching on cottonwood seeds as they float down with the current. Targeting a bend in the creek where some brush has bunched up will surely produce a couple decent catfish.

A common bait fish in the Salt Creek is the Golden Eye.  This strange looking fish has an odd pointed stomach (like the edge of a knife), almost no dorsal fin, and a very large golden eye.  It is a greasy fish that works wonders as a cut bait fish for Gar, Catfish, and even Snapping turtles. They strike fast and can be commonly found in the tributaries of the feeder streams that open up into the creek. Expect a hit nearly as soon as your bait hits the water.

The Salt Creek is crawling with turtles.  Most of what you will encounter (hook) is the softshell turtle. You can easily differentiate between a fish and a turtle as soon as you start reeling in.  The fight is less, but heavier, like reeling in a rock that's bouncing across the bottom of the creek.

As with most muddy creeks and streams, you will find Gar.  There are many of these prehistoric creatures in the Salt Creek because it is an ideal location for them.  The muddy, low oxygen conditions are perfect for this hearty fish, since it has the unique ability to breath air.  While most of the Gar you will encounter in the Salt Creek are juveniles, only stretching up to 24 inches, rig a set line and bait it with some fresh cut Golden Eye and don't be surprised when you pull in a 20lb+ monster Gar the next morning.

The Over-Fished Spots

While I won't be posting the exact spots to fish, I can tell you where NOT to fish.  Most locations along the creek, at least near Ashland are over-fished.  They are easy to get to which is why most people, at least not specifically from the Ashland area fish them. Why not stop at a spot where you can pull your truck up to, crank up some tunes, open the cooler and drop a line in the water? While this is a great way to hang out with friends and enjoy a day, you won't find much luck catching fish. I've attempted them routinely throughout the years and those spots are terrible. Avoid fishing under bridges and near public access points along the creek, you end up disappointed.

Your best bet is to get a canoe or small aluminum boat and get on the creek.  Float down it. You will find much more success doing this than just sitting under a bridge.  But hey, it just depends on how set you are to catch fish and how much work you are willing to put in to get to where the fish are.

Float Trips

At least twice every year, I take overnight fishing trips down the creek. Trips like these are perfect for hitting the prime fish spots during the best time of day on the creek: late evening and early morning. The sandbars can be found throughout the twists and turns provide for excellent locations to camp, fish, or simply take a break from the boats.

The group I travel with have a variety of boats including my Old Town Saranac Canoe, a 10ft aluminum johnboat, and a couple of sit-on-top kayaks.  While the kayaks don't have room to carry too much gear, they cruise with ease up and down the lazy river current.