2021-12-16 05:38:47
LESSER-KNOWN LAKES & FISHING SPOTS Black Hills & Badlands Region You might not think of Perkins County when you think of great fishing in South Dakota. That’s precisely its appeal. A quiet reservoir in northwestern South Dakota, Shadehill Reservoir in Lemmon offers more than 5,000 acres of surface area and gives anglers the opportunity to catch walleye, crappie, perch, white bass and channel catfish. Missouri River Region The Missouri River isn’t the only great fishing in central South Dakota. In the Fort Pierre National Grasslands, many anglers can enjoy fishing powered by their own two feet — no boat required. Featuring dozens of small dams, anglers have so many options to fish that they’ll often see more antelope and deer than they will people. While many of these dams are only a few acres, don’t be surprised by largemouth bass over 5 pounds or bluegill surpassing 9 inches as you reel in fish all day long. For spring fishing, Chamberlain can be the bustling epicenter, but you can still experience the hot bite of Lake Francis Case without the crowds. Sitting quietly outside of town, Boyer Game Production Area offers fantastic shore fishing, and Elm Creek provides boat access to the Missouri River right in the heart of some very good stretches. Glacial Lakes Region With so much water in this region, the hard part is deciding what lakes not to fish. While large waterbodies such as Waubay Lake and Bitter Lake draw the most attention, don’t be afraid to venture to smaller lakes like Antelope Lake, Horseshoe Lake or Opitz Lake, which can produce excellent fishing for walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass and yellow perch. For winter fishing, Lake Whitewood is an ice-angling paradise. A true fishbowl, it maintains a relatively uniform depth, meaning anglers can go nearly anywhere on the lake for a chance to experience good fishing. Large schools of yellow perch roam the shallow lake and are often closely followed by both walleye and northern pike. Southeast Region With more than 175 fishing lakes ranging in size from 3 to 29,000 acres — plus the Big Sioux River, James River and Missouri River — this region is rife with fishing spots. Lewis and Clark Lake, a 30-mile-long Missouri River reservoir above Gavins Point Dam, draws anglers from all around for its walleye and bass, but for a crowd-free experience (and plenty of fish), make your way to Splitrock Creek, Marindahl Lake, Lake Madison and Lake Mitchell.
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