Fishing in South Dakota's Glacial Lakes & Prairies

Walleye dominate the fishing scene in the northeast. Most are caught by trolling crankbaits or night crawler/spinner rigs over hard gravel or sand bottoms during the late summer months, while spring and fall are reserved for jig and minnow combinations and lindy rig fishing. Many anglers like to use bottom bouncers, jigs tipped with minnows, spinners combined with crawlers, and crappie rigs tipped with minnows.

Walleye night fishing is also successful, especially in the spring and fall. This is a great opportunity to fish from shore casting jerkbaits and swim baits near rocks and off points. Many large fish are caught from shore after the sun goes down.

To catch largemouth and smallmouth bass, cast lures toward shore near clumps of vegetation or along rocky shorelines. Mouths of creeks and sloughs also host bass, particularly near rushes. Most white bass are located trolling in open water or casting over rocks with a medium spoon, spinner or jig and grub combination.

For the most part, yellow perch, rock bass and bullheads respond to still-fishing with live bait. In June, fishing small jigs in shallow nesting cover is effective for bluegills; as is fly fishing with wet flies or small poppers. Northern pike fishing also reigns in the northeast. A standard way to catch pike is to cast a diving plug, spoon or spinnerbait along weed lines.

Wintertime fishing enthusiasts don’t quit when the water freezes. They just drill holes to reach the water! Jigging spoons, teardrop hooks and spearing all account for a variety of cold-season fishing. Pike, walleye, bluegill and perch are favorites. Concentrations of trucks and ice houses on a lake will usually indicate where the bite is taking place.