A simple guide to understanding South Dakota lakes.

South Dakota has three main types of water bodies.

Prairie glacial or man made reservoirs. 

These lakes are scattered across both  Eastern and Western South Dakota. The majority of glacial lakes reside in the north eastern part of the state. Day and Roberts counties host some of the highest densities of glacial lakes. South Dakota residents also store their water in man made reservoirs or dams.This water is used for civil and agricultural use. Lucky for us stocked with game fish like large mouth bass and walleye. The prairie wildlife has come to love these water holes. A large portion of the natural wetlands have been destroyed or damaged.

Rivers and streams. 

There are many rivers and streams meandering the state of South Dakota.The most notable is the Missouri River. Starting for the rocky mountains in Montana. The Missouri river flows all the way to the Gulf of Mexico. With four distinct reservoirs within South Dakota's boundaries. This large body of water hosts more species of fish including lake trout and salmon. Other rivers in South Dakota include the James and Sioux. Rivers are the life blood to eastern South Dakota.

 

Mountain Lakes and Streams.

The Black Hills of South Dakota are located in the extreme south western portion of the state. The lakes are primarily created by precipitation. The water flows from the higher elevations through streams like rapid creek and spearfish creek. Several reservoirs were created to hold water for human use. Because of the source of water the lakes and streams are generally clearer then the rest of the lakes in South Dakota. Pactola reservoir located in the central Black Hills a great example. The water bodies in the Black Hills are stocked primarily with trout.

Spring has Arrived in South Dakota

Spring has arrived and the grass is getting greener. The time has come to pull out the boat. Get the tools out. Clean it up. What am i going to upgrade, trolling motor. No. The depth finder. Yes. I am still using a 1993 super sale special. Now what brand do i get. Hummingbird makes a good product. But the pros that I know use Lowrance. Both brands have the newer models loaded with a chart plotter, and sonar system. I wish i could afford the big touch screen version. But, the wife has a limit. There are many reasons why i am going to upgrade my depth finder this year. The most important being the chart plotter. Being able to it a button and save the locations is awesome. Too many times I have had luck or marked fish, then the wind pushed me. I know that the structure on the bottom can very even a few feet away. Snorkeling is a great way to understand bottom structure. Additionally new depths finders can be added on to. Down the road i can add a structure scan to the Lowrance. Or satellite weather and radio. It all comes down to priorities. Now that it is settled, I hope you all have a great spring. Get some upgrades, and kill it on the lake. Good luck fishing and please share your reports.

Lake Oahe Ice Fishing Report

The ice fishing on lake Oahe has been good. There have been several reports of walleye over 25 inches being caught near the Oahe Bridge by Gettysburg, SD. Using pop ups, or jigging, with chubs has been the most productive. The best fishing has been either in the pre dawn - dawn hours or right at dusk. The majority of fish have been caught between 12 and 17 feet of water with rocks on the bottom for structure. Some large northern pike have been caught as well as silver bass. The ice is thick enough for ATV's still, but there have been a few reports of people going through. So Be Careful. Avoid pressure ridges and white ice, and be careful if your traveling in the dark, it is easy to get disorientated. The best part of the ice fishing season is coming to a close in the next month, get out there and enjoy before it's gone.

Snorkeling in the Missouri River

Snorkeling in the Missouri River is one of our favorite things to do in the summer. You can really see the the lake bottom, structure, and how fish act in the wild. There are many times that we speared fish while snorkeling in lake Oahe. There are some restrictions so make sure to check with the Game Fish and Parks on current Regulations. I often preferred not to spear because the only fish I really like to eat are walleye, and you have to search hard for them while snorkeling. There is also an added danger factor while spearing, and it is wise to always have a good idea where your friends are at. We would often go snorkeling in Whitlock Bay or around the Oahe Bridge near Bob's Resort. There is nothing more spooky than swimming near the rocks and a giant Northern Pike comes swimming by. Or hearing the cars go across the bridge while snorkeling around the pillars. Catfish are the most interesting. They stick their heads under rocks on the lake bottom. Catfish move in schools and don't move rapidly. You can go just about anywhere and see catfish in the Missouri river. There are many great experiences that i can refer to, but I suggest that you go out and try snorkeling in the Missouri River for yourself.

The Lakes of the Black Hills

The lakes of the Black Hills of South Dakota are unique. In a region where the prairie is dominant a mountainous lake is a blessing. The water is acquired by rainfall and natural springs throughout the Black Hills. This causes the water to be clear and healthy. Unlike most of the lakes of South Dakota that are lower in the watershed, where by the time the water gets to the lake it has picked up silt and other contaminants. The lakes of the Black Hills have some contamination in the past, but from a different source, Mining. Many of the old time miners used mercury or cyanide to remove the gold or metal from ore. This in turn would make it's way into the watershed. The good news is that today only trace amounts of these chemicals can be found, in only a couple spots in the Black Hills of South Dakota. The majority of the water is clean and spring fed like Spearfish Creek. The picture below is of Roughlock Falls in Spearfish Canyon. This great place is caused by little Spearfish Creek near Savoy, SD

The main fish Species in the lakes and streams in the Black Hills is rainbow trout. However brown trout, lake trout, and bass can be found at select locations. Fly fishing is a fun activity, and is a welcome change to the still fishing in many of the lakes in South Dakota. I recommend checking which species of flies are hatching, then try to match your lure to that insect. Some locations are over fished, and the trout will not bite no matter what you do. Other ways to catch trout include live bait like night crawlers. Some places do not allow the use of live bait.

The majority of lakes in the Black Hills of South Dakota do allow some watercraft. However at most locations only non motored traffic is allowed. The best lakes for boats with motorized boats are Pactola reservoir or Sheridan lake. Here you can do many water sports and boating in general is fun. There are many no wake zones that boaters need to be aware of, and lots of rocky lake bottom. The weather in South Dakota can be unpredictable so we recommend that you check it frequently.

The picture above is of an old gold mine in Pennington County, South Dakota. The mining culture in the Black Hills is rich. Some of our favorite activities is to go gold panning, metal detecting, and snorkeling for gold. Take your flippers, snorkels, and goggles with you on your next trip to the lakes of the Black Hills. The clarity provides a great place to explore under water. Most of the time the water is very cold so be prepared to toughen up. I have actually found gold while snorkeling in Pactola. Just make sure that you are aware of any boats in the area, because they are often used for water sports, and not paying attention to the snorkelers. In conclusion the lakes of the Black Hills are a great place to bring your family and experience. Whether your on vacation or just looking for something to do, get outside and explore. If you have any other questions check with the Black Hills National Forest.

River Poem

I sit and wait. Earth's sky is clear, and all clouds are white. The prairie wind blows. What is down in the murky water. How does my lure fair. The sun is going down. My fire burns strong. Here comes the Stars. A tug on my pole. I hold it strong. A fight ensues. Happy angler versus hungry catfish. The hook is out. Your back in the water. I sit and wait. Enjoying my Life

Chinook Salmon Lake Oahe South Dakota

Chinook salmon are generally a coastal species of fish. They travel up stream, from the ocean, to spawn every year in the fall. After they spawn they die only procreating once in their life. In Lake Oahe these fish are trapped by the Oahe Dam located near Pierre, SD. The South Dakota Game Fish and Parks stocks the reservoir with Chinook Salmon every year and assists with their spawn at a station near West Whitlock Recreation Area. The Salmon ladder at the the spawning station is a great place to take your family. Watch the fish slowly make their way up the ladder where they get stuck in pools. Officials then harvest the fish and milk their eggs and sperm to ensure the following years stock will be healthy.  Unlike natural populations these fish only make it as far south as the face of the Oahe Dam in their lifetime. This is the best place catch Chinook salmon during most of the year. You need a boat and a down rigger to reach these fish in deep water.  But, every September the mature fish make their way north looking for their place of birth or spawning ground. You can catch these fish from shore or boat. Casting a spoon or Krocodile is what we had the most success with. Any lure resembling their favorite food Smelt works best. They are called the fish of a thousand casts, and sometimes they are snagged on accident. Chinook Salmon don't act normal during the spawn and are not aggressive eaters. Early in the spawning season the fish are still healthy and strong, however at the end of the season they start to die and look ragged. The cycle of life is interesting, and sometimes it makes you feel sad. I have had many great experiences fishing for Chinook Salmon most of them getting skunked. The cold fall weather can make for some interesting fishing conditions. However in the world of outdoor recreation every experience is memorable.

Open Water Fishing for Walleye on Lake Oahe

I learned how to fish for walleye on Lake Oahe. This is a Reservoir on the Missouri River of South Dakota. There are many different tactics people use when trying to catch walleye. In the early spring and late fall a jig with minnow is often your best option. Either from boat or shore cast your jig and slowly real in. A night crawler on a jig is also a good option especially during the early to late summer. The best way to catch very active fish, and one of the funnest, is to either cast or plug a lure. In a boat go 2-3mph with the outboard motor with a rapala type lure. Put your line out at least 50 feet behind the boat and go. Cover lots of area and try different lures for changing depths and water conditions. When casting from shore try to cover different areas and stay out of the weeds. A lindy rig is also a good alternative to catch walleye while trolling from a boat. This method includes a sinker connected to a piece of line (or leader) that extends 3 - 5 feet away form the weight. Use a small hook with either a night crawler, leach, or minnow. The method I have used to catch the most walleye in the summer is trolling with a bottom bouncer. Similar to the lindy rig, the bottom bouncer is connected to a leader that extends 4 - 6 feet. However the bottom bouncer gives your lure more action, also making it easier to move through structure like rocks. No matter what you do catching, and eating, walleye is one of the best things to do in the summer. Make sure to follow this blog for more great articles.

Shore Fishing

Shore Fishing; can be fun. There have been many times while on shore that I wish I was on a boat. However, on at least 2 different occasions, one at Lake Thompson and another at Sutton Bay, I caught more fish from the dock than any boats that came in that day. It is so fun to be reeling in a fish from the dock, as a boat that was skunked watches.  While shore fishing I often cast a plug or lure. Casting is a good idea during the peak bite like at evening or morning. Try it during the day to check for more active fish. If the fishing is slow, I always go back to old trusty, a jig and worm or minnow. Fishing on the bottom is always a good idea when trying to catch walleye. Cast the jig out as far as you can and reel in slowly, like 3-5 rotations per minute. Make sure to keep your line tight to feel the bite. Then when you do feel the bite make sure to give it a 5-10 seconds for the fish to take your bait. Most fish especially walleye will nibble, even more so if  the fish are not very active. For more information visit southdakotalakes.info

Pollution in our Waters

Lake Hurley is like many of the lakes in Eastern South Dakota. It is surrounded by farming and livestock. The South Dakota Game Fish and Parks has issued a warning about lake Hurley for mercury pollution. This is scary because as a heavy metal mercury is extremely dangerous to all biology. My other concern is how many fertilizer, herbicide, and pesticide chemicals are in our waters that don't get tested. I keep hearing that fish is a great source of protein without saturated fats like red meat. However, what else are we digesting. The muddier the water the more run off into that water source. I also see massive Algae Blooms like in lake Thompson and other lakes. This happens naturally, but how much of it is caused by the fertilizers from the local farms running into the lake. Also, cattle bathing in the water resources leave waste with bacteria and other micro organism. I don't know about you, but fecal coli form does not sound good tasting. Some of the rivers that feed the lakes in South Dakota are even more contaminated because of the amount of shoreline. Makes me not want to eat the fish coming from these natural resources. Don't get me wrong the farm raised fish from Asia scares me due to the lack of regulation. With the recent oil spills and nuclear meltdown in japan how contaminated is the ocean in general. The point of this post, is that if we don't do something soon and take care of our natural water resources. No wild caught fish or shellfish will be healthy to eat. The scope of the pollution is overwhelming and near impossible to control. We will need to grow all of our fish and shellfish in controlled tanks or lakes that are constantly monitored. This is not a bad idea, however catching a non contaminated fish in the wild like our ancestors did sounds healthier.

Tribute to One of My Best Friends

Some of my best memories are of time spent on the shores of the Missouri River. While in high school my family had a Siberian husky named Taskan. This dog was the best fishing mate. In the middle of nowhere at night it would be Taskan, my fishing pole, and coyotes for hours. I would have been scared if it wasn't for that dog. She would sit alert, silent, and content for hours while i fished from shore. There were several times Taskan decided to get into the water and grab the fish and carry it out. Even ugly catfish were no match for her. She only got a hook in her mouth one time and let me pull it out. At the end of the night Taskan and I would retire to the tent and sleep.I remember we were both scared when a tornado warning was issued in our area. Not only were we 100 feet from the shore of lake Oahe, but the dirt road out was soaked and not a plausible idea. We sat up for several hours scared with lightning crashing all around us. The wind howled, and the rain pelted the truck with great force. The shale bank of the river was solid but water logged. We didn't get much sleep that night, but the memory is worth the stress. Dogs are special, they are truly mans best friend. I wish i could go back to those days, fishing on the shore of the muddy mo. Just Taskan and I. I miss her