3 Buck Slough Profile

3 Buck is a hidden gem that can produce some excellent perch and walleye fishing. The lake derives its name from it used to cost $3 to fish there, but now the lake is open and free to access. 3 Buck offers some spectacular perch fishing at times and monster walleye are present in the system. During a good year it is not uncommon to catch a limit of 9-12 inch perch and a walleye between 20-26 inches in a single day. This lake is very cyclic and depending on weather conditions and recruitment fishing can vary dramatically year to year.

Fishing Information

Ice Fishing

3 Buck doesn’t draw much attention from open water anglers as the weeds can become very over grown, but the ice anglers often pay a lot of attention to this lake.

The lake isn’t very large, but it does offer some excellent fishing many years. The lake goes in cycles, but on good years the perch can be numerous and large walleye are present as well. Other years, more eater class variety walleye are present.

There are two different types of bites you can experience on 3 Buck. The first is mainly an early and late ice season bite. This is the shallow weed line bite.

Here, large walleyes patrol the weed lines in shallow water towards evening. Generally you want to look for weeds in less than 5ft of water and then weed edges in about 6-8ft of water. Aggressive baits like flutter spoons, rip jigs and other larger spoons are all top options. Setting up tip ups and tip downs in the weed pockets can produce as well.

Depending on the water levels, 3 Buck is generally 14-16ft of water deep. The main basin area is where schools of these perch will roam. Often times, these perch are followed by some of the larger walleyes as well.

This basin type area is an ideal candidate to approach similar to Lake Whitewood. Dead sticks are going to produce the most fish, but jigging lures still have their spot. Set up in a basin type area and finding the clearest water will often result in the most fish.

For jigging lures, VMC Tumblers and Tingers produce the best. Green UV and Pink UV are top options. When you can find the clearer water, flutter spoons like the Mack’s Lure Hum Dingers in silver and gold can produce as well. If fish are being picky, gold, pink and red tungsten jigs with red spikes or Maki plastics are a top choice.

For deadsticks, plain hooks and minnows are always a go to. Once again, the similar tear drop style baits under bobbers will shine. Even placing jigs and minnows directly on the bottom can often produce well. As the perch dig around the mud, they’ll often pick up a minnow on the jig.

The lake can have it’s ups and downs, but when the bite is good there are often many perch you can pile up over a day. The bonus walleye or northern pike is an even added benefit at the end of a day!

Surrounding Area Information

Nearby Towns: Vienna, Clark, Lake Norden

Nearby Lakes: Dry Lake #2, Indian Springs

Area Bait Shops: Dakota Convenience Store (Willow Lake), Black Claw Bait (Indian Springs Lake), The Bait Box (Lake Preston), Handi-Mart (Arlington), Cowboy Country Store (De Smet)

Area Lodging: Home Town Hotel (Willow Lake), 212 Overnight Motel (Clark), De Smet Super Deluxe Inn (De Smet), Cottage Inn Motel (De Smet)

Area Restaurants: Rusty Nail (Willow Lake), Wards Store (Bryant), TJ’s Tavern (Bryant), Oxbow Restaurant (De Smet), Subway (De Smet), Dairy Queen (De Smet), Dugout Steakhouse (De Smet), Wheaties Sportsbar (De Smet), Heather’s Bistro (Clark), The Corner Diner (Clark), The Lookout Bar and Grill (Clark)

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