Spring in the Glacial Lakes region offers one of the best opportunities all year to catch a trophy walleye. In the spring, fish are often up shallow, especially at night. Depending on the lake, you can expect to find good numbers of fish shallow and also very large fish shallow as well. Today, we’re taking a look at some of the various lakes that offer excellent spring fishing in eastern South Dakota.
Trophy Lakes
Spring is the perfect time to catch your biggest walleye and these are my favorite lakes to catch trophies. Before we start, I want to stress that even the “numbers” lakes I’ll mention offer the chance at a trophy walleye, but these “trophy” lakes are the ones I feel offer the highest percentage chance at the fish of a lifetime.
While I was going to school at South Dakota State University (SDSU) in Brookings, 81 was far and away my favorite lake to fish. This wasn’t because I caught a ton of fish, but the fish I caught were often very nice! Spring was certainly the best time to catch these trophies. During one particularly stretch in late-March to early-April, we caught 12 walleyes over 20 inches in 10 days with a bite we had patterned down to the minute.
We found that the bite window was exactly between 8:30-8:45 p.m., only on days that an incoming storm was approaching did we catch fish anytime outside this window. The overall average was roughly 23.5 inches, but had it not been for a couple 17-18 inch fish this would have been closer to 24-25 inches. The fishing can be that good!
The emergency construction that was done on Highway 81 may mean there is going to need to be some new notes collected on the lake, but expect the chance at a trophy walleye every time you head to 81, especially in the spring!
I struggled with which category to put Dry Lake #2 in, but I ultimately decided to put it in the “trophy” category because Dry 2 really can produce some giant walleyes. However, the numbers fishing can be excellent as well.
Dry 2 offers some of the best wader fishing opportunities for trophies in the area. Wading and casting down the submerged road beds is often the most productive tactic. Casting jigs and plastics is the top presentation, but throwing a suspending jerkbait can produce as well.
Indian Springs is another lake in the Clark area that can produce some amazing trophy walleye fishing! As the water and days warm and the weedlines begin to come to life, they really start to fill up with big walleyes.
The similar trend of throwing light jigs and plastics or suspending jerkbaits is going to be true. Even a slipbobber and a minnow along the weed edges can produce fish as well.
Brush Lake
Brush is one of those lakes that because it is so close to 81 it just doesn’t get that attention it deserves. I have personally struggled on why to go to Brush, when 81 can be so good. However, Brush has some real trophy caliber walleyes as well.
Brush can vary, some days it is a numbers bite, but other times it can kick out some fish over 27 inches and even over 30 as well. There are also some very large northern pike in the lake too.
Numbers Lakes
These next lakes are the ones that I feel offer the most action. Every single one of them can produce trophy size walleyes, but if you’re looking to catch fish and a lot of fish these are my best ones.
I bet this was a shocker! In all seriousness, Poinsett is often one of the best overall bites in the Brookings area. The Albert inlet can produce trophy walleyes, while shorelines along the Dry Lake inlet (Stone Bridge), Saaraen’s (no idea if I spelled that right, northwest side) launch and the state park on the south side can all produce great fishing.
Overall, a jig and plastic is often the best option. Expect a great deal of walleyes in the 12-15 inch category, but fish in the 15-20 inch range are certainly possible and fish greater than 25 inches are in the lake as well.
In addition to excellent walleye fishing, Poinsett can offer a strong pike bite and excellent crappie fishing.
Lake Thompson is another lake that can produce a variety of bites. Thompson can produce a strong numbers bite for walleye, but also some fantastic crappie fishing.
If you’re looking for a great walleyes number bite, a jig and plastic is probably going to be your best option. However, casting a suspending jerkbait seems to produce both numbers and good-sized fish as well.
The crappie fishing is often best with a jig and minnow. You can catch fish straight casting or hanging the jig under a slipbobber. Don’t be afraid to try a hair jig or adding a small tube to the jig as well. The additional color and attention seems to really draw fish in, then the minnow makes them seal the deal.
The northern pike will often be found in areas of following water. When you can find them, it generally doesn’t matter what you put infront of them. However, I’ve had great success casting #9 Jointed Rapalas.
Much like the pike, white bass will often be popping in that flowing water. You may also catch a good amount of them when you are catching the crappie as well.
Lake Sinai is one of my favorite spring time bites. Sinai offers an excellent numbers bite, with a great deal of fish in that 15-18 inch category. Sinai has some true giants in the lake as well, but they are few and far between. However, spring is the perfect time to find one of them!
Jigs and plastics along the rocky shorelines can really shine. Fishing long points really allows you to cover ground and contact fish. I like using super light jigs with a larger plastic to float the bait more along the top of the rocks and boulders, as opposed to falling in-between them.
Big Sioux River
The Big Sioux River is another popular spring spot across eastern South Dakota. The river can kick out both a strong numbers bite and also a chance at trophy caliber fish too.
Look for areas that offer slack water, especially when there is rock on that area. Flandreau Spillway is a very popular spot in the spring and this is for good reason. This stretch of river can produce both limits and good sized walleyes as well. Don’t be afraid to check out other areas though, there is good fishing all along the river!
As spring progresses, the bite progresses north as well. As ice leaves, lakes in the northeast region like Bitter and Waubay will begin to fire up. These lakes are generally a few weeks behind the lakes further south, but they can produce some excellent fishing as well!
Spring is an exciting time in eastern South Dakota. Not only do you have a chance at the fish of a lifetime, but there are often plenty of fish chomping to keep you busy setting the hook. The Glacial Lakes region of South Dakota has so many lakes, regardless if you are looking for a numbers bite or a chance at a trophy, there is a lake for you. Good fishing!
Spring Fishing Tactics
Now that you know where to go, it’s time to figure out what you are going to present to them! We hit on a variety of presentations above, but you can find a deeper dive on the various presentations outlined above here!
Find out how to knock out walleyes with a strong 1-2 punch in One-Two Plastic Punch for Spring Walleyes.
It may not seem like it makes sense, but using light jigs and large plastics straight catches fish! Big ones too! Find out more in Upsizing Plastics for Goliath Spring Walleye.
New to casting suspending jerkbaits for spring time walleyes? Find out everything you need to know in Suspending Jerkbaits for Cold Water Walleye.
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