It’s no secret that walleye is king in South Dakota, but many other fishing opportunities present themselves for anglers, especially in the spring. In fact, the excellent walleye fisheries are the reason many other terrific bites fly under the radar of many anglers.
Anglers flock to the Missouri River to enjoy the terrific walleye bite, but many local anglers are aware of another spectacular opportunity along the river. Anglers targeting the back creeks of Lake Oahe can find a top notch trophy northern pike fishing opportunity. Pike will stage in the warming waters as they prepare to spawn and can be caught on dead bait fished on the bottom or active presentations such as casting spoons or jerkbaits.
In these same areas, as spring progresses anglers can expect to find a terrific channel catfish bite. Missouri River catfish are excellent table fare and are a great way to introduce new anglers to the sport and experience plenty of hooksets throughout a day.
Anglers targeting panfish, particularly crappie and bluegill, can find terrific fishing on the small impoundments across much of the state as well as in the Glacial Lakes region. Many urban fisheries also produce excellent panfish bites and many have rainbow trout stocked as well. A simple bobber and crawler is all that is needed to enjoy these bites.
This spring when you make plans to hit the water, don’t forget about the number of opportunities available. South Dakota offers a buffet of fishing opportunities, both in terms of fun and table fare, and spring is the best time to get out and enjoy them!
