Early ice is a special time of year in eastern South Dakota! The Glacial Lakes region of South Dakota is famous for its ice fishing opportunities, particularly for both walleye and yellow perch, and one of the best times of year to find success is early ice. Early ice can present unique challenges to anglers, which is why we have ten tips to help find success in the early ice season.
- Always Keep Safety Top of Mind
This seems like a no-brainer, but many ice anglers can let the excitement of the season get the best of them. The prospect of scratching the months long itch, and putting some South Dakota gold or a good walleye on the ice, can make safety slip into the back of the head. No matter how excited you are to hit the water, always keep safety top of mind. It’s a long season, and we want to make sure you’re there to enjoy it.
- Focus on Smaller Waterbodies
The Glacial Lakes region of South Dakota has a number of smaller waterbodies that can often present the first, and safest, opportunities to hit the ice. While they might not be the biggest destination fishery in the area, these smaller lakes are often the first opportunities to get out and make it easier for anglers to cover a higher percentage of the waterbody.
- Let the Perch Come to You
A common strategy for Glacial Lakes perch anglers is to run-and-gun, staying on top of the schools of perch as they roam the main basins. In the early ice season, it is often safer and easier to let the perch come to you. Set up a variety of deadsticks in an area and let the schools roam through, capitalizing on bites as they come in specific windows. This is even more effective on those smaller waterbodies mentioned above.
- Stay Safe with Sunset Walleyes
Early ice walleyes are often still quite shallow, or at least relating to shallow structure in the mornings and evenings. Venturing out onto early ice in the wee hours of the morning can be dangerous, as you always want to have adequate light when moving about and setting up. This is why getting out on the ice in the light of the afternoon, getting your presentations set up, and letting the walleyes show up at sunset is one of the safest and most successful plays for early ice walleyes.
- Be Bold and Be Aggressive
Throughout the fall, anglers will often talk about how walleyes are “putting on the feed bags” for winter. Well, in early ice walleyes still might not be completely ready for winter. In many cases, these fish are still seeking large meals especially early in the season. Too many times anglers go from fishing a #9 crankbait or 4 inch plastic a week before with the long rod to a small tungsten jig and wax worm just because there’s a few inches of ice on the water. Be bold and be aggressive for early ice walleyes, there will be plenty of time for finesse and coaxing bites in February.
- Keep in Natural
Many of the brighter, glow, and other flashy colors and baits are popular throughout the ice season. This is for good reason, as thick layers of ice and snow on top can greatly reduce light penetration into the water column. However, early ice, especially free of snow, acts more like a calm day open water fishing than mid-ice darkness. Keep your presentations natural and save the brighter and gaudier baits for after you break out the shovel a few times.
- Utilize Your Deadsticks
Deadsticks, or presentations that are not actively jigged or fished, can be an excellent tool throughout the entire ice season. However, when anglers are running and gunning in the mid-season, these rods can be extra work and hassle and might not be utilized. In the early ice conditions though, when conditions likely do not allow for run and gun strategies, deadsticks are a key aspect of success. Whether you’re posted up on a piece of structure, or letting the perch come to you, deadsticks present extra chances to put fish on the ice.
- Find Your Fishing Buddy
Fishing is always better with a friend, but this is especially true for early ice. Not only will fishing in groups keep you safer on early ice, but it will allow you to cover more water. Let’s face it, early ice we don’t have the luxury of waypoints from the days or weeks prior to get us started, fishing with a friend or in a group allows you to cover more water and makes the outing safer too.
- Read a Map While You Wait
Let’s be honest, the first cold snap always makes us excited for early ice, but we’re usually several days or even weeks away from actually getting out on safe ice. Once the gear is out of storage and ready to go, spend a good bit of time looking at maps. Focus especially on those smaller waterbodies and structures close to shore, but still adjacent to deep water. These are your best bets for early ice success.
- Prepare for a Great Season
Remember, early ice is just the kickoff. If you can get out on the ice and find success, your season will already be off to a great start. However, early ice can always be hit or miss. Don’t get down if you don’t find success in your first few trips. There is a long season ahead, and the more time you spend out on the water the more successful you’ll be this season, and in seasons to come.
Early ice for many is one of the most wonderful times of year, and that’s not just because it coincides with Christmas season! The Glacial Lakes region of South Dakota is a destination for ice anglers, and this starts from the first four inches of ice to late season slushy conditions. Make plans to get out and see for yourself what makes ice fishing in South Dakota a favorite tradition! Good fishing!
Looking for More Tips?
Are you looking for more tips to make this ice season your best one yet? We have you covered! Check out our Ice Fishing Tips page for everything you need to know to increase your success this season, and future seasons. You can also learn more about the lakes in Eastern South Dakota in our Glacial Lakes Region Plan Your Trip page.
