Fishing isn’t a summer activity in South Dakota, it’s a tradition that takes place all year long. Whether it’s sneaking the boat onto the Missouri River below the dam on a warm January day, or ice fishing across the Glacial Lakes region, anglers are on the water throughout the entire year. The bite doesn’t slow down either, which means there are always fish to clean, and there are now even more opportunities to do this across the state.
The popularity of indoor fish cleaning stations has risen dramatically the last several years, as both anglers and local communities have realized the major benefits these facilities can provide. These facilities not only make cleaning their catch easier, but also keep our lakes and landscapes clean as anglers have a responsible place to dispose of their carcasses after the fish have been cleaned.
“When temperatures dip below freezing in the fall and fish cleaning stations close we sometimes have to get creative when it comes to cleaning fish,” said Nick Harrington, Owner of Lip Ripper Fishing. “We’ve cleaned them on the back of the pick up, in the garage, and even the kitchen. That’s why indoor fish cleaning stations are such a game changer.”
Ice anglers in northeast South Dakota have two new indoor fish cleaning opportunities. The staff at Roy Lake State Park have created an indoor fish cleaning station, and the City of Webster has also recently opened one as well.
“I’ve personally visited the indoor cleaning station at Roy Lake State Park and it’s a very nice facility,” continued Harrington. “It’s very convenient, clean, and well put together.”
The indoor fish cleaning station at Roy Lake State Park is open within the same building as the park shop and main lodge. This area gives anglers access to a cleaning table, running water, and is kept warm to ensure both comfort and lack of freezing pipes.
The City of Webster also partnered with South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) to provide a year-round fish cleaning station that opened earlier this fall. Similar to other designs, this features cleaning tables, running water, and heat. This means anglers in northeast South Dakota will have multiple options for areas to clean their catch after a cold day on the water.
Anglers on the Missouri River can also find a very popular indoor fish cleaning station at Indian Creek Recreation Area. This facility has set the bar for indoor fish cleaning stations across the state, and many have been modeled after the features this facility provides anglers on the Missouri River and surrounding areas.
A new indoor fish cleaning station also just opened in Fort Pierre, a project that is going to pay major dividends for anglers looking to fish out of the boat.
“I would bet more fish are cleaned at the Fort Pierre cleaning station that were caught out of the boat than through the ice,” concluded Harrington. “This is such a major benefit to our community, but also my garage and kitchen!”
The cold never seems to be a problem when you’re catching fish, but funny enough when it comes time to clean those fish that wind gets a bit more strength to it! Anglers can enjoy a day on the water, and then clean their catch in comfort, thanks to these facilities available across the state!
