Colder temperatures have hit the region, which means the transition from open water fishing to ice fishing has begun in South Dakota! Following a winter storm system and a strong cold front over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, many of the sloughs and lakes have begun to lock up and anglers who have waited all year are anxious to get back on the hard water. As the season begins, there’s a few important reminders anglers need to consider.
Always Keep Safety Top of Mind
“Safety” and “first ice” often go hand in hand, but as the season progresses, more vehicle traffic continues, and temperatures continue to drop, safety can begin to slip the minds of even the most experienced ice anglers. It is important to remember that no ice is ever 100% safe, whether it’s walking across the first four inches or the heart of February, anglers always need to be cautious anytime they venture onto the ice.
Throughout the early season, anglers should always have a spud bar as they navigate their way across the water. This is a large, metal rod that anglers use to hit the ice ahead of them. Generally speaking, if the spud bar goes through, it’s time to turn back. If the spud bar bounces on the ice, anglers can continue to proceed.
While proceeding across the ice, drilling test holes is also important. As a general rule, four inches is a minimum for safely walking in a single file line. This applies to clear, strong ice. As ice continues to age throughout the season and goes through freeze/thaw cycles, these guidelines should often be doubled.
Regardless of the depth of the ice, it’s important to always wear picks when fishing. These are large spikes that go around your neck and allow you to gain traction on the ice and pull yourself out should you fall into the water. These are a very important and cheap tool that can save an angler’s life in the worst-case scenario.
Anglers should also navigate first ice with a group, as there is safety in numbers, and keep a rope with them at all times. This makes it easier for an angler to assist with pulling another angler to safety should the worst happen, without putting themselves into danger either.
As the season continues to progress, vehicle traffic will begin. ATVs, snowmobiles, and other light utility vehicles can begin venturing onto the ice between six and eight inches, depending on the vehicle’s weight. Larger pick ups should wait until there is closer to 15 inches of ice at a minimum. Again, as ice continues to age and go through cycles these guidelines should begin to double as well.
Navigating the ice on a vehicle brings new challenges and dangers, with the feeling of invincibility being the greatest. Once behind the wheel, the thought of first ice safety they had at the beginning of the season can begin to slip an angler’s mind. Senses that watched, listened, and felt for danger in the early season are lost behind the wheel, which makes going slowly, paying attention to where they are traveling, and being aware of ice conditions that much more important. Again, no ice is ever 100% safe whether that’s the start, middle, or end of the season.
While ice thickness gets much of the safety decision, heaves, slush pockets, and other weak spots are of the greatest dangers on the ice. These are areas that can be significantly weaker compared to other areas of the ice and can naturally occur at any time throughout the season. Anywhere ice is pushing against itself, or experiencing natural factors such as a spring, tributary inlet, or even rocks, trees, or other thermal elements that can degrade the quality of the ice can be potential danger spots.
Current Brings Additional Dangers on the Missouri River
While ice safety should be top of mind regardless where you are fishing, the Missouri River region, as well as other river systems, bring an additional danger that is not present on many of the Glacial Lakes region lakes. Current is one of the greatest factors in ice safety, as current can prevent ice from forming, degrade the quality, and cause significant variance in ice thicknesses and conditions over a very short area.
In areas that are not experiencing much current, anglers may see quality ice with ample thickness, but a few yards away the current may decrease all of these factors. This makes it very important that anglers go slowly, stop to check ice depth, and reduce or completely avoid vehicle travel in areas with current.
Additionally, current can change quickly especially on the Missouri River. An area that was traveled earlier in the day may no longer be a safe path home if the current has increased throughout the day on the water. This makes checking the path of travel both on the way out and on the way back critical. Again, no ice is ever 100% safe, and current can change ice conditions quickly.
Regardless of where you are fishing, how long you’ve been ice fishing, or your comfort level on ice it is always important to keep safety at the top of mind. Take a little bit to make sure you have all of your safety gear, know your ice thickness depths, and take a moment to make sure safety is at the top of your mind. Ice fishing is tradition in South Dakota, but everyone wants to make sure they make it back to fish another day.
Ice Fishing Safety Equipment:
- Ice Picks
- Spud Bar
- Safety Rope
- Measuring Device for Checking Ice Depth
- Float Suit or Other Flotation Device
Anglers looking for additional information regarding ice safety can find complete details for early ice, mid ice, and late ice safety tips in Stay Safe All Season.
Ice Fishing South Dakota Tips and Information
Anglers looking for additional information regarding ice fishing in South Dakota can find articles highlighting a number of tips, tricks, and techniques for targeting walleye, yellow perch, and northern pike on Lip Ripper Fishing’s Ice Fishing page. As the season begins, check out a few of these tips to help get started out with success!
Tips for Early Ice Success in South Dakota
Early ice fishing can be very simple in the Glacial Lakes region of South Dakota, and anglers who pay attention to these 10 simple tips can start their season off with quick success.
- Always Keep Safety Top of Mind
- Focus on Smaller Waterbodies
- Let the Perch Come to You
- Stay Safe with Sunset Walleyes
- Be Bold and Be Aggressive
- Keep it Natural
- Utilize Your Deadsticks
- Find Your Fishing Buddy
- Read a Map While You Wait
- Prepare for a Great Season
Learn more about each of these tips in Ten Tips for Early Ice Success on the Glacial Lakes of South Dakota!
Early Ice Strategies for the South Dakota Glacial Lakes
Throughout the early ice season, many of the same areas that were effective in the fall can continue to hold fish. Focusing on small waterbodies and the shallower areas of larger waterbodies is often the safest and most successful way to find early ice success. Learn more about this in Early Ice Strategies for the Glacial Lakes Region of South Dakota.
Have a Great Ice Fishing Season
Ice fishing season is an exciting time of year in South Dakota. Whether you’ve hit the hard water hundreds of times or are looking to venture out your first time this year, this tradition is something anglers look forward to every winter across the state and region. Good luck, have fun, stay safe, and make this your best season yet!
