Earlier this summer, I had the privilege to attend a fish stocking event at a community fishery in Watertown.
I had spent the weekend before fishing on Lake Oahe targeting the biggest walleye available not only in the state, but the region. The massive fishery broke the South Dakota state walleye record not once but twice in the fall of 2023, and routinely produces “teeners”, which is exactly what I was after.
While I didn’t get a giant walleye, I did catch the biggest sauger I had ever caught before. It was a trophy in my eyes, and a sauger that will be tough for me to top.
Jump forward a couple days and head east about 190 miles, where 500 largemouth bass were being stocked by fisheries biologists from Blue Dog State Fish Hatchery into Forsberg City Park Pond. Governor Larry Rhoden was in attendance, as well as around 30 kids and families from the Watertown area.
Some of these kids had never gone fishing before. Some of them had their own poles with basic bobbers and hooks. One of them had what I thought was a Whopper Plopper, which he quickly corrected and informed me it was a Berkley Choppo. It was at that moment I realized I’m a little behind the times on the latest topwater baits.
Whether they were seeking their first fish or getting ready to fish their first Bassmaster Open, these kids were in the same spot all of us began. Fishing close to home, eager to feel a tug on the end of the line. These bass being stocked were trophies in the eyes of these anglers.
Some of them needed a little more help than others, fortunately there were plenty of people eager to do just that. The First Catch Center was on hand, which is stocked full of rods rigged and ready to help someone catch their first fish. I didn’t see a wide selection of Choppos, but plenty of set ups that will catch fish nonetheless.
What I did see was everyone enjoying the fishery. Whether they were meticulously picking apart a weed edge or just hoping to see their bobber take a dive, they were all on the water with the same goal. They were fishing with their parents, their siblings, and their friends, excited to feel a tug on the line.
They were also fishing with the Governor, but you’d never know it. I was there and saw it myself and barely knew it. That was because what I saw was Governor Larry Rhoden helping kids fish just like you would see any dad or grandpa helping their kids and grandkids. That’s what’s special about fishing, and these local waters, they bring out the kid eager to catch a fish in all of us.
I was that kid too. I grew up fishing the Omaha metro area lakes with my dad and grandpa. We fished for bluegill at Walnut Creek, catfish at Two Rivers State Park, and for largemouth bass at the newly opened Lawrence Youngman Lake. I didn’t have any Choppos, in fact my rig was incredibly simple just a snap swivel, hook, and a minnow. As I draped it off the dock, and looked down to see that minnow swimming before a green flash shot through the frame, I was doing something! I was a bass fishing legend, and I was catching the exact same size of fish these kids were fishing for too.
As I got older, my methods expanded. I still didn’t have any Choppos, but I could work a Scum Frog through the weed pockets. My mom had to add cooked shrimp to her Hyvee shopping list every week, the catfish loved it. All of this was at the same lake, Lawrence Youngman Lake, sitting in the heart of the Omaha metro.
My love for fishing led me to South Dakota State University to pursue, sure enough, a Wildlife and Fisheries degree. I did enough in the classroom to earn the degree, but I did way more on the water. My favorite fishery was 81 Ponds, it was exactly 17 minutes from campus and I was there every night and quite a few mornings. I caught a lot of big walleyes there, lost a few bucktails targeting muskie, and I caught Proud Anglers for four different species.
My career, which still allows me to work with our fisheries, led me to Pierre where I spend nearly all my time targeting walleye on Lake Sharpe and Lake Oahe. I still don’t have any Choppos, but I do have an entire room dedicated to fishing tackle in my house.
A lot has changed from my time draping a minnow off the dock, but one thing that hasn’t changed is the importance of fish stockings. The bass I caught in Omaha? Stocked. The walleye I caught at 81 Ponds? Supported by stockings. The muskie I targeted on 81 Ponds? Solely because of stockings. The walleye I was targeting on Lake Oahe? Yep, that fishery is supported by stockings too.
Throughout our entire angling career we benefit from fish stockings. Our favorite walleye fisheries are supported by stockings. Unique angling opportunities like musky and salmon are because of stockings. The next generation of anglers are developing their love of fishing because of stockings.
Stockings just like the one I got to be a part of in Watertown. Those bass that were stocked will be the first fish to sink a girl’s bobber. Those bass that were stocked will prove the Choppo is indeed the hottest bass bait on the market to an aspiring Elite Series angler. Those bass that were stocked will remind us that whether we’re fishing with our grandpa or the Governor, we all want someone to teach us how to fish.
The next time you’re on the water think about your first fish. Where did you catch it? What did you catch it on? Who were you with? I’m not sure what it was or where you were, but I do know you’re going to look back at it with fond memories and it’ll reignite your love for fishing just a little bit more.
In the meantime, I think I might need to go buy a couple Choppos and try to catch some bass.
Blue Dog State Fish Hatchery to See Improvements
Blue Dog State Fish Hatchery, which began operation in 1982, is set to see some much-needed improvements. South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) kicked off fundraising for this project, which is focused on providing more stockings just like the one that took place at Forsberg City Park Pond.
Photos courtesy South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks and Governor Larry Rhoden Facebook pages.
