Fall is officially here in South Dakota, but it doesn’t necessarily feel that way! Despite the summer-like temperatures, fall activities are in full swing across the state and the fishing, waterfowl hunting, grouse hunting, and South Dakota State Parks continue to provide ample opportunities for individuals to enjoy!
Lake Sharpe Fishing Report
The fishing on Lake Sharpe near Pierre continues to be strong, though the hot weather has really scattered the fish out along the flats. While fish were concentrated last week in the cooler temperatures, the heat and sun has scattered both the shad and walleye across the large expansive flats.
Stoney Point continues to be the most popular option for anglers fishing in the Pierre area, and there is a large number of boats fishing along the flat directly across from the point and down towards the Fort George boat launch. While there are good numbers of fish here, both shorts and keepers, the angling pressure can turn these fish off and anglers have been better off search for fish on other areas of the flats or further up or down the reservoir.
Fishing along the flats, bottom bouncing with #3 or #4 Colorado blades has been most effective. Tipping these with 3/4 to full nightcrawlers is the top choice. Focus on areas 6-10 feet deep, though fish may slide out to 10-12 feet if the angling pressure and or sun can push them towards deeper water.
The vast majority of the fish on these flats are between 12-15 inches, with many right at 15; both touching and not touching the magical 15-inch mark on the ruler. Anglers are reminded to check every fish they look to keep, and ensure they touch the minimum 15-inch mark. While fish 15-17 inches are present as well, the vast majority of fish being harvested currently are 15-15 1/2 inches.
One way to target larger fish is by trolling crankbaits in Hipple Lake within Farm Island Recreation Area. Although there are much fewer fish, better quality fish are more abundant. There is a significant amount of bait available in this area, which can make the bite sporadic, primarily due to the short bite windows. Fish will feed quickly, then suck back down to the bottom until they begin to feed again. Covering water and maximizing the fish you contact provides the best opportunity to generate bites.
Custer State Park Fishing Opportunities
This week was the 59th Annual Buffalo Roundup in Custer State Park, which saw a massive crowd watch the 1,500 bison herd stampede across the prairie as part of the annual roundup. While we were out enjoying this spectacle, which everyone should do at least once in their lifetime, we also took the opportunity to enjoy some of the fishing opportunities Custer State Park has to offer.
We had two prototype ultralight JB Designs Custom Rods to try out and decided rainbow trout would make a perfect test subject for these rods. We started by fishing the Grace Coolidge Walk-In Fishery, which is exactly what it sounds like. It is a 3-mile trail, which features six fisheries for anglers to stop and try their luck in.
These fisheries are stocked regular, and predominantly feature rainbow trout. When we arrived at the first fishery, we could see the trout surfacing and found the best success to be fishing the shade provided by the lowhead dam. The trout were utilizing this shade to stay cool and feed on insects, which allowed us to literally vertical jig for these trout off the face of the dam.
The bite was extremely fast, and in just over an hour of fishing we were able to catch probably 15 trout. These fish were willing biters, hard fighting, and many were of quality size as well!
Fishing a 1/16 oz hair jig, tripped with a waxworm or mealworm, was the best option. The JB Designs Custom Rods performed extremely well, with a favorite being the 7ft ultralight as the rod had incredible sensitivity, loaded up nicely, and was able to land several hard fighting trout with no issue.
Fishing may not be the first thing you think of when you think Custer State Park, but there are plenty of fishing opportunities available in the park. The Grace Coolidge Walk-In Fishery is an extremely unique opportunity, and something anglers of all skill levels will enjoy!
Fall Camping Opportunities
The warm weather has extended the camping season for many, and many state parks still feature full water access due to the warm temperatures and lack of sub-freezing temperatures. South Dakota State Parks remain open throughout the entire year, and individuals can enjoy the fall fishing, fall colors, and everything else fall has to offer throughout the entire fall season.
In addition to the fall camping opportunities, the 2025 South Dakota State Park Entrance license becomes available October 1, 2024. This will allow individuals to have a valid state park entrance license until May 2026, which makes now a great time to purchase your park entrance license and be ready to enjoy South Dakota State Parks for the next year plus!
Waterfowl Hunting
The 2024 Migration Reports continue to be very positive, and waterfowl hunters have been finding success early in the season!
Hunters should expect to find good hunting opportunities for blue-winged teal, mallards, pintails, and assorted puddle ducks in eastern South Dakota. Goose hunting is also slowly continuing to pick up as well, and there are strong duck numbers in the Pierre area too. The increased pressure has moved ducks, but good hunting can still be had with effective scouting.
Upland Game Hunting Seasons
As the calendar flips into October, many hunters’ thoughts turn toward pheasant season. Grouse season has started strong, with excellent numbers of grouse being reported by hunters. All signs point towards a fantastic pheasant season as well, and South Dakota hunters are eagerly awaiting the resident-only weekend, before the traditional pheasant season kicks off October 19. Find everything you need to know regarding these seasons in our 2024 South Dakota Fall Fishing and Hunting Forecast!
