Category: Nick’s Tips and Tails

It’s easy to love fall in South Dakota. The greatest pheasant hunting in the country. The gorgeous colors of the Black Hills. The crunch of the leaves as a deer walks under your stand. Don’t forget the quiet, cool camping nights as well. There are so many things to love about fall in South Dakota, […]

Bottom bouncing is one of the most effective ways to target fall walleye on the Missouri River reservoirs in South Dakota. Walleyes are often scattered out across the expansive flats on Lake Sharpe and Lake Francis Case, and the most effective anglers are going to pay attention to the fine details of their presentation to […]

Fall presents one of the best bites of the year wherever you fish, but the bite seems to be exceptional on the Missouri River reservoirs in South Dakota. Specifically, the bite can become truly spectacular on both Lake Sharpe and Lake Francis Case as the calendar turns from September into October. “Fall is referred to […]

Spring means fishing in South Dakota. As walleyes prepare for their spawning rituals, they spend a majority of their time within a cast’s reach of all anglers. In fact, anglers will often find the most success fishing from their boots than in the boat. This makes it the perfect time of year for everyone to […]

Walleye fishing is year-round in South Dakota. There is no closed season, you can target walleyes on every waterbody, on every day of the year. Lake Sharpe, along with other stretches of the Missouri River, take this to the next level. You can catch walleyes out of your boat year-round and in fact, experience some […]

For many anglers, winter means ice fishing, and while this is true across much of South Dakota there are a select few who refuse to put their boats away as snow blankets the landscape. How might this be? Most winters, the area below the Oahe Dam in Pierre, Big Bend Dam in Fort Thompson, Fort […]

When you ask folks in eastern South Dakota what times of year they get most excited about you might get a few answers: pheasant opener, East River Deer season, duck opener, Christmas, and South Dakota State Jackrabbits playoff football might make the list. One time of year that will for sure be a favorite, is […]

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, […]

It is no secret that winter means ice fishing in South Dakota. As the first true cold front grasps the region, spud bars begin to strike the ice, batteries are charged, and heaters begin to light up for the year. By the time Old Man Winter has the state firmly in his grasp, anglers have […]

Trolling crankbaits is an extremely popular technique for targeting walleye across all waterbodies and fisheries. This is for good reason, trolling crankbaits allows anglers to cover the most water, contact active fish, and is an extremely simple presentation as a whole. Despite it’s popularity, many anglers still do not take advantage of one of the […]