The Glacial Lakes region of South Dakota is a special location to fish. Whether you’re looking to fish out of the boat, from shore, or through the ice there is an abundance of fisheries to choose from. These fisheries are home to abundant walleye populations, giant yellow perch, northern pike, and in some crappie and bluegill as well!
What makes the Glacial Lakes region so unique is the number of fisheries anglers have to pick from. Ranging in size from several thousand acres to some just a couple hundred, there are more waterbodies than anglers could ever try to fish even in a month!
To make your search easier, we break down some of our favorite waterbodies to target based on each area!
Brookings Area Lakes
The Brookings area is a perfect location for anglers, with an abundance of hotels and dining options to keep you fed and comfortable as you fish the quality waterbodies within minutes of town.
81 Ponds/Twin Lakes
The 81 Ponds is an interesting complex. These are areas that used to be shallow sloughs and have expanded creating a large complex of ponds. Structure also is very interesting in the waterbody as flooded fields, roads, timber, fence lines and culverts are present all across the lake. While one area may get only as deep as 6ft, a mile down the road may reach 12-13ft deep and back from that can reach 22-24ft deep. This is a complex system that offers a wide variety structure and lake areas to fish.
This complex is also known for producing 8-10lb walleye with fish bigger than that certainly present. By the numbers, 81 is one of the best places to catch a 25 inch plus walleye. Jumbo yellow perch are also present as well as trophy caliber northern pike and a fishable population of muskies with fish reaching 50 inches or bigger present in the system as well. The system can also produce some trophy smallmouth bass fishing as well as a tremendous white bass fishery.
Lake Poinsett
Poinsett is a large, fish bowl shaped lake. Poinsett is a fairly deep lake for the area, with the majority of the lake being 14-18ft and spots reaching as deep as 20ft. The water is quite clear, which allows for deep weed beds to be present even through winter. Walleye are exceptionally abundant and yellow perch are also a popular target, particularly among ice anglers. Northern pike, black crappie and smallmouth bass also offer a nice bonus for anglers.
Lake Sinai
Expanding water has made Sinai a very unique waterbody. Sinai has expanded to nearly twice the size it originally was. The original lake bed is extremely present as it drops off quickly to very deep water. The expansion has flooded farmland, equipment, and buildings as well as road beds and shelterbelts making the area outside the original lake bed extremely unique. This also makes Sinai the deepest lake in the area with spots reaching as deep as 30-37ft.
Three large, main lake humps are often popular targets of ice anglers as the areas where the lake expanded are often exceptionally dangerous during the ice season. As a general rule of safety: travel away from the area directly in-front of the boat launch is not advised as ice conditions are often sketchy at best.
Lake Thompson
Lake Thompson is another large, bowl shaped lake. This can make finding fish exceptionally difficult. When fish are contacted though, they are often extremely nice fish. The lake has phenomenal crappie fishing and many 12-15 inch fish can be caught in a day. This results in some terrific bags. There also is a good population of both eater and trophy class walleye as well as yellow perch, northern pike, and white bass.
Lake Whitewood
Whitewood is a very boring lake to fish: however, it can offer some excellent fishing. Whitewood is a large, shallow (approximately 6ft) bowl with very little structure. There is a railroad grade that creates a little bay, aside from that there is not much for features. Whitewood has a terrific yellow perch population and both numbers and size can come out of this lake. There also are some very large walleye in the system with fish 22-26 inches a possibly every time you are on the water. Northern pike are also present and can be caught by anglers as well. Due to the nature of the lake it is predominately fished by ice anglers, but trolling crankbaits from a boat or casting with waders can produce good fishing as well.
Webster Area Lakes
Webster is a small town, but big on outdoor opportunity. Featuring numerous lakes and sloughs, this area is known for fantastic fishing all season long. Anglers flock to the area to pursue walleye and yellow perch through the ice or target walleye all spring, summer and fall long. Indeed, Webster is an area full of opportunity for anglers!
Bitter Lake
Bitter Lake is the poster child for expanding waters. Bitter used to be a small slough, but thanks to extremely above normal precipitation it expanded over farmland, roads, houses and met up with multiple other previously small sloughs creating an expansive complex. The high fertility causes the lake to kick out some ginormous yellow perch and often both boat and ice anglers are in pursuit of them. Large walleye are also in the system as well as plenty of northern pike and white bass. The complex nature of the system is a structure angler’s dream and the fish it kicks out continue to bring anglers back time and time again.
Waubay Lake
Waubay is very similar to Bitter in that it used to be quite small, but thanks to expansion has grown into one of the larger waterbodies in the area. This lake produces some extremely large yellow perch that many ice anglers are after however, the walleye draw anglers year round. There is a large abundance of fish in the system, as well as some trophy caliber fish as well. The white bass are also high in number and northern pike and smallmouth bass also offer another option for anglers.
Clark Area Lakes
The population of Clark, South Dakota greatly expands when ice forms on the lakes and the perch are biting. This small town is home to some big perch, walleyes, and northern pike! Multiple destination fisheries make this small town a big destination for anglers.
Dry Lake #2
Dry Lake #2 is another textbook example of expanding water. In this case the lake is extremely large but generally very shallow. Submerged road beds attract walleye anglers especially in spring and fall. Anglers targeting these areas can not only catch a limit but also a fish of a lifetime.
Winter draws the trophy perch anglers as the expansive basin is home to many perch 13-15 inches. Northern pike are also plentiful in the lake and present another opportunity for anglers. This presents a terrific trophy fishery nearly year round for a variety of species.
Indian Springs/Antelope Complex
Indian Springs is very similar to it’s neighbor Dry Lake #2. This lake presents an option for trophy yellow perch, walleye and northern pike. This lake is often taken advantage of by ice anglers: however, this is also a very popular lake for wader anglers and from the boat. There is an abundance of perch in the system as well as some very large walleye and northern pike. This is another terrific year round multispecies fishery.
3 Buck Slough
3 Buck is a small slough in Clark County that can produce some excellent perch and walleye fishing. It is a very hit/miss lake meaning it goes through cycles. During good years it has a terrific perch population as well as multiple 22-27 inch walleye mixed amongst them. Northern pike also can produce another opportunity for anglers. This is a little deeper than Dry Lake #2 or Indian Springs with a main basin of about 14ft and the fish just seem to roam it.
Other Lakes to Check Out
The Glacial Lakes region is such an awesome area to fish because there are so many options!
Webster Area: Enemy Swim Lake, Lynn Lake, Opitz Lake, Horseshoe Lake, Lake Piyas, Pickerel Lake, Buffalo Lake, Cattail-Kettle Slough, Hazeldon Lake, Nine Mile Lake, Reetz Lake
Watertown Area: Goose Lake, Grass Lake, Squaw Slough, Lake Kampeska
Clark Area: Reid Lake, Lamb Slough, Casey Slough, Cottonwood Lake
Brookings Area: Brush Lake, Lake Albert, Lake Campbell, Lake Madison, Oakwood Lakes, Big Sioux River, Lake Hendricks
Sioux Falls Area: Wall Lake, Beaver Lake, Clear Lake, Diamond Lake, Loss Lake, Twin Lake
Glacial Lakes Strategies
The Glacial Lakes region of South Dakota can produce excellent fishing whether you are looking to target from the boat, shore or through the ice. Learn about how to target trophy caliber walleye and jumbo perch in eastern South Dakota!
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 already been out chasing walleyes, yellow perch, trout, crappie, bluegill, and northern pike. It may seem like there are not any secret spots in South Dakota through the ice, but in reality, many of some of the best fishing opportunities remain under the radar for many anglers.
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, which is why we have ten tips to help find success in the early ice season.
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 the beginning of ice fishing season.
Understanding the prey of the species you are pursing is critical to ice fishing success. Nick Harrington breaks down the various situations anglers will encounter when targeting walleye, perch and northern pike across South Dakota and the Midwest in Making the Forage Connection for Ice Success.
Understanding the dynamics of the predator and prey relationships taking place within a waterbody is critical to having success. Learn about the food chain, predator/prey relationships and how it impacts your fishing in How Predator/Prey Relationships Impact Ice Fishing.
Ice anglers are all about that gold! Early in the season, the perch fish can be absolutely fantastic! Chris Seylar breaks down what he looks for it start his ice fishing campaign off with some gold in Early Ice Perch Tactics!
Plastics have taken the ice fishing industry by storm. This is for good reason, these plastics attract fish and replicate their natural forage. Nick Harrington and Chris Seylar detail the best ways to deploy these baits in Plastics for Ice Panfish.
Nick Harrington discusses the benefits of using suspending jerkbaits when the water is cold for targeting early spring walleye in Suspending Jerkbaits for Cold Water Walleye.
Nick Harrington details his secret to catching trophy pre-spawn walleye in the early spring. He utilizes over-sized plastics and under-sized jigs to target the biggest fish in the area in Upsizing Plastics for Goliath Spring Walleye.
Nick Harrington discusses two different styles of casting jigs for early spring walleye. The first focuses on targeting trophy fish with bigger baits, while the second focuses on covering water and catching numbers of fish in One-Two Plastic Punch for Spring Walleye.
Nick Harrington discusses the challenges summer walleye fishing presents and how he counters these challenges on both reservoir and lake walleye in Mid-Summer Walleye Tactics.
The most important factor in having success in the fall is finding the high percentage areas that the trophy walleyes are going to be. With football season in full swing, walleye anglers need to find their own Red Zone. In Staying in the Red Zone for Trophy Fall Walleye, Nick details everything you need to know to find your Red Zone for trophy walleye.
Once you’re in the Red Zone, it’s all about running the right play to score. In Over-sized Baits for Over-sized Fall Walleye, Nick details the presentations he likes to run to score those trophy walleyes of fall!
