Spring time weather has hit the Black Hills hard, bringing with it very unpredictable weather patterns. While the last few days of weather has been very spring like with temperatures in the 70s, in a few days’ time, highs in the 40s will bring rain and even a chance of snowfall in the evenings. While this is typical for this time of year in the Black Hills, it does present the usual issues of creating up and down fish bites. Once the weather stabilizes though, the outlook on the area lakes, especially the walleye ones, will improve greatly. With these conditions in mind, here’s the current fishing report for the Black Hills region:
The walleye bites on Orman Dam and Angostura Reservoir are very much hit and miss with water temps still being a bit chilly due to the up and down weather patterns. Some boaters are finding some success on jig and plastics used slowly while shore fishermen and women were seeing some success along the dam in the evenings at Orman. Some crappie are showing up along the tire barrier on Angostura.
The trout bite on the bigger lakes at Deerfield, Pactola, and Sheridan Reservoirs is going at a hot clip currently as the fish are in shallow water taking advantage of new plants and the insects in them. Lots of bigger, 20″ ones have been caught from shore, especially at Pactola. Many anglers have been hitting the southern shoreline for them with jigs and plastics, spinners, and minnows working as well as many on the docks and shore of the Hwy 385 bay area at Sheridan. Ice is completely off of Deerfield, but small perch are all that’s biting currently. Stockade reports are few and far between, but catching lots of small bluegills and crappie is the norm for this time of the year on bobbers and crawlers from shore.
For more information on what’s working in the Black Hills region, be sure to contact Scott Olson at dr.auger81@hotmail.com, through Facebook, or through his website at drauger81.wixsite.com/drauger81.