Black Hills Area Fishing Report
With ice fishing season officially ended as of a couple of weeks ago, most of the lakes in the area have opened up and a majority of boat docks have been placed in the water. Several lakes are seeing boats on them already, mostly on Pactola. Weather conditions have been favorable though bites are a bit uncertain across most of the lakes. Coming unsteady weather patterns will keep many away from the lakes until sunshine returns, but the bite should continue to improve as warm weather remains and water temperatures continue to increase. With these conditions in mind, here’s the current fishing reports for the Black Hills region:
Boats are out in force on Angostura and Belle Fourche Reservoirs. But the walleye bites are still few and far between as water temps are still a bit cool and the walleyes are scattered. Some fishermen reported luck at the dam and Gadens Point area at Belle Fourche. A weekend walleye tournament at Angostura had more empty livewells than full ones, but a good smallmouth bite in the bays may offset the hard walleye bite if catching any fish is desired. Pactola Reservoir’s docks are not in yet, but that hasn’t stopped boats from going out, searching for lake trout. A few are being caught here and there, but the rainbow bite is going pretty strong at the north and south marinas from shore, with spinners and slip bobbers tipped with minnows seeing most of the action. The pike bite should pick up soon in Jenny Gulch and other bays as the water warms up. Sheridan Lake is open, but no boating activity reported yet. Shore fishermen are catching crappie and trout in the bays, mostly on small minnows and a few pike are starting to be caught along the Hwy 385 bay. Deerfield Reservoir is mostly iced over, but not accessible as the shorelines have opened up lake wide. Stockade Lake has fully opened and the boat dock is in, but catches of fish are slow right now as the water temps are still cold. The bass and pike bite should pick up after the water warms a bit.
The smaller lakes in the area, including Sylvan, Lakota, Center, Mitchell, Bismarck, and Legion, are open and trout bites from shore are ongoing, with a variety of presentations working including Mepps spinners, spoons, slip bobbers, and dry flies tossed out with bubble bobbers. As these waters warm and with some having been recently stocked, the bite should be very good for kids and families looking to get a line wet. The statewide free state park pass weekend is only a couple of weeks away and is traditionally seen as the summer kickoff weekend in the area and is a great time to hit the area lakes, especially the smaller ones.
For more information on current fishing conditions in the Black Hills, be sure email Scott Olson at dr.auger81@hotmail.com, visit him on Facebook at Dr. Auger Ice Fishing Services, LLC, or on his website at drauger81.wixsite.com/drauger81.