The Thrill of Exploring a New Lake



Lake Francis Case formed by the Fort Randall Dam at Pickstown, SD is one of four reservoirs along the Missouri River in South Dakota. With 102,000 acres of water the lake has a maximum depth of 140 feet.  With an approximate length of 107 miles and shoreline of 540 miles, the lake has the ability to produce some outstanding fishing.  My preference is not to fish big bodies of water.  Waubay Lake at Webster is about my maximum and even that lake can become dangerous with the high winds that sometimes roll across the plains of South Dakota.  Friends in the hunting club I belong to fished Francis Case with outstanding results and so my wife and I decided to give it a try.  The time was late July and the temps across the Midwest had been really high, but there had been a cool down and we decided it was worth the trip.  We should have been there earlier, but we had been up to Webster catching walleye, crappie and northern. Never disagree with results.

The road below winds down to the boat ramp.  This is a big body of water.

The trip up from Council Bluffs took about four hours and we both noticed again how green the plains of South Dakota looked.  The bean and corn fields looked exceptional.  Platte, South Dakota just a few miles from the lake was our destination.  Here is a community of 1,230 people.  Accommodations were excellent as we stayed at the Dakota Country Inn.  We met the owner who was very proud of his motel and the quality of the accommodations.  If you make the trip, the number is 605 337-2607.  The motel is located  on the east side of town on Highway 44.  If you go there to fish or explore and can't find it, you  have a serious medical condition and I would recommend you seek help immediately. In addition you should not be allowed to operate a motor vehicle.

At the lower edge of the water is the boat ramp area. The area is called Snake Creek Access

You are in a rural farm and ranch community in South Dakota.  There is not French restaurant within 250 miles of the town.  In fact, you basically have three to four places to eat.  We recommend Shorty's on the east side of main street.  If you miss main street, I recommend calling the authorities and have someone help you find your way home.  You do not belong in this part of the U.S. The prices are really cheap, and the food is just basic home cooking piled high on the plate and it is good. If you eat breakfast, you will not need lunch.  They open for breakfast at 6 AM and stay open till 9 PM.  This gives you the opportunity to stay on the lake for at least 12 hours if you can stand it.

We went to the Snake Creek access just west of town.  High above the lake the view is very beautiful, especially with the bright blue skies of South Dakota.  The parking lot and boat ramps are typical of when South Dakota does it up really right.  There is also a fish cleaning station, and a restaurant located near the boat launch.  We did not try it or question anyone about the quality.   Sailboats abounded in the bay.  With the size of the lake and the wind that South Dakota sometimes experiences, I am sure this is a great place to sail especially with a 107 mile length of the lake.

Two boat ramps and a really big parking area accommodates a lot of boats.

We had no idea where to go, so we did the logical thing by working the points and moving up river.  The graph was showing fish in the ten to fifteen foot depth and we ran the Flicker Shad rather quickly to get it down into the ten foot range.  It did not take long before we began picking up white bass, and we started picking them up constantly.  They were a nice size and all keepers, but we threw them back as we have enough white bass in the freezer. 

Bridge spanning the lake  Boats will secure themselves to the bridge pilings and vertical jig.  The water is 40 to 50 feet deep and they pick up nice size walleye.

A boat came along and the occupants asked how we were doing and where was the best place to fish.  We told them the truth that this was our first experience and we had no idea where to go.  This was also their first time.  They mentioned a spot called Red Rocks on the west side of the lake.  They were off to find it, and we told them we would look for them.  We continued to pick up white bass until we said, "Lets go find the two lost souls."  Please note that we did not consider ourselves as lost souls.  I should add that the weather could not have been more beautiful.  Clear blue sky, 5 to 10 mile per hour wind out of the south, and the forecast was to stay that way all day. One must always remember, that this is South Dakota, and conditions are subject to sudden changes. That is what makes it exciting when fishing in theses locations.

We worked point to point picking up white bass and a walleye periodically.

I don't like big bodies of water, but over across the lake we went.  Our boat is an 18 foot deep V, but I did not want to find out just how big the swells had to get before we were in trouble.  This day was nice.  We found the Red Rock sticking up along with about 6 boats all working in general area.  This must be the spot.  We started out in the ten foot range and picked up white bass which we promptly threw back.  Then we moved out to deeper water, and changed bait to a spinner with a crawler attached.  It was obvious the walleye had gone deeper.  They did not seem to be schooled and were spread out in 20 to 30 feet of water.   It was also important to note the surface temp of the water was 78 degrees.  That is really warm.  Pam picked up a couple of walleye, but they did not make the 15 inch minimum.  We ran into the two fisherman that were lost and they had mentioned farther up river a spot called the "plains." 

Fishing the "Plains" area produced white bass.  This is ranch country and the cattle have all come down to drink and cool off in the water. We find the rolling plains hold a beauty of their own.  This was the home of the Sioux.

We crossed over to the east side.  Where the lake bends about 45 degrees to the northeast we ran into the "plains."  It is just a submerged outreach of land in the lake that is about 6 to 10 feet deep and about 300 yards out drops into 45 feet.  It probably stretches 200 to 300 yards.  The interesting thing about the plains was the cattle all watering themselves along the shore.  We stayed in the deepest part of the plains at about 7 to 10 feet and again white bass was the catch of the day.  Then it went dead calm and got really hot. On a clear summer day with no breeze and dead calm water,  the heat became intense.  It was 3 PM.

Red Rock area where we picked up some fish and where most of the fishermen were located.

Enjoyment was leaving both of us and we stayed out only a couple of hours longer.  We went back and fished the red rock area and the area where we had caught the bushel basket full of white bass. We had lost all the spirit, and it was time to go. We got off the water by 5 PM totally burnt, tired and hungry. It was time to go to Shorty's.

When Pam puts on her hat, she had had enough. 


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Good fishing, good hunting, and good luck.  Hank





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The Magnificent Bitter Lake

On the second day, my wife and I finished up catching our limit of walleye and a couple of northern on Lynn Lake.  Back at the motel by 10 AM, we cleaned the fish and then took a nap.   How much better can it get than that.  The plan was to fish Bitter provided we had some breeze to ripple the water.  Otherwise we would go to Aberdeen, see a movie, and Pam could do some shopping.  The other part of the plan, and probably most important, was to stop at the Purple Cow Ice Cream Parlor on the edge of the town of Waubay.  Here is the best ice cream in the world and it is a tradition to stop and consume the finest ice cream we have ever eaten. 

Please note that there are 33 flavors.  Pam and I have tried them all at one time or another.  Just a few miles off of I 29 and it is well worth the stop. You cannot miss the building.

The state of South Dakota has put in a new access on the west side of the lake.  This is the best place to fish as there are a series of islands that drop off into deeper water.  Also, Bitter is known for submerged rocks, and South Dakota does not mark their reefs.  You have to check with Sportsmans Cove in Webster as they can give you the road to take south on the west side of the town of Waubay.  I should point out that this is a gravel road and really dusty.  We kept the cover on, thank goodness, but the dust worked its way into every crevice it could.  The ramp is good and there is plenty of parking.

Dock at the west access to Bitter



The wind came up and we hit it really hard.  To the north of the access is some standing timber.  We were graphing fish in the fifteen foot range.  It did not take long and Wham! Pam nailed a really nice fish.  Once we got it in the boat and a picture taken, I put the kicker in idle and just let the wind drift us back over the general area.

Really nice walleye

Don't forget the Flicker Shad to really pound the walleyes. 


Berkley Flicker Shad Crankbaits


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We started getting hits on a regular basis and I thought, "Here it goes! We are really going to boat a lot of really nice fish."  I used to fish with a man from northern Minnesota and he always said, "When you are catching small fish, that is all you will take in an area."  Then I had the good fortune of nailing a nice fish.

These are really healthy fish.



Then the wind went down, and the lake went dead calm.  With a no wind condition and sitting on the water with bright sunlight, it can get really hot.  We both decided we had enough.  First there was light wind, then really windy as some storms passed to the south of us, then calm.  We had done really well for the day.

Mustang Survival M.I.T. 100 Auto Inflatable Life Jacket

On big waters we both put on life jackets when the wind really starts to pound.  Automatic inflate is the way to go.  Click on the link or the pic to buy from Bass Pro.

 

 Good hunting, good fishing and good luck.  Hank

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You Just Can't Beat Success

The weather still remained stable, but there was concern about lack of  wind.  Fishing is better if you have some chop on the water, especially for walleyes.  Still, Lynn Lake is the producer.  We were only going to fish till noon, then head out of town stopping at the Purple Cow for some of the world's finest ice cream.  Arriving at Lynn, we were the only boat that put in at the ramp, and we were than able to get the prime parking place.

The master fisherman of the lake.  Pelicans were thick and they came within feet of the boat.

We headed immediately to where we had caught the fish the previous day.  Not a cloud in the sky and with the bright South Dakota sun, we were both worried we would lose what breeze we had.  It was far from a light chop, but more like a slight ripple. In the super clear water of this lake, the walleye would go deep to avoid the sunlight.  The Flicker Shad might not be effective as we could only get about ten feet of depth with the lure.  My friend Bruce would put on an in-line sinker to drag it down, or we could use a bottom bouncer to drag it around in deep water.  So options were available. Bottom bouncers are a good way to get snagged and loose a lure.

This is not good.  What we want are waves.

Bang! The fish hit the lure with a vengeance and started running.  Only northern pike act like this and he was a nice size fish.  I almost got the fish to the boat and then it would take another run, or try to go under the boat.  They always seem to go for the motors at the back.  I had to walk from side to side at the back of the boat to keep from breaking the rod or the line. Fishing with an ultralight had just become a bad idea and at this moment, the feeling was that a heavier rod would have been more appropriate.  Finally it began to wear down, and it was brought to the surface.  Pam grabbed the net and did a nice job of hauling the fish up and into the boat. 

Decent size northern.  Once the Y bones are removed, it will provide excellent dining.

The lake went totally calm.  We studied the graphs, and we were not seeing fish in the seven to fifteen foot range where we had been catching them.  Still we continued to work the Flicker Shad and continued to pick up decent size northern pike that were big enough to take out the Y bones. 

Still at it after a hook in my thumb.  Notice how calm the water had become.

The Flicker Shad has some really small hooks and very very sharp.  So, it wasn't long before I drove one right into my thumb, and of all things, the barb went in also.  Needless to say, a discouraging word might have been said. I tried to back it out with my other hand but the barb was fully imbedded.  It was not going to come out.  There were three options: 1. Rip it out, but that was out of the question. 2. Continue to push it through till it came out the opposite side, clip it off above the barb, and then back out what was left.  I was not going to do that. 3. Squeeze the end of my thumb very tightly making the skin bulge and tighten up,  then see if the barb could be backed out using a needle nose pliers.

Number three was the method selected.  Using my left hand, I squeezed the end of my thumb covering the nail.  Pam took the pliers at the height of the squeeze and pulled out the hook, barb and all.  A minor hole was all that was there.  With a little triple antibiotic ointment over the wound, we continued to fish.  A tetanus shot was not needed as I keep myself current.  I should have taken a picture of the hook in my thumb and how we pulled it out.  If I had been fishing alone, this could have become a minor issue for the day.

We had a great morning and picked up some keeper northern pike.  Once the Y bones were removed they provided friends and family some excellent dining.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VS_cHdKS-_A

The video above gives an excellent demonstration of taking out the Y bones in a northern pike.

 

 Good hunting, good fishing and good luck.  Hank

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It Just Keeps Getting Better



It was fifteen years ago that I fished Lynn Lake and I got skunked.  There was no dock but a sand ramp that ran off into the lake.  It was a nightmare getting the boat in and out of the water.  The wind came up and blew about 25 to 30 mph and the friend I was with was hanging on for dear life.  I was too.  The weather however on this trip was outstanding and there was a private dock installed with a decent ramp.  It was off to Lynn.  My wife and I went on this trip.

This is the Flicker Shad Pam used to nail all the fish.  I use the scientific method of picking a color based on weather and color of the water.  She picks a lure based on whether she likes the color.  Guess who catches the most fish.

We pulled up to Lynn.   I remembered it as before with a road that ran right down to the water.  You make a right turn and proceed down a road that says "Dead End," but that is where you want to go.  You are greeted by a large pole with a sign that says to deposit $5.00 which is good for all day.  You fill out a slip of paper with your vehicle and license plate.  There is hardly any room to park and turn around. The ramp falls right into deep water and it makes getting the boat on and off really easy. 

We both had a fish on so Pam grabbed the gaff to haul her's in.  I lost mine when I dropped the rod tip to give her instructions which she did not need.

The standard size applies on the lake with a 15 inch minimum and only one fish over 20 inches.  We met a young college student who had been fishing some standing timber as he was coming in and showed us his catch.  Wow, these were really nice fish and he was within 100 yards of the dock.  Why go chasing all over the lake?  There was no one around and the young man recommended we stay close to the dock area as most of the fisherman headed north.  That is what we did.

That is the boat ramp you pay $5.00 to launch your boat.  The dock was good, and depth at the ramp was excellent and you did not have to worry about smacking your motor.  Parking was a problem and it took some planning to get yourself situated.

We moved over to an area just west of the boat dock and it wasn't long before the action started.  Running the Flicker Shad like I did at Pierre the day before started producing fish.  Northern hit first so we moved out a little deeper and there was the walleye.  Pam nailed a really nice one that was about 18 inches.

 Berkley Flicker Shad Crankbaits

Multiple colors available.  If you are not fishing with a Flicker Shad, you are not fishing. 

Soon I picked up a good walleye and a northern. The action was solid and the fish were hitting hard.  Having spent a total of 90 minutes on the water, we were limited out and it was time to go.  How much faster can it get than that.  

This old grain elevator caught our eye as we traveled back to Webster.  You do not see many  buildings like this anymore.  Made with a metal exterior it was built to stand the weather regardless of what was going on.  We both commented how beautiful the fields and prarries looked on this trip.

Back at the motel, we cleaned the fish, grabbed some lunch and took a nap.  Our next lake was Bitter.  We will talk about that experience later.

Good hunting, good fishing and good luck.  Hank

 
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Four Lakes in 2.5 Days 4.

Northerly flow and stable conditions produced some excellent fishing.  Studying the weather for the last week and my wife and I decided to head north to Webster, South Dakota and fish a few of the many lakes in the region.  Checking in with Sportsman Cove we got the recomendations and what to use for bait.  We had a different idea in mind for bait and it wasn't live as I wanted to see if the success at Pierre could be duplicated.

We wanted to drive up Friday evening and hit it really hard Saturday morning, but Webster was having it's yearly all school reunion and the motels were all totally booked.  So, we stayed at Watertown about 50 miles south at the Hampton Inn just off I-29.  Watertown must have been having some form of re-union because we took the last room and we would have had more sleep in the truck next to the interstate.  I have never heard of so much ruckus in my life.  Either someone had just won a big lottery ticket or inherited a lot of money because they were really having a party in the whole hotel.  Next time we will ask what is going on if we have to stay there.

Sportsman Cove said to use crawlers or leeches, and so we added some to the boat just in case the Flicker Shad was not successful.  I steered toward the south shore of Lake Waubay to start and we pulled plugs in then 10 feet of water.  The lure will not go down much deeper than that unless you add an in line sinker to the line to take it down. All we picked up was some medium size white bass and we moved over to the island right straight to the north of us.

We fished this point initially but did not pull up any walleye.  Notice the calm water that is not good for walleye, but it is overcast.

We started fishing the northwest corner in fifteen feet of water and right away Pam picked up a really nice walleye.  Trying to stay within a tight circle around the area she picked it up in about fifteen feet.  Staying tight to the area did not produce and we expanded the area. There was constant white bass activity and as I have said before, take off the red meat and the white bass are really tasty.

She picked up three more just like this one plus several white bass.  Notice the nice chop on the water and the sky had cleared.

We continued staying in the general area as Pam kept picking up some smaller walleye.  I need to point out the Flicker Shad she was using.  I had immediately shared all the valuable experience gained at Pierre and recommended the Blue Tiger.  However, the lure she picked was the Racy Shad, and this was done based on the fact that it was better looking than the others.  How can a person argue with that logic when they are catching fish, and you are catching nothing.  We stayed in this location about two hours until we just plain failed to get any hits.  By that time Pam had a limit of keeper walleye.  I was able to contribute a couple of keeper white bass and they were marginal.

There it is, the Racy Shad Flicker Shad that brought in the majority of the fish.

We went to a location called school bus point on Waubay Lake.  The school bus is no longer there but the point still produces some excellent fishing.  We caught nothing, and the wind had moved more to the east southeast.  Across from the point is a tree line and out to the edge of the lake we both picked up some really nice White Bass.  It was 2 PM, time to clean fish, have some lunch, and take a nap.  It just can't get any better that this.

Pam caught some really nice fish. This was the biggest of the bunch.

After being refreshed with a little food, some sleep, and getting all the work done, we decided to head south to Antelope Lake.  This is one of my favorites in the area.  Full of nice size northern and 18 to 20 inch walleye, it is not fished much except by the locals.  We were the only boat on the water.  The lake has weed beds on the shoreline that go out to about four feet of water.  After that from six feet on out  there is bottom weed.  The lake has to be one of the clearest in the area and you can see your lure clearly down to about five feet.

We stayed till 9 PM and then decided to throw in the towel.  I caught one really small northern and that was all on this lake.  Another boat put in right before we pulled out and I could see he was a local fisherman.  It stays daylight right up until 10 PM being 300 miles north.  We had a great day.

Good hunting, good fishing, and good luck. Hank

 
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