Ice Fishing

South Dakota’s fishing season never closes so your annual license is good year-round. That means for the true sportsman with a warm disposition and a good winter coat, ice fishing can be a great relief to cabin fever.

Ice fishing in Southeast South Dakota can be very effective when using jigging spoons or teardrop hooks tipped with a minnow or wax/meal worms. You’ll catch a variety of species, but pike, walleye, bluegill and perch are fan favorites. Now sure where to go? Talk to the locals and get their advice. Look for concentrations of trucks and ice houses on a lake. That will usually indicate where the bites are taking place.

Make sure to always check the thickness of the ice. South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks advises that if ice is less than 4 inches thick, stay off of it! Visit their website for further guidelines on ice thickness.

So don’t let the cold weather keep you indoors! Get out on the ice and experience beauty of our frozen lakes and snowy landscapes. The tranquility,