Center Lake Ice Fishing
South Dakota Fishing
Dec 11, 2022 17:47:42 #
Fish YY
Loc: Keystone SD
Ice fishing for trout on Center Lake is excellent. I’ve limited on my last 4x out this past week in less than 90 minutes and have been selective about what size I keep.
Ice near the picnic area on the east side is 5-6 inches out to 30 feet from shore. (Always take precautions and check ice for thickness.)
I’ve been dead sticking using a combination of corn and salmon eggs. While regulation allow 4 lines I’ve kept busy just manning 3.
I’ve been doing a modified catch and release. Catching at Center Lake and then releasing them in my 1/3 acre pond. I’ve been working on stocking it for summer fishing. It already has over 30 bass a friend put in last year as his pond was looking like it was going to winter kill. Looking to add some pan fish as well.
Ice near the picnic area on the east side is 5-6 inches out to 30 feet from shore. (Always take precautions and check ice for thickness.)
I’ve been dead sticking using a combination of corn and salmon eggs. While regulation allow 4 lines I’ve kept busy just manning 3.
I’ve been doing a modified catch and release. Catching at Center Lake and then releasing them in my 1/3 acre pond. I’ve been working on stocking it for summer fishing. It already has over 30 bass a friend put in last year as his pond was looking like it was going to winter kill. Looking to add some pan fish as well.
Dec 11, 2022 21:10:49 #
Dec 12, 2022 05:05:27 #
Fish YY wrote:
Ice fishing for trout on Center Lake is excellent.... (show quote)
Congrats on the good fishing, but check your regulations as to whether you can do what you have been doing! You would be in big trouble if you did that here…and I am sure in other states as well.
Dec 12, 2022 09:03:00 #
Dec 12, 2022 10:55:30 #
FixorFish
Loc: SW Oregon
OJdidit wrote:
Congrats on the good fishing, but check your regulations as to whether you can do what you have been doing! You would be in big trouble if you did that here…and I am sure in other states as well.
Quite right, OJ....big no-no (and big fine, if caught !) here in Oregon to "transplant" fish from one body of water to another, even if it's to a private waterbody.
We have several lakes that have been fine trout lakes in the past, and then some idiot thinks that LARGEMOUTH BASS would be great in the lake, so they introduce a couple and within a couple or three years become the dominant species..... to the point of where the ODFW just gives up and quits stocking trout there.....no use feeding the damn bass any further.
Damn shame, since two lakes in my area, that I used to fish and camp at regularly, have gone to hell this way.
Dec 13, 2022 17:40:12 #
Fish YY
Loc: Keystone SD
Thanks for the suggestion. With all the invasive species anymore I need to get up to speed on that. I am aware of restrictions related to bait fish.
Dec 19, 2022 07:51:19 #
Fish YY
Loc: Keystone SD
Careful on Center Lake. Stopped by the boat launch on Friday. The ice had shifted and despite the winter storm there was some open water by shore.
Places I’d seen people fishing straight out from the boat ramp the week before were no longer safe. Cold weather thru Christmas should remedy that.
Places I’d seen people fishing straight out from the boat ramp the week before were no longer safe. Cold weather thru Christmas should remedy that.
Dec 22, 2022 21:32:51 #
Fish YY
Loc: Keystone SD
South Dakota has a Landowners Pond Management Authorization. Provides guidance and rules for stocking ponds on private property.
Geared toward avoiding the introduction of invasive species. When transplanting fish must use well or city water and not water from stream, river or lake but is permitted by landowners on their private property.
Geared toward avoiding the introduction of invasive species. When transplanting fish must use well or city water and not water from stream, river or lake but is permitted by landowners on their private property.
Dec 27, 2022 08:11:56 #
Fish YY
Loc: Keystone SD
Went fishing at nearby Lakota Lake on Christmas Day. Nothing. Packed up and moved to Center Lake. Winds were brutal, fishing was slow. Only ended up with one fish.
Out again to Center Lake December 26 (yesterday). Fishing picked up again. Limited in about an hour and a half, then continued catch and release. Totaled roughly 10 fish on my outing.
Others that came and set up near the picnic area seemed to be having pretty good success as well.
Caution near the boat launch. Ice is still thin and some open water around it for some reason. Otherwise ice was 12-14 inches in area adjacent to picnic area.
Out again to Center Lake December 26 (yesterday). Fishing picked up again. Limited in about an hour and a half, then continued catch and release. Totaled roughly 10 fish on my outing.
Others that came and set up near the picnic area seemed to be having pretty good success as well.
Caution near the boat launch. Ice is still thin and some open water around it for some reason. Otherwise ice was 12-14 inches in area adjacent to picnic area.
Dec 27, 2022 18:43:41 #
Fish YY
Loc: Keystone SD
Center Lake boat launch area. Good ice in other areas but use extra caution in this area. ⚠️
Jan 4, 2023 08:39:06 #
Fish YY
Loc: Keystone SD
Center Lake continues to deliver excellent fishing. After fishing Lakota Lake, the shallows as you enter the drive in, for a couple hours on Monday with slow action (1 Rainbow) I moved back to Center Lake to limit catching cutthroats up to 14”-15”in size, in an hour or two, using corn and salmon eggs.
Lakota Lake looked like Swiss cheese with all the holes that had been drilled in the shallows over the weekend! That suggests to me fishing wasn’t very productive and people kept trying new locations on the lake. A couple other parties using tip-ups fishing there for northerns with minnows were getting slightly more action, but all were small. Minnows seemed to be working better than the corn and salmon eggs I was using.
Lakota Lake looked like Swiss cheese with all the holes that had been drilled in the shallows over the weekend! That suggests to me fishing wasn’t very productive and people kept trying new locations on the lake. A couple other parties using tip-ups fishing there for northerns with minnows were getting slightly more action, but all were small. Minnows seemed to be working better than the corn and salmon eggs I was using.
Jan 4, 2023 09:05:05 #
Nice update Fish YY! Glad to hear that you are catching some trout!
Feb 1, 2023 08:26:48 #
Fish YY
Loc: Keystone SD
Activity may be slowing a bit.
After a couple weeks in Puerto Vallarta got back on the ice. Went out on January 25. Tried a different location in 18 foot bottom on southwest side of lake. While still good action was not what I experienced previously. Did hook a couple small rainbows. Everything prior have been cutthroats. (See pictures)
Watched YouTube video suggesting fishing deeper water for rainbows. Said they hangout in top 15-20 feet of deep water. Fished in 35 feet bottom. Tried both 15-20 foot zone and bottom. Only throwback I caught in hour and a half was 10” cutthroat.
Hope to get out today going back to former 12-14 foot depth location. Will be better able to gauge activity.
After a couple weeks in Puerto Vallarta got back on the ice. Went out on January 25. Tried a different location in 18 foot bottom on southwest side of lake. While still good action was not what I experienced previously. Did hook a couple small rainbows. Everything prior have been cutthroats. (See pictures)
Watched YouTube video suggesting fishing deeper water for rainbows. Said they hangout in top 15-20 feet of deep water. Fished in 35 feet bottom. Tried both 15-20 foot zone and bottom. Only throwback I caught in hour and a half was 10” cutthroat.
Hope to get out today going back to former 12-14 foot depth location. Will be better able to gauge activity.
Feb 4, 2023 08:11:20 #
Fish YY
Loc: Keystone SD
Fishing activity seems to slow a bit after 3:00 but still providing decent action. The warmer weather has formed a crust so snow blowing into your fishing holes isn’t the issue it was earlier this week.
I’m having my best luck using a combination of corn and salmon eggs on a white jig just dead sticking with a slip bobber.
Roads have cleared enough 2-wheel drive into lake not an issue.
If you intend to take your fish home don’t venture too far from your catch.
I’m having my best luck using a combination of corn and salmon eggs on a white jig just dead sticking with a slip bobber.
Roads have cleared enough 2-wheel drive into lake not an issue.
If you intend to take your fish home don’t venture too far from your catch.
Feb 4, 2023 08:31:04 #
Wow! That would be an exciting sight to behold in person...but comes at a sacrifice for sure! Glad that you caught one and also got a few photos of the eagle!
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