Fish YY Loc: Keystone SD

Went last Sunday and again yesterday (Friday, Feb 10). Fishing was slow for me and many others, but some were having decent action. It seemed to be location related, even when just a few yards apart.

I tried salmon eggs, corn, wax worms and night crawlers and had 3 lines down. Yesterday only land 3 of which only 1 would have been a keeper.

While I had the lake mostly to myself early in the year there were several large groups (>20 people each) out Sunday enjoying the nice weather. Some were there to fish but others were pulling tubers behind ATVs all afternoon. You can see one of the groups in the photo background. Just the same still plenty of room for everyone.

It was a bit breezy so I setup my ice shack for its “maiden voyage”. Liked being out out the wind but makes one reluctant to relocate when a spot isn’t productive.

Glad to see people taking advantage of what the Black Hills have to offer.

Fish YY Loc: Keystone SD

Fishing yesterday (1:00-2:15pm) and action has definitely tapered off. Talked with others and they’ve experienced the same.

I had 4 lines in the water. Caught about 6. Only 2 were a size I would have considered keeping.

Spoke with person who participated in fishing tournament at Sheridan Lake and they had good activity across spectrum (pike, perch, small mouth bass, and trout). Looks like I’ll be drilling holes in a new location for awhile. Thirty minute drive instead of 10 minutes. Center Lake has me spoiled.

I need bluegills for my pond anyway. Sheridan Lake has them.

Fish YY Loc: Keystone SD

Tried Sheridan Lake on Saturday, all day. Spoke to several fishermen and action was extremely slow for all. I was at the south boat launch area (Blue Wing Bay) but a few of those I talked to came back from other areas of the lake.

I had a couple fish approach my jigs but not so much as a nibble.

I didn’t make it to Center Lake though I was tempted to try. Stayed a bit too long at Sheridan Lake and a breeze was starting to pick up.

The ice at Sheridan is thicker than at Center Lake and there were a number of vehicles out on the ice (passenger cars).

Fish YY Loc: Keystone SD

Got back out yesterday (Saturday, Feb 25th). Got started fishing a little after 1:00.

There was another group of people about 40 yards from me that arrived about the same time.

I set up in the area adjacent to the picnic area and fished in about 12 feet of water. I got a couple of boarder line keeper cutthroat as I was trying to get set up. They weren’t keepers for me. I’m still stocking my pond and unless it’s a thick, 15”+ fish, or a rainbow, it’s catch and release for me.

I had some slow periods but caught about a dozen in total before I left about 4:30. I was the only person on the lake after 3:00. Between 3:00 and 4:30 the action was picking up. I ended up leaving because I was in the shade stating around 4:00 and a breeze was kicking up. I got my 5th keeper (the limit) and couldn’t hardly feel my fingers so I closed up shop. Was a bit challenging putting my gear away not having feeling in my finger tips.

A couple observations. I don’t think the other party fishing near me were getting much action and led to their early departure. I’m unsure what bait they were using. (I had 3 lines in the water and in tending my lines I missed a few bites as I didn’t get to the line to set the hook.) I used a rattler in one hole. I didn’t catch any fish on it but I do believe it helped attract fish.

I used 2 white jigs, one with salmon egg and corn. The other I used a half nightcrawler. I didn’t get a single hit on the line with salmon egg and corn. My bites were a bit slow on my line with the nightcrawler as well.

I’ve never been too big on the idea that jig colors make a big difference but once I switched my white jig with eggs and corn to a gold jig with nightcrawlers. The action improved markedly and much better than on the white jig with nightcrawler.

There was about 6” on snow blanketing the lake. When I got there I used a scoop shovel to clear the ice where I fished. Aside from being easier to move around it’s like shining a light in dark waters. The party fishing near me didn’t do that. I attribute that, using a rattle, nightcrawlers and gold jig with my success.

Heading back out this morning and will be using same setup that I think attributed my success yesterday.

fishyaker Loc: NW Michigan (Lower Peninsula)

Enjoyed reading the account of your most recent outing. Good idea to change things up a little as far as the lure offerings....sometimes they change their favorite meal from time to time! I agree that the rattler may have attracted some action, and it probably made the difference in catching fish!

Fish YY Loc: Keystone SD

Action was picking up some yesterday despite some slower periods. Guessing I caught about 7 cutthroat (one 16”) and 1 small rainbow over 3 hours. That doesn’t count the missed bites due to being busy with another line. I tried using 3 lines that I could reach while sitting in one spot with my Garmin Stryker in the center. I set my lines at different depths to be able to differentiate which was which on fish finder.

I was on the ice between 9:00 am and noon. Action seemed to be increasing a bit when I left. I used the last bit of my nightcrawlers.

Certainly enough activity to have me looking forward to getting back out again first chance I get.

Nightcrawlers on a gold jig seemed to be the bait of choice. Wax worm line only got one nibble.

Fish YY Loc: Keystone SD

Things are picking up again at the Center Lake. Went over about 2:15 and stayed until about 5:15. I was the last person on the lake after 3:30, when fishing started getting better. I landed roughly 20 cutthroat today and a couple of small rainbows.

They were definitely biting best on a gold colored jig with nightcrawlers. At one time I had four lines in the water, but I was missing too many bites, so I finally took out two and kept two in. Eventually, since only the gold jig with nightcrawlers was getting bites I took out my third line and fished with just one. It was hard to quit.

I caught my largest cutthroat to date. It was roughly 16 3/4 inches and nice and beefy.It’s difficult to snap photo with one hand and steady a fish in the other. It now resides in my stock pond.

I plan to go out again tomorrow, but the ice shanty will be going up. We have a winter storm going on and got 3 to 4 inches of snow while I was fishing. It gets tiresome having to clean the slush out of the holes.

For the next few days having a 4-wheel drive may be necessary to get in and out of the lake area. It was getting slick on Playhouse road when I drove home.

fishyaker Loc: NW Michigan (Lower Peninsula)

Nice going Fish YY! You are a very hardy individual to endure those harsh conditions...and I am glad that it paid off for you! I am also glad to hear that you'll be headed back out with some shelter! Enjoy your next trip and I hope they keep biting!

Jeremy Loc: America

Looks like a COOL fun time. Thank You for sharing. headin to the warm bed. Good Morning Fish YY from the Western US. I hope you get into them thick.

Fish YY Loc: Keystone SD

Thanks for your good wishes fishing.

Got to the lake about 8:30. It said 23 degrees on the truck, but dead calm and blue skies. I didn’t bother with the shack.

We had about 7” of snow. Benefit of that was I didn’t have to re-drill my holes, just scoop them out a bit.

Great day for me. I talked to another party as I left. They said they were catching 16-17” cutthroat yesterday but today wasn’t as good for them. I neglected to ask what bait they were using.

Good activity and limited on 16”+ cutthroats. Even got a brookie (about 10”) on a wax worm fishing 5 feet off the bottom. Where I as fishing is about 13’ of water. I got all my fish on nightcrawlers otherwise.

I’ve noticed that the more mangled the nightcrawlers get the better the action I have. Guess that makes sense as it probably releases more scent in the water to attract the fish.

I’ve been using 3# test line but may need to move us to 4# or 5# line. I had my 3# test break a couple times with the larger fish bitting.

I left at 1:30 with 5 nice fish. I’ll be out again tomorrow though the weather isn’t forecast to be as nice as today.

I’ve got enough fish in my stock pond but it’s hard not to add these beefy guys. They’ll be fun to catch again.

Fish YY Loc: Keystone SD

Sunday fishing had slow periods but still provided decent activity and some big fish (17”ers). Definitely upgrading from 3# test line. It’s okay right up until the fish is coming out of the hole with the bigger fish biting.

I ended up getting set up only to realize the only bait I brought was salmon eggs. Cell service is very spotty but I finally got though to my wife. I asked if she would mind bringing my nightcrawlers and wax worms. She graciously agreed. Having a bait delivery service was instrumental in having an enjoyable morning even with the passing snow flurries and falling temperatures.

My cousin joined me midafternoon. I’d texted him earlier in the day asking him to bring nightcrawlers after I’d forgotten mine. In addition to nightcrawlers, he brought some Power Bait. I’d never used it before. It was garlic with glitter.

When things got slow using nightcrawlers he decided to try the Power Bait. Action picked up quickly and made me a believer. Though it doesn’t stay on your hook as well (need to check when you are unsuccessful setting hook) it definitely improved our fishing fun. So much so that we’re we’re late getting off the ice and had to break down in the dark. Won’t make that mistake again. Cell phone lighting while helpful, isn’t that great.

I find it interesting how different baits appeal to the fish at different times of the year. I can understand that somewhat when their ice is off and different insects are hatching out, but when the ice is on, different story. Probably things going on under the ice I’m obvious too.

Finished the day with 8 big, beefy fish which yielded some nice fillets.

Walleye man Loc: Hazel sd

Hey do you know if pactola has Ice?

Fish YY Loc: Keystone SD

It does. I’ve been told Veterans Point is yielding good fishing for rainbows.

Also The Rooster (fishing shop in Rapid City) said biggest Northern so far turned in for their tournament came from Pactola, 21 some inches.

Walleye man Loc: Hazel sd

👍thank you sir.

woodguru Loc: El Dorado Ca

Does that include transferring fish, or buying them, I've bought Florida Black LM to put in a pond, and have a friend that bought a few hundred Crappie to put in a pond, he was trying to introduce them for Bass feed

It's an interesting process setting up the right ecology. A friend of mine put 98 Black Bass in a small pond and they would not get over 2 lbs or so...we hammered the smaller fish and ate them and the original bass started getting bigger as the competition for food with hundreds of smaller fish decreased.