Size? Numbers? Or Both? It’s Your Choice…
Fall Fishing in South Dakota
By Matt Walsh
“This scenario is a classic case where conditions meet opportunity offering the potential for a catch of a lifetime.”
As the weather cools and summer turns to fall, the perch, crappie, and walleye bite heats up on eastern South Dakota’s prairie
lakes region. With a smorgasbord of lakes to choose from, Lake Madison and Lake Thompson lead the way in both numbers and
size of fish. In the fall, with fishing and recreational pressure diminished, the perch, crappie, and walleyes gather in large schools,
to begin aggressively feeding, fattening up for the approaching winter. This scenario is a classic case where conditions meet
opportunity offering the potential for a catch of a lifetime.
Lake Thompson: “Big Lake, Big Fish”
Located only 45 miles from each other, on the surface Lake Thompson
and Lake Madison are a picture of contrast. Lake Thompson is South
Dakota’s second largest natural lake with little commercial development on
its shorelines. Located near De Smet, SD the setting for Laura Ingalls Wilder
book Little Town on the Prairie, this sprawling prairie lake receives very
little recreational boat traffic. Except for a few flooded roadbeds and old
stock dams, the lake’s bottom is practically featureless, a big “soup bowl.”
Here in lies the challenge finding the fish on Lake Thompson. With so much
water and so little structure, hiring a guide for a day or two is a good idea
.
Just like the size of the lake, the fish in Lake Thompson are big too -
slab crappies up to two pounds, jumbo perch, and trophy walleyes. In my
opinion, in the state of South Dakota especially in the fall, the odds of
catching a walleye over ten pounds are best on Lake Thompson. If big fish
are what you’re after no matter what the species, then Lake Thompson is
your ticket. However, due to variable fall weather and the size of Lake
Thompson, it's a good idea to have a back up plan on a smaller lake.
Lake Madison: “Small Lake, Lots of Fish”
In comparison to Lake Thompson 12,000 acres Lake Madison covers
only 2800 acres. Located 45 miles northwest of Sioux Falls, SD its
shorelines are littered with homes, a couple of restaurants, and a resort.
The lake receives heavy recreational traffic during the summer months and
offers a variety of fishing structure to choose from. Points, humps,
back bays, and flats give the fish and anglers plenty of options.
In the fall with the walleyes nearby, numbers of perch and crappie
congregate in large schools making them “easy pickings.” Due to the size
of the lake, shear numbers of fish, and plentiful structure, finding these
fish is fairly simple if you know what to look for. If numbers of solid
“eaters” are what you’re after, then Lake Madison is a good choice.
Another advantage to this area is that there are several other lakes
within a few miles - Lake Herman, Lake Brant, and Lake Sinai to name
a few. One can always follow the “hot” bite by hopping from lake to lake.
South Dakota Fall Fishing Wrap Up
With recreational traffic and fishing pressure diminished, fish
forming in large schools, and aggressively fattening up for the
impending winter, fall fishing is truly an opportunity for great fishing.
Whether fishing for the brutes on Lake Thompson or the numbers of fish
on Lake Madison, fall fishing in eastern South Dakota is an experience
you should enjoy. While many anglers are gearing up for hunting, the
perch, crappie, and walleyes on Lake Thompson and Lake Madison are
doing a little hunting of their own. Why not let it be your line they find?
Author Matt Walsh is owner of The Walleye Wrangler Guide Service
(605.359.8699/www.walleyewrangler.com) and guides on Lake Thompson
and Lake Madison, South Dakota.
Fall Fishing in South Dakota
By Matt Walsh
“This scenario is a classic case where conditions meet opportunity offering the potential for a catch of a lifetime.”
As the weather cools and summer turns to fall, the perch, crappie, and walleye bite heats up on eastern South Dakota’s prairie
lakes region. With a smorgasbord of lakes to choose from, Lake Madison and Lake Thompson lead the way in both numbers and
size of fish. In the fall, with fishing and recreational pressure diminished, the perch, crappie, and walleyes gather in large schools,
to begin aggressively feeding, fattening up for the approaching winter. This scenario is a classic case where conditions meet
opportunity offering the potential for a catch of a lifetime.
Lake Thompson: “Big Lake, Big Fish”
Located only 45 miles from each other, on the surface Lake Thompson
and Lake Madison are a picture of contrast. Lake Thompson is South
Dakota’s second largest natural lake with little commercial development on
its shorelines. Located near De Smet, SD the setting for Laura Ingalls Wilder
book Little Town on the Prairie, this sprawling prairie lake receives very
little recreational boat traffic. Except for a few flooded roadbeds and old
stock dams, the lake’s bottom is practically featureless, a big “soup bowl.”
Here in lies the challenge finding the fish on Lake Thompson. With so much
water and so little structure, hiring a guide for a day or two is a good idea
.
Just like the size of the lake, the fish in Lake Thompson are big too -
slab crappies up to two pounds, jumbo perch, and trophy walleyes. In my
opinion, in the state of South Dakota especially in the fall, the odds of
catching a walleye over ten pounds are best on Lake Thompson. If big fish
are what you’re after no matter what the species, then Lake Thompson is
your ticket. However, due to variable fall weather and the size of Lake
Thompson, it's a good idea to have a back up plan on a smaller lake.
Lake Madison: “Small Lake, Lots of Fish”
In comparison to Lake Thompson 12,000 acres Lake Madison covers
only 2800 acres. Located 45 miles northwest of Sioux Falls, SD its
shorelines are littered with homes, a couple of restaurants, and a resort.
The lake receives heavy recreational traffic during the summer months and
offers a variety of fishing structure to choose from. Points, humps,
back bays, and flats give the fish and anglers plenty of options.
In the fall with the walleyes nearby, numbers of perch and crappie
congregate in large schools making them “easy pickings.” Due to the size
of the lake, shear numbers of fish, and plentiful structure, finding these
fish is fairly simple if you know what to look for. If numbers of solid
“eaters” are what you’re after, then Lake Madison is a good choice.
Another advantage to this area is that there are several other lakes
within a few miles - Lake Herman, Lake Brant, and Lake Sinai to name
a few. One can always follow the “hot” bite by hopping from lake to lake.
South Dakota Fall Fishing Wrap Up
With recreational traffic and fishing pressure diminished, fish
forming in large schools, and aggressively fattening up for the
impending winter, fall fishing is truly an opportunity for great fishing.
Whether fishing for the brutes on Lake Thompson or the numbers of fish
on Lake Madison, fall fishing in eastern South Dakota is an experience
you should enjoy. While many anglers are gearing up for hunting, the
perch, crappie, and walleyes on Lake Thompson and Lake Madison are
doing a little hunting of their own. Why not let it be your line they find?
Author Matt Walsh is owner of The Walleye Wrangler Guide Service
(605.359.8699/www.walleyewrangler.com) and guides on Lake Thompson
and Lake Madison, South Dakota.
Fall time is the right time for big walleyes on
Lake Thompson. Photo courtesy of The
Walleye Wrangler Guide Service.
Lake Thompson. Photo courtesy of The
Walleye Wrangler Guide Service.
Numbers & size of slab crappies - The best of
both worlds! Photo courtesy of The Walleye
Wrangler Guide Service.
both worlds! Photo courtesy of The Walleye
Wrangler Guide Service.