lakethompsonsmallmouth

                                                             There’s A New Sheriff In Town!
                                        South Dakota’s Lake Thompson & The Smallmouth Bass

      “The tackle busting bronzeback has inhabited South Dakota’s Lake Thompson for years, but recently the smallmouth bass has
exploded onto the scene, not only in population but size too. Making Lake Thompson one of the premier smallmouth fisheries in
the upper Midwest.”

      South Dakota’s Lake Thompson (De Smet, SD) for years has been known for big fish. Whether it is the states favorite son the
walleye, slab crappies, or jumbo perch. However there is a new sheriff in town the smallmouth bass! The tackle busting bronze back
has inhabited Lake Thompson, South Dakota’s second largest natural lake for years, but recently the smallmouth has exploded onto
the scene, not only in population but size too. Making Lake Thompson one of the premier smallmouth bass fisheries in the upper
Midwest.

The Rodney Dangerfield of Lake Thompson

      Known for its “never say die” attitude not its table fare, the smallmouth bass is
viewed by many South Dakotans and locals alike as a red headed stepchild, compared
to the delectable walleye, crappie, and perch. Other fishermen will approach my clients
and me and inquire as to “how we were catching all those fish?” When I inform them
that they were smallmouth bass they lose interest and quickly walk away (works every
time!). We have watched other fisherman catch fish after fish and suddenly take off
across the lake. Astonished my clients will ask, “why did they leave?” They were catching
smallmouth. Maybe they sprained their wrist and went to get some ice?

        If fishing is about having fun than it’s hard to beat the thrill of hand-to-hand
combat with a 4-6 lb bronzeback. Which makes one wonder, “Why does the smallie
get no respect?”

More Bang For Your Buck

      South Dakota is a no culling or non-upgrading state for walleyes. On days when,
the walleyes commit suicide and limits come in short order, smallies keep the good
times rolling. Time after time clients express that the highlight of their trip was fighting
the powerful bronzeback.

      A father and son booked a trip wanting to catch their first ever walleye. The first fish,
caught by the son was a 5.5 lb smallmouth (see picture). After catching 3 walleyes the
father turned to me and pronounced, “Ok, we caught our walleye, let’s go catch some
more bass!” He explained that every year they flew to Arkansas to fish for smallmouth
and had never even come close to this caliber of fish.

These Smallies Are Biggies

      Lake Thompson in known for big fish, no matter what the species. This is due in
part to the lakes size but more significant is the abundance of prey; key to the food
chain is the fresh water shrimp. Easy to catch and full of nutrients the shrimp provide
an easy meal and is a major food source for the lakes predators, prior to the baitfish
spawn. The problem with the fresh water shrimp is it takes a lot of them to sustain the
bigger game fish (walleyes, bass, and pike) – enter stage right the crawdad.

       The explosion of the smallmouth bass population and crawfish seem to go hand
in hand. Almost anywhere there is shallow rock, gravel, or sand holds crawfish and
consequently smallies. The smallmouth aren’t the only ones taking advantage of the
crawfish. Prior to baitfish spawn walleyes, pike, and perch, will all key on the crawfish.
Once the young of the year baitfish and perch are big enough to pay dividends, the other
fish will vacate these areas. Leaving the bass with a smorgasbord of crawfish, for the
most part to themselves.

Smallmouth Structure & Tactics

      One of the unique characteristics of Lake Thompson is shallow water fishing for
walleyes and now the smallmouth bass. Not withstanding a few deep holes, the lake’s
huge basin is only 13-15 feet deep. Shallow is relative to the body of water, on Lake
Thompson that is 4 inches to 4 feet deep. Other lakes hosting smallmouth typically have
an abundance of rocks where the crayfish live and smallies eat. Lake Thompson has
very little rock so the smallmouth and crayfish relate to the next best thing – gravel and
sand on the shorelines, points, and submerged roadbeds.

      Lake Thompson smallmouth live and hunt in large schools. Like a marauding pack
of wolves they will go on a feeding frenzy, moving into very shallow and small areas and
devour their prey. This scenario provides phenomenal fishing with fish after fish.
Catching 20-30 bronzebacks in an hour is not uncommon. Fat and happy smallies will
drop off the structure, back down to nearby deeper water. Searching the adjacent deeper
water fisherman can stay on the bass and continue the battle.

      Although Lake Thompson smallmouth can be caught using traditional walleye
presentations using live bait, crankbaits, or spinners. Casting or vertical presentations
using jigs and plastic will out produce any other method on Lake Thompson. Guiding a
husband and wife one day, the husband looked at my rods tied up with jigs and plastics
and with great pride stated he was a “live bait guy” insisting on using live bait while his
wife and me used plastic. Her first fish was a 5 lb smallie! In 30 minutes his wife and
me had our limit of walleyes and 6 bass as he sat there shellshocked. When in Rome
do as the Romans do. Eventually, he saw the light and switched to plastic.

Lake Thompson -The Best of Both Worlds

      For the walleye and pan fish aficionados worried that the smallmouth are going to take over the world, fear not. In 2006 alone,
over six million walleye fry were stocked in Lake Thompson. Stocking, combined with the natural reproduction insures the lakes
reputation for years to come. Think of it as the best of both worlds – walleyes, crappies, and perch for dinner and smallmouth for the
sport.

Good Luck & Good Fishing!