View Full Version : SD Ice get-together - what area would you like to fish?
I did not get specific as to what lake, because that can be decided on the spot, but for purposes of planning, we should figure out what town we want to base in.
Ortonville would give us access to Big Stone, and possibly waubay area, but it's a bit of a drive.
Waubay would give us good access to Waubay, Bitter, Swim, Lynn, Reetz, Blue Dog, and we could go up to Cattail and Roy if we wanted to.
Watertown is pretty much Pelican, Kampeska, Mankey's, Maynard's and a few no name ponds that may or may not turn on this winter.
Thompson would be Thompson obviously, the 81 ponds, preston (winterkilled, but who knows), oakwood, whitewood, sinai and a few other lakes that I don't know much about.
That'll cover the area pretty good, and it's easier to plan if you know what town to get a hotel room in :) If we can agree on something early enough, we may be able to get group room discounts if there's enough of us.
As of right now, Pelican and Kampeska are ice covered, so I would expect that most lakes, except maybe waubay and thompson are also. Pelican was enough to stand on right along shore, so it's forming fast, and with forecasts of 10 degrees overnight for a couple days, it should be very good ice by early january.
Eyez
I voted for Watertown for the primary reason of central location to the other areas. More lodging options in Watertown and Waubay or Thompson are less than an hour's drive.
Wives would definitely want Watertown for shopping, etc. Lake Preston & Waubay don't have much for the women!
Pitts
11-29-2001, 01:39 PM
Eyes I really don't know where to fish but I voted for Watertown area.
Do ya know where the eyes bite all day or is it more of twilight and night bite for eyes and perch are on the move all day.
It would be nice to do the perch or pike during the day and then set up at about 3 pm for eyes.
Since you know the area way better than I how would you like to do the arrangements with the lodging and head count for SD and I'll do the Mille Lacs get together???
I have an ATV and trailer with 2 portable houses for 6 people 2 lines apiece, that will go out on 6" of ice we really don't have to drive on.
Let me know I'll be there.
Pitts
Don__SD
11-29-2001, 01:49 PM
Whetever is done is fine by me. An overnight stay is not a possibility for me, but I can drive anywhere, anytime.
Backwater Eddy
11-29-2001, 04:52 PM
Something to kick around guys, I know of a good winter lodging deal at Charlie's Cottonwood Lake Resort near Lake City SD for a winter cabin rental. Jeff Olson is a old friend, great folks.
There is also Roy Lake Resort just down the road a few miles that has excellent accommodations all year. This is on the Cattail Lake side of the glacial chain very near Roy Lake. Close to a bunch of lakes that are often very good winter fishing, big perch, nice walleye, panfish, and pike. This area you can lake hop easily in a short time.
Just a consideration we may toss in the hat with all the rest.
A handy link to snoop around for accommodations in the Glacial Lakes Region.
http://www.sdglaciallakes.com/fishreport.htm
http://www.sdglaciallakes.com/index.html
Dutchman
11-29-2001, 08:14 PM
I'm up for any of the above. The Waubay area is my first preference just because there are so many great waters to fish in the that area. Thompson can be a hit and miss ice fishing with the best bite at dusk and dawn. For you guys that will be bringing the little lady, Waubay is less than an hour from Watertown. Cottonwood and Roy are both great spots. As are Bitter and Blue Dog, Enemy Swim, Pickeral, these are less thast 10 miles apart. There are just so many good spots that are less than an hour apart in that country there has to be a least one really hot bite going somewhere. Spin the bottle, I'll be there. This is the kind of problem I like...Too many good spots to fish :)
" Fishing is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope "
It's a tight race, how bout a roll call of those who voted but didn't post who plan to attend?
TC EYEMAN
11-30-2001, 09:32 AM
Why don't we try somewhere around Rapid City? Maybe Canyon Lake??
waterfowler
11-30-2001, 10:45 AM
Eyez,
I voted for the Watertown area. One, gives the wife something to do, two I still own a house their. I can/will sleep in the shack, but why when my house is 10 minutes away from Pelican or Kampeska.
How's the duck hunting been?? I was out last weekend, got 9 snows and a few ducks north of Garden City. Should of had a lot more snows, but the head was a little fuzzy that morning. Best part/Worst part was watching my best friend see if the Benelli is waterproof. He tripped over a rock chasing down a greenhead. All I got to see was him lifting the gun out of the water. He got cold so we headed in about the time the ducks flew Sat. am. Had to get married in the afternoon so it was a short day of hunting. Keep us informed!!
had to get married... those minor inconveniences in life, eh? :)
that's funny isn't it! I got to watch my dad take a dive in a slough this year, I tried not to laugh, but the one very loud ^%&#$! and then some splashing was just too much for me to control myself.
Last day I hunted was monday, in the blizzard. Total for the 4 day weekend was 6 snows and 5 mallards, 2 of the snows and all the mallards were shot in a cornfield by Mankey's slough monday morning. I didn't hunt Sunday. Saturday's ditch piggin' was terrible, we just couldn't get under the geese, but my brother back from college got to let some shots go at greenheads, so he had fun anyway.
I shot alot of birds this year, but I worked real hard for them. It really should have been a better season for me, I'm only partially satisfied (maybe a december trip to pierre will help that :) )
I hear what you say about watertown, I won't argue that vote, I live 8 miles west of town, 3 miles from kampeska and 4 from pelican. Officially, I voted for watertown, because we can always drive up north if we want. A morning perch fish on Pelican, and then head north for pike and walleyes for the afternoon and evening would be a real good day. I bet the smallies on swim will be quite catchable too. If the bite holds it's normal pattern, I might just spend the night on swim, january is one of the best times of the year for those 10-14 pound piggie's on swim, never know.
Eyez
TBO/MN
11-30-2001, 11:48 AM
Are you South Dakota fisherpersons guiding this outing? I would like to attend but have no idea about most of the water you are discussing. I have fished Big Stone many, many times and know it rather well, but the other places are new to me. I would like to attend, and have most weekends free. I didn't vote because I would have to vote for Big Stone, because I know it, but I love fishing new water(ice). When it all comes together, let me know where, when, and how much, and my partner and I will attend.
Good Fishin'
TBO/MN
Any information that I have will be freely available to the whole group. I fish most of these lakes quite frequently, and some of them I know better than my wife. I'll be working my information sources pretty hard for info that week before, and I plan on fishing quite a bit in the weeks before. I won't bait your hook TBO :) , but I'll do whatever else I can to put us on fish, and I think the other guys that know these lakes will too.
Eyez
eyewinder
11-30-2001, 01:08 PM
I voted for Waubay, but Watertown (for all of the reasons listed) would be fine. There are quite a few affordable motels in the Waubay/Webster area, too.
January would also be fine. The sooner that dates are set, the better my chances of "calendar-ing" it.
I've had the pleasure of fishing with Eyez (my advice: stay close to him, 'cause he's on a first-name basis with most of the " 'eyes" in his part of the world), and am looking forward to meeting others.
It will only be fun, however, if I take home possession limits of everything (just kiddin' folks!). ;-) ;-)
From previous discussions (on other message boards), I believe that it's required that polish sausages and other methane-producing goodies be consumed during such an outing -- I'll put back several packages of this year's "deer dogs" for the occasion.
Hey Eyez, if we keep this weather going, how soon 'til some of these lakes are drivable? Couple weeks?
I'm getting anxious for some ice fishing in your neck of the woods! Suffering from fishing withdrawal!
TBO/MN
11-30-2001, 02:07 PM
I guess if I have to bait my own hook, I will have to pass on this outing.
Good Fishin'
TBO/MN
ok, but just the minnows, I don't like the wax worms, they feel icky.... :)
Eyez
well, I walked on Pelican a bit yesterday, just right along the shore. Tomorrow morning I'm gonna get my waders and spud bar and check the ice around the shore on Pelican, see if I can find out how thick it is. I would bet that by monday, you'll see the first people fishing. I think they've been pretty much ice covered since wednesday. Drivable is a tough call, Probably 3 weeks, 2 if we're lucky, so long as we don't get back much above mid 30's for highs.
Eyez
Well, looking at the weather forecast, it could be a couple weeks. Nothing better than ice fishing before New Year's day!
Pitts
11-30-2001, 04:35 PM
Hey guys lets quit talking and set this up how about the 5th and 6th of Jan. or the weekend after that.
Eyes throw me some motel hotel names that are good or if you know a resort that has cabins throw them out there and I will call on a group rate for looks like 15 to 20 people.
Sound Good!!!!
Pitts
TBO/MN
11-30-2001, 05:41 PM
Skis,
Only one thing better than ice fishing before New Years, boat fishing. Tomorrow at sun up, slammin' those "eye" lips (sauger too).
The mighty Mississipp' awaits this lonely boatman with rewards of a bounty of fillets (actually I kiss them on the head and put them back).
Good Fishin'
TBO/MN
rickn
11-30-2001, 08:58 PM
I voted for waubay, because it's close to watertown, but thompson area is fine, too. I have fished there several times. get some dates, and I will be there with my bro-in-law. Rick
Jig Master
11-30-2001, 09:04 PM
Set the date and I'll be there.
instigator
12-01-2001, 04:14 AM
itchin for ice im off and coming from pa i would love to fish it ice is great not aklot here whereverit ends up im inallthe way from pa if someone helps me out a lil
Pelican had 3-4 inches on it today, and there were several guys fishing, but not catching anything. I'm going to check out mankey's tomorrow, and I'll post for anyone that's interested.
Eyez
You are correct! However, boat is winterized and away. So now, I need ice!