Waubay S.D.

[Tim/Iowa]

I have been reading the articles about fishing at Waubay. I am going there Wednesday and now I'm having second thoughts. If I decide to go I hope I don't run into one of those ______ that doesn't like me spending money in their state. I would hate to think about treating someone (out of stater) in any other way then how I would like to be treated myself. When I go out of state to fish, I'm not braging but I do bring a pocket full of money which they always smile when someone get some. Another point, is if you see someone breaking the law use the TIP program, in state or out of staters. My brotherinlaw was there last year and was camping, they went out that morning and caught their limit, come in and cleaned their fish. That afternoon they went out and fished some more and did not keep any. When they pulled out of the water there was the officials, striped their boat and truck. The officials were pleasent and said they were sorry for the inconvience but they had a job to do. I guess if we go by the law we don't have anything to worry about, do we

[Don..SD]

Tim, you can't eat the fish out of that lake so why go.??? Head out to the Missouri river, try lake Sharp or Chamberlain good fishing, Don

[Eyez]

Since When can't you eat the fish out of Waubay?

Eyez

[Don..SD]

OK, what are they saying you should limit your intake to one fish per weak ( I believe) due to the contamination.

[Eyez]

Waubay Lake is fine. There's no problem there. I think you're thinking of Bitter lake, just south of Waubay. The mercury level in Bitter lake is right at the level where an advisory is declared. You can still eat them, just not very many. From what I've read, the high mercury level was caused by the fast rise in the lake level. All the decomposing organic material (plants, trees, etc) caused it to spike. They say that it will slowly go down, and that it's not uncommon when a puddle becomes a lake overnight. I'm looking forward to the tremendous trophy fishery that Bitter may turn into. A lake where noone keeps hardly any walleyes or Pike.... That'll be fun in a few years when they grow. :)


Eyez

[Don..SD]

Thanks for the up date. I'm not sure where I got my lines crossed. I heard about Bitter then I thought they added Waubay. I have only fished there once, what a lake, never knew how big it was until that day. Thanks for your help HAVE A GREAT DAY. !!!!!

[Tim/Iowa]

I tried lake Sharp last year, nice place but too much driving to get to the fish. besides I like it on a lake. I also read where there is a mercury waning but Lake Waubay was OK Be there in a couple of days, cann't wait

[SDBear]

I remember seeing something about a "higher than safe" level of mercury in Waubay announced on KELO TV about 4 weeks ago... I could be wrong.

[Don..SD]

Thats what I thought.

[SdDoc]

I do believe imho that limiting out in the morning then going back out to fish if you are targeting walleyes is illegal. You have your limit for the day! Even c+r, that fish is in your possesion, hence you are over your daily limit.