anyone have any experience staying at either the Lode Star or Golden Buffalo motels near ft thompson? will be fishing in this area in the spring and would rather not drive in from chamberlain or pierre. thank you for any help in advance.

Stay at the marina just below the dam at the State park. Good place. You have boat launch, bait shop, bar, restaurant and grocery store all right there. Get one of the newer units or you will not be happy.

The casino is closed at Ft. Thompson the last time I was there. Do you want to fish above or below the dam? If you are fishing below the dam, Chamberlain may still be your best option, as the Lone Star is not all that close either.

I was speaking of the Oahe Dam. Sorry

thanks for the advice - we will be fishing above in the West Bend / North Bend area - not many loging choices that I know of.

Even if there was a place to stay in Ft. Thompson I would still stay in Chamberlain. We fish the West Bend area all the time and you are looking at a 30 mile drive from Chamberlain to the North Shore ramp.

I agree stay in Chamberlain & make the 30 minute drive. As far as the Lode Star being closed they were open Christmas Eve when I was bye there. Another option if you are fishing the West Bend area for a few day's would be to stay in Pierre, then you could just launch out of West Bend. It's about the same drive as Chamberlain to north shore would be. As far as places to stay in Pierre you have plenty, just look in the yellow pages.

Ironguts