Fishing Report For Waubay Lake, SD

Current Report: Good To Very Good

This lake is loaded with big walleye. They grow fast and run in big wolf packs looking for food. Early Spring and again in Fall are the best season for catching walleye. Currently the water temperature is in the mid 50's, and walleye have mostly completed their spawn. They are prowling the shallows in search of something to eat, especially in rocky areas. This Winter, fishing for walleye was quite good through the ice. As the ice started melting, anglers are finding walleye in the shallows. They spawned once the water warmed to the mid 40's, and have moves to shallow points, flats, shoals and ledges just off shore. Bright colored jigs, tipped with minnows or nightcrawlers are catching them in 7 to 15 feet of water. Spinnerbaits, jerkbaits and crankbaits are also working if they are up shallow. Throughout Summer, early in the morning and from dusk to long after dark are good times to catch them, as they move shallow to feed. They primarily feed on yellow perch, gizzard shad and other small fish, close to the bottom. Blade baits, jigs, swimbaits, spoons, deep-diving crankbaits, and worm harness spinners are all working while trolling.

Current Report: Good To Very Good

With water temperatures approaching the 60's, smallies are beginning the spawning rituals, with most in the pre-spawn stage. Anglers are finding bass just outside spawning pockets and bays, on rocky points and drop-offs. Mid-range crankbaits, jerkbaits, worms, Ned rigs and tube baits are catching plenty of fish. The average fish is around 1.5 pound, but plenty of 2 to 3 pound smallies are being caught. Smallmouth fishing here is often good on cold, windy, cloudy and rainy days. After the spawn, look for these smallmouth to get aggressive and feed heavily. Early and late in the day topwater can be effective throughout the Summer months.

Current Report: Good To Very Good

The Spring fishing for white bass here was quite good, especially toward the backs of pockets and creek channels. White bass are making their spawn run now that the water temperature is in the mid 50's. They will migrate to the backs of coves, or into the river, for several weeks. Just outside Hillebrands Lake, Swan Pond and Spring Lake are good places to look. This is a prime time to fill the livewells with some fat white bass. Swimbaits, curly-tail jigs, underspins, small crankbaits, small jerkbaits, and most any lure that looks like baitfish are catching plenty of fish. Once the water temperatures warm, they will move out toward the main lake, to deeper water. Look for them to follow schools baitfish in 15 to 25 feet deep. Watch for feeding frenzies if they chase schools of bait to the surface. Virtually any lure in your tackle box that resembles shad, will catch white bass. During Summer, Fall and Winter the white bass migrate back to the main lake areas following baitfish.