Ice Fishing SD

Hey guys,

I am exploring the option of hitting SD the last week of Dec 2016 for some jumbo perch and walleye action. Since this would be my first adventure west I was hoping to get some help.

I am curious if anyone has solid and reliable info for reasonable over nights in a wheel house or reasonable places of for lodging near the bitter Lake/Waubay area.

Thanks~

http://www.circlepines-motel.com

Me and my brother stayed here a few years ago while pheasant hunting. It seemed OK if you weren’t very demanding. You could back up right to your door.

several places,we have always stayed at Circle Pines in the open water season.

One of the IDO members is a guide and has lodging as well, heard it is very nice.
Ben Brettigen I’m terrible with names but something like that.

In Waubay Circle Pines Motel they have a fish cleaning house Also I think Lakeside Lodge Motel is open again.

Just outside Waubay is Bitter Lake Lodge
Address: 14307 446th Ave, Waubay, SD 57273
Phone: (605) 947-5005

http://waubaylakeguideservice.com/lodging_camping_and_information

Roy lake we stay at and hit most the lakes in the area and make it over to Webster area also.

There are a number of places you can stay. Getting a wheelhouse the last week of December may be questionable. We’ve finally gotten the temps to drop here, but we’ve had several days of high winds and some snow that’s not helping make good ice. We’ll see what the next few days bring including the snow that’s supposed to dump this weekend.

As far as places to stay, the SD Glacial Lakes website is a great place to start.

http://www.sdglaciallakes.com/lodging

If you looking for guides, these would be good choices.

Wild J’s Fishing Adventures – Joey Craft
http://www.wildjsfishingadventures.com/

Dakota Prairie Angling – Eric Brandriet
http://www.dpangling.com/ice-fishing.html

South Dakota Guided Fishing – Jarrod Fredericks
http://www.southdakotaguidedfishing.com/

Waubay Lake Guide Service – Cory Ewing
http://www.waubaylakeguideservice.com/

Thanks to all who have replied. I greatly appreciate the info. I will continue to reach out for ice conditions before I make the journey. I will also be sure to post my results and some pics if the trip is made.

Tony~

First ice tomorrow central South Dakota found 5 inches on public lake

Good luck emmitt! Be safe!

As far as the guides mentioned above in the Glacial Lakes area…I would definitely look up Marcus Quam with Reel Therapy Guide Service. Marcus has been fishing/guiding in that area for quite a few years.

Thanks again to all for the great information. I have booked my room and am just fine tuning some final details. SD here I come to pull up some football perch and eyes’.

I will post some pic’s as soon as I get home.

We’ll be up there the 20th-23rd of December. Probably fishing Waubay and it sounds like they are making ice at a record pace !!

I think trucks and wheel houses will probably be out based off the current temps and forecast.

I’ll be up there over new years’ weekend. Third year in a row, such an awesome area.

I just wanted to thank everyone for the input last month. My son and I had a pretty good time in Waubay despite the rain a crazy weather.

We did manage to get into a few average sized walleye on our first evening, but had some challenges finding any perch on day two. And we did work to find them we searched the main basin on the north end of the lake for a good portion of the day and the set our sights on walleye again as the late afternoon rolled in. We had some finicky follows, but no fish on the ice on night two. We did notice a couple of groups catching, but they were smaller fish.

All in all, a great experience and I would do it again! Maybe late winter bite will call me out?