How to Catch Walleye in South Dakota

Walleye fishing is some of the best fishing you'll find anywhere in the nation. The mouth-watering flaky white flesh draws anglers to this species. They can't wait to reel in a mess of walleye so they can enjoy a delicious meal. They are also a challenge to catch which gets the attention of any angler that's looking for some excitement. This species seems to have all the features that both the experienced and the greenhorn anglers search for in a fish.

It's for these reasons that the walleye gets lots of attention from anglers all over the nation and South Dakota is no exception. This species can survive in waters that are fairly warm but they do prefer the cold water. They grow and thrive much better in a colder environment, which may be one of the reasons they do so well in this state. They also prefer lakes that have a rocky, gravel or sandy floor. The walleye will eat most anything that it can catch (as long as it fits in their mouth) but they prefer other small fish. They will also eat insects, crustaceans and worms.

Where to Find the Walleye in South Dakota

If you're checking out the fishing opportunities in South Dakota, then you need an idea of where to get started. Fortunately, there are many lakes in South Dakota that is the prefect environment for this species. Below is a list of the lakes and reservoirs where you can easily find the famous walleye.

Lakes and reservoirs in South Dakota:

Clark Lake
Angostura Reservoir
Lake Oahe
Bitter Lake
Big Stone Lake
Lake Whitewood
Shadehill Reservoir
Lake Traverse
Lake Kampeska
Lake Madison
Lewis and Clark Lake
Waubay Lake
Lake Albert
Belle Fourche Reservoir
Lake Thompson

These are some of the most well-known places to go walleye fishing in South Dakota but you are not limited to only fishing these waters. Most likely, you could find a great place to go fishing for the walleye no matter where you're located in this state. Take a little time to visit the local bait shops to see what information they have to share. You can also talk to friends and neighbors to see where they like to go walleye fishing. This is a great way to find locations that you may never have known about if you didn't ask around.

Walleye Fishing Tips

With so many different places to go fishing for the walleye in South Dakota, it should be easy to reel in a nice catch most anytime you go out on the water. However, it never hurts to have a few tips that could help to increase your odds of catching and reeling them in. You can usually always find a group of walleye in any area where there is plenty of baitfish available. So, if you see the baitfish, that's a good indication that you've found a good fishing spot.