KWAT’s Outdoor Report for week of October 25, 2021
Aberdeen Area
Fishing Report
Richmond Lake: Anglers have been catching perch, crappie, and walleye. The perch bite has been good throughout the day. Anglers that have been jigging with minnows have had the best luck.
Elm Lake: Anglers have been catching walleye, northern pike, crappie, and perch. Anglers fishing from boats and pulling spinners with live bait have had the best luck. The south boat dock and handicap fishing pier have been pulled. The water level is too low to use these docks.
Mina Lake: Anglers have been catching perch and walleye.
Hunting Report
Waterfowl Season: Hunters have been having a successful waterfowl season so far, with plenty of local birds in the area. Scouting has been the key to success. A good push of white fronted geese has come into the area these past few weeks, swans are starting to appear more as well.
Pheasant Season: It was a wet and windy weekend for hunters, most birds were wild and hard to get close to; the best success was seen in grassy areas and food plots.
Deer Season: Hunters are seeing more deer activity as the season progresses.
Clark County
Fishing Report
Dry 1: The walleye bite is fair from the road grade, but it just depends on the day.
Dry 2: The perch and walleye bite are good.
Indian Springs: Page 21 in the fishing handbook. Read regulations and closed areas.
Reid: Closed to Boats.
Swan: No Activity.
Hunting Report
Waterfowl Season: Waterfowl numbers seem a bit low at this point and time. The fields still have corn standing and hunters are just waiting on the bird migration.
Pheasant Season: Corn harvest has begun, which in turn is making the pheasants more visible to hunters.
Codington County
Fishing Report
Goose: Fishermen are primarily catching walleye from the boat, as the weeds make shore fishing difficult. The walleye continues to be 14 to 16 inches, with a few over 20 inches being caught as well.
Kampeska: Little fishing pressure.
Pelican Lake: Little fishing pressure.
Blythe Slough: Little fishing pressure.
Long Lake: Little fishing pressure.
Dry Lake: Little fishing pressure.
Hunting Report
Deer Season: We are in the starting stages of the rut. Bucks are starting to respond to calls and decoys. Also starting to see some daylight movement out of the bucks.
Waterfowl Season: The goose migration as of now is slow, but with cooler temperatures hunters are starting to see more ducks move into the area.
Pheasant Season: Delayed corn harvest is making hunting difficult. Hunters are waiting until the last 2 hours of the day. Hunting cover close to standing corn has been the best.
Day County
Fishing Report
Waubay: Fair to good walleye bite.
Bitter: Anglers are reporting good success catching lots of small walleye with the occasional keeper walleye.
Rush: Still a decent walleye bite from the shore and boats.
Hunting Report
Deer Season: Deer numbers seem to be good with hunters starting to harvest a few bucks and does.
Waterfowl Season: A good amount of waterfowl numbers can be seen throughout the county.
Pheasant Season: Hunters seem to have done the best by walking the sloughs, wetlands, and harvested crops.
Hamlin County
Fishing Report
Lake Poinsett: Fishing remains steady. The cooler rainy weather has slowed fishing pressure. Anglers who are having success are catching a mixed bag of walleye and perch.
Three Buck: Fishing pressure has significantly decreased with the cooler temperatures. A few walleyes are still being caught.
Lake Albert: An occasional walleye is being caught, little to no fishing pressure.
Clear Lake: Fishing has been slow. A few small walleyes are being caught.
Hunting Report
Waterfowl Season: New birds are migrating daily with the cool temperatures. A good push of Canada geese and white fronted geese have been seen throughout the week. Expect birds to continue moving in with the cooler temperatures in the extended forecast. Throughout the county an ample number of ducks can be found.
Deer Season: Deer have been up and moving around in the early morning colder weather. As harvest continues, deer are being pushed out of the fields, the rut season has started for many deer.
Pheasant Season: Hunting pressure has remained steady; given the cold and rainy days hunting has had some challenges. Hunters’ best success has been more towards the evening hours walking the grassland areas.
Marshall County
Fishing Report
South Buffalo Lake: Anglers found a few blue gill, crappie, walleye, and northern pike.
North Buffalo Lake: Little to no activity.
Piyas Lake: Fair walleye bite. Anglers are getting a few perch as well.
Opitz Lake: Good on the walleye bite with a few perch mixed in.
Cattail / Kettle Lake: Little to no activity.
Clear Lake: Good bass bite.
Roy Lake: Little to no activity.
Hunting Report
Waterfowl Season: Goose hunters have had luck in finding birds, no real pattern of geese, due to new fields being harvested daily. A small push of geese moved into the area the last week. Duck hunters struggled a bit trying to find ducks – most are on the big water right now.
Deer Season: Hunters are finding the movement has increased due to the cooler temperatures, and the buck deer are starting to chase the doe in rut.
Pheasant Season: Hunters really struggling to find pheasants this past weekend possibly due to crops in the field, and a lot of the CRP has been hayed.
Parks Report
Pelican Lake Recreation Area: The 3D targets are now up at the archery course! These are a different option to shoot and help get ready for this fall’s adventures! A park entrance license is required to shoot the archery range and course. These can be purchased at our new self-service kiosks at the entrance booth.
Hartford Beach State Park: Don’t forget to get ready for this fall’s hunting seasons at our new archery range and course! The range offers targets from 10 to 50 yards to get bows sighted in. We also have wood targets set up for anyone that wants to try axe throwing. The 28-target walking course winds through some of the parks wooded areas for different challenging shots. Hartford Beach also has miles of scenic trails, a disc golf course, and great picnic spots in the beach area!
Oakwood Lakes State Park: Mortimer’s Monstrous Halloween Event:
Saturday, October 30th from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM. There will be
Scavenger Hunt Face Painting Hayride
Campfire Games Coloring Corner
Come and Trick or Treat, this event is FREE to all participants. A Park Entrance License is required for all vehicles. Park license will be available for purchase at the State Park Welcome Center.
Roy Lake: Rental suites sleeping 4 to 10 people are available at Roy Lake State Park all winter. From November 1st through March 30th, the suites are 25% off the regular price. A suite that sleeps four people is available for $90 per night plus tax and a suite that sleeps up to 10 people is available for $131.25 plus tax through the winter. Go online at www.campsd.com or call 1-800-710-2267 to take advantage of these prices.
