KWAT’s Outdoors Report for week of October 19, 2020
Aberdeen Area
Fishing Report
Richmond: Anglers are catching perch, walleye, and white bass. The perch and walleye bite is better in the evenings.
Elm: Anglers have been catching a walleye, perch, and crappie. Most of the anglers have been fishing from boats on the south end of the lake.
James and Elm Rivers: The water levels have dropped significantly. Anglers are catching catfish and northern pike.
Hunting Report
Waterfowl: Hunters that are field hunting had the best success harvesting geese and mallards over the weekend. Hunters hunting over water are shooting a mixed bag of ducks. In NE part of the county there are swans, snow geese, and white fronted geese that have recently migrated into the area. Scouting is the key to success for this season.
Pheasants: Hunting was hard over the weekend due to the wind. Hunters saw good numbers of birds.
Deer: I am starting to see some pre-rut activity. With the colder weather the deer are on the move.
Clark County
Fishing Report
With the cold push in weather fishing activity has decreased in the Clark area. Some still fishing and producing a few walleyes and perch.
Hunting Report
Waterfowl: So far, the majority of waterfowl have not arrived as of last weekend. Starting to see a few more geese, but duck numbers are still low.
Pheasant: The season started this past weekend at 10am. A few birds were seen. Increased road hunter traffic was seen this year with its share of issues. Please read up on the road hunting rules and regulations to familiarize yourself with how to properly do so.
Codington County
Fishing Report
Goose: Boat fishermen are still catching a few walleyes, most of which continue to be between 14 and 16 inches. A few perch are getting mixed in as well. The boat ramp in the NW corner has been repaired and is functional and the drive approach leading into the ramp is complete as well.
Kampeska: Fishermen continue to catch a mixed bag of fish from shore and by boat, including (northern pike, white bass, perch, crappie, bluegill and walleye.)
Pelican Lake: Little fishing activity.
Blythe Slough: Opened to boating on September 1st, with no motor restrictions.
Hunting Report
Geese: Seeing more geese in the harvested crop fields over the last weekend. Starting to see a little bit of a northern push.
Ducks: There seems to be a few more ducks around then we were seeing last week. Starting to see a little bit of a northern push.
Deer: Archery deer hunting is starting to pick up as the rut draws near and crops continue to get harvested.
Pheasant: Hunters averaged about 1 bird per hunter this past weekend.
Day County
Fishing Report
Due to the high water and safety hazard of a potential vehicle and pedestrian accident, the county is no longer allowing pedestrians on the Grenville grade, Day Co 1 north of Hwy 12 to 140th St., and Yellowstone trail from Main St. to Day Co 1. Also, if you are shore fishing make sure you are parked in a legal parking spot and it is not posted as no parking.
Waubay: Anglers are having off and on luck catching perch with an occasional walleye.
Bitter: Have not heard or seen much for fishing reports.
Antelope: Not seeing much for pressure, but anglers putting in the time are having good luck for walleye.
Hunting Report
Waterfowl: Saw a little push of birds. We have noticed really good numbers of gadwall and decent numbers of bufflehead and ring necks over the weekend.
Upland birds: Seeing good numbers throughout the county for pheasants. Noticing a few coveys of grouse in the northeast part of the county
Deer: Have heard reports of buck’s sparring and becoming more aggressive as rut approaches
Hamlin County
Fishing Report
Poinsett: With colder temps fishing pressure has slowed down.
Hunting Report
Deer: Colder temps and corn harvest beginning has got some deer moving in daylight hours. Now would be a great time to harvest does with apprentice/mentor tags or archery doe tags.
Ducks: Still a few ducks around, yet the numbers of hunters were low this past weekend.
Canada Geese: This past weekend there was less activity, but the opportunity still presents itself if one wanted to hunt these birds.
Pheasants: Weather conditions provided for poor hunting conditions. Hunting pressure was low over the weekend
Marshall County
Fishing Report
Opitz: Some limits of nice walleye being caught.
Roy: A few walleye and bass being caught.
Clear: Some panfish and bass being caught. The occasional walleye.
Hunting Report
Waterfowl: Good pockets of birds all over the county. The eastern portion of the county seems to be holding the highest numbers of birds. The cold front coming through late this week may bring in new birds.
Pheasant: Hunters have had decent success this focusing on grass fields next to harvested crops.
Deer: The deer are really moving in the mornings and evenings. I’m still seeing some bachelor groups of bucks. Rut should be right around the corner.
Park Report:
Pelican Lake Recreation Area:
Come on out to Pelican Lake Recreation Area during the month of October and take part in the self-guided activity “Creatures of the Night Hike and Seek”. Can you find what goes bump in the night? In this self-guided activity, we’re challenging you to find several nighttime creatures of South Dakota! Just hike the trails at participating state parks and Outdoor Campuses, keeping your eyes open for the informational signs and hidden nocturnal animal pictures along the way. Find them all and email us the secret code words to enter the prize drawing! You can find the full list of details by going to https://gfp.sd.gov/hike-and-seek/.
The dump station has been winterized due to freezing temperatures. That doesn’t mean camping season is over! The west campground comfort station will remain open a while longer for those of you looking to enjoy some fall fishing, hiking, and a cool campfire at night. Follow us on Facebook at Pelican Lake, Sandy Shore, and Lake Cochrane Recreation Area’s for more updates!
