SE SD Ice Fishing

[FrozenFisherman]

Hey everyone!  This is my first stop at Iceschanty.com.  Its great!  Im pretty new to ice fishing and am looking for any help on places to fish and what to use around the Vermillion/Yankton area. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!  Happy Fishin! Thanks

[majormaj]

Welcome to the forum FF.  I live in SF now but lived in Vermillion for many years.  First of all the ice doesn;t seem to usually be that great down there.  This year seems to be an exception to the last few years.  I have fished ice on Lewis and Clark, the marina by the dam, Lake Yankton, Marindahl (south of Irene), otherwise I would have to drive north a ways to fish Brandt, Madison, Thompson, ect.  Sometimes you can catch walleyes on Lewis and Clark, crappies and bass in the marina, crappies, bass, perch in Lake Yankton, bluegills and crappies in Marindahl.  Starting out I would head to Lake Yankton or Marindahl for panfish with some waxworm, maggots, or small minnows. PM me if you have any other specific questions, I'll be glad to help. 

[FrozenFisherman]

Thanks majormaj! Fished at Marindahl on tuesday.  Not sure where on the lake to fish though.  It seems really deep.  Might try Lake Yankton this weekend.

[Mr.Seaguar]

Marindahl is the one west of Irene right? At the public ramp on the south you walk north past 2 points that stick out a ways and start fishing. Or you park further north and walk down a big hill. It is a deep lake. The fishing isnt that great, imho. But if you have vexilar you wont get skunked. Burbank is another that I hear has had good fishing in the past. Best idea, find some other guys and pool your efforts($) and drive well north of Sioux Falls. If you have buddies, its a lot of fun. For a registered jackass, it gets expensive for me at times. Good Luck.

[FrozenFisherman]

I was also told by a local guy to go to Swan Lake by Viborg.  I read some info on it and it says that the lake only gets to about 6ft deep at the deepest point.  Is it even worth it at that shallow of a lake or if there are even gonna be decent fishing.  Anyone ever fished there?

[majormaj]

Hey FF, I forgot to tell you that I have heard of some keeper bluegills being caught on Lake Henry just east of Scotland.  That was last weekend, so I don't know if they're still biting.  I might head out there this weekend.  We'll see what the weather does.

[rezrunner]

FF,

 I have been fishing Lake Yankton a few times and it is hit and miss on crappie and gills getting a vex tomooorrow and hoping to change that this week-end . I do know of some spots that should be getting better If you want more info  e-mail me at [email protected]