Big Stone Lake
Walleye Fishing Guide
Big Stone Lake — the MN/SD border walleye and smallmouth fishery, 12,610 acres of shallow wind-driven water. Average 9 ft, max 16. Wind dictates everything.
Part of the South Dakota walleye guide region · See also all walleye states
Species Present
- Walleye
- Smallmouth
- Perch
- Northern Pike
Lake Layout & Key Structure
Highway 12 bridge, Hartford Beach State Park reefs, Whetstone River inlet are the year-round producers. Shallow lake = wind day = spinners + crawlers on the windward shore.
Money spots: Highway 12 bridge area, Hartford Beach State Park reefs, Whetstone River inlet, Big Stone City flats
Seasonal Walleye Tactics
May walleyes 6-14 ft on shoreline rock + warming bays, jig + minnow.
Walleyes 12-20 ft on main-lake reefs + rock-mud transitions, jig + crawler or spinner. Smallmouth on shoreline rock 6-12 ft, tubes. Perch on mud flats.
Fall walleyes on deep mud 18-26 ft, live-bait rig.
Walleyes on reef edges 14-22 ft. Tip-ups + shiners.
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