How was your open water year?

[Greenhorn]

How would you say your open water season went? Any goals reached? New ways to fish?

While not getting out as much as I had hoped (but can you really ever fish as much as you wish?), I’d say it was still a great season. My dad got a new 20ft alumacraft last winter so a big goal was building confidence with that and its electronics (upgraded from a 16’ 40hp boat) and I’d say we did, still more to learn though. We hit the Missouri river a few times this spring, devils lake, metigoshe, and the river again this fall.
I had a goal to catch a notorious dirty-30” walleye (my previous PB was only 26.5”, so it was pretty far-fetched) but I ended up getting a 30.5” in mid May on the river. It was super surprising to get one that big near town with eggs in it still. Definitely the highlight of the fishing year.
A couple smaller trips around the state were fun as well. Surprisingly never hit Sak this year.

Another highlight of the year was getting my 2.5 year old daughter out on the boat and getting her to enjoy time on the water. She liked holding the minnows and crawlers and helping me throw the fish back.

So how was the bite for you?

 

[LBrandt]

Spent most of my time on a radiation table or sick from it. LB

 

[Rowdie]

Not bad, but not great. Fall sucked as water levels were too low, and never got to Mobridge.

 

[Bossman]

Spring fishing was good, summer was above average, but fall really stunk for me. I also blew an axle on my boat trailer so that stunk as well. Falling in love with jiginraps more and more every year. The feeling of catching a fish on one of them is just tough to beat…

 

[riverview]

 

[riverview]

caught a couple big fish, had decent fishing all summer, then in sept thought i would go out and catch some walleye spent 2 days didn't catch a thing.

 

[Greenhorn]

Spring fishing was good, summer was above average, but fall really stunk for me. I also blew an axle on my boat trailer so that stunk as well. Falling in love with jiginraps more and more every year. The feeling of catching a fish on one of them is just tough to beat…

Probably my favorite way to fish as well!

 

[guywhofishes]

Worst in memory.

 

[CatDaddy]

Had a good season chasing LMB - biggest was 5.5 lbs, but many 4 lbs or bigger. I paired up with a new fishing partner who taught me a bunch of new techniques like wacky worm in weed pockets. Needless to say I wound up with a whole new set of tackle. A few other techniques were learned but none as deadly as the wacky.

 

[NDbowman]

Never went not even once. Had good intentions but never followed through.

 

[Fritz the Cat]

Only caught one.

 

[shorthairsrus]

Eye balls not enough fishing time. No biggens

LM. One of my best.

Next yr. Peck meet my bro , roosevelt 4 shear numbers, sak late june, oahe oct. Lacs trophy, rest time lm

 

[jake57]

Went out 7 times in 2 months, limited out every time this fall

 

[701FishSlayer]

Got out 1 time in May out in Newtown and wacked em before my back blew out. Now, Ile most likely never go in a boat again.

 

[honkerslayer]

I have a place on Douglas so mostly fish the eastern 1/3. Pre-spawn was fantastic with lots of big fish. Best was 31 1/2”. After spawn recovery they never really turned on this year. Fishing was mostly “just ok”. Caught plenty of fish, but they didn’t ever come easy. Fall fishing wasn’t good until late October then had a few great days.

Elsewhere, made a trip to NE SD in early October that was excellent and a fly fishing trip to Montana the following week that was stellar for nice sized trout.

 

[grumster]

Got into quite a few good bites this past summer on the slough lakes.
Taught my fishing partner how to fish these..

 

[SDMF]

Toughest summer I've ever had on Devils. I can't prove it, but, I think all the rain around the 4th of July caused "turnover". E DL went from crystal clear to "mossy everywhere" in <1wk. By "Mossy", I don't mean an algae bloom, but, nasty/grassy moss bits.

 

[Bacon]

Got into quite a few good bites this past summer on the slough lakes.
Taught my fishing partner how to fish these..

Did that work on walleye. I hammered the walleye one summer with red and white daredevil in a back water. Haven’t done it since but haven’t tried often either. My go to is jig and paddle tail.

 

[grumster]

Did that work on walleye. I hammered the walleye one summer with red and white daredevil in a back water. Haven’t done it since but haven’t tried often either. My go to is jig and paddle tail.

My fishing partner was giving me crap for fishing walleyes with spoons until I did.. couldn't keep the rod in the holder. I fish them 4' of a jet diver.

 

[ORCUS DEMENS]

Hit the lake twice. I had too much work to do on the house. Reaping the benefits now though.