Powell Lake Fishing near Gordon, South Dakota

• Overview

  The Oglala Lakota County entry here is Powell Lake, in South Dakota. Elevation runs to 3,484 feet. It measures about 58 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. By elevation it is in the upper part of our South Dakota listings. Head to Gordon, 14 miles away, for anything you forgot. After that come Porcupine at 21 miles and Martin at 22 miles. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Powell Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. County-wide records name brown trout and smallmouth bass. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. At Powell Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 72°F and January near 22°F. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. The lid usually goes in late March, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Ice usually gives way near late March, and forms again about early December. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Powell Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. For a change of water, Hoover Lake is 1.4 miles distant. For Powell Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.