Amsden Lake near Groton: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  In South Dakota, Amsden Lake belongs to Day County. The bank gives way to rolling bush. Roughly 208 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. Most waters listed here for Day County are larger. Start from Groton, 8.9 miles down the road. Webster follows at 22 miles, then Aberdeen at 26 miles. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Amsden Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Open biodiversity records for Day County list common carp, black bullhead, green sunfish, Iowa darter and bluegill. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Amsden Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 72°F, while January sits near 11°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from early April. Averages place the thaw at early April and the freeze at late November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Plan any trip to Amsden Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Look for a notice board at the entrance. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. If the gate is shut, Pierpont Lake at 9.8 miles is the nearest alternative. Where Amsden Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.