Beaulieu Lake, South Dakota: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Beaulieu Lake is a Tripp County water, in South Dakota. The bank is 2,133 feet above sea level. Surface area runs to about 16 acres — small enough to read in one session. Supplies mean a trip to Winner, 5.2 miles off. It is 155 miles to Sioux Falls, the nearest city. No border sits close enough to matter. It suits a short session as much as a full day.

• Where to Fish on Beaulieu Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Fish documented in Tripp County include Iowa darter, green sunfish, largemouth bass and black bullhead. The county list is broader than any single water. Take Beaulieu Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 74°F and January at 20°F. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around late March. Open water usually runs from late March until about early December. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. Beaulieu Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. The nearest alternative is Roosevelt Lake, 12 miles out. Check the position on Beaulieu Lake before loading the car.