Blank Dam, South Dakota: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Blank Dam lies within the bounds of Edmunds County, South Dakota. It lies 1,555 feet above sea level. The water measures roughly 17 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. For a base, Aberdeen sits 29 miles out. Fargo sits 150 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Blank Dam

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Survey and observation records for Edmunds County include bluegill, walleye, yellow perch and northern pike. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. On Blank Dam a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 72°F, with January the cold end at about 11°F. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Count the season from break-up, usually early April. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about early April until roughly late November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. At Blank Dam the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Should this one be busy, Stafford Dam is 10 miles off. Check the position on Blank Dam before loading the car.