Center Lake Fishing near Custer, South Dakota

• Overview

  The Custer County entry here is Center Lake, in South Dakota. The ground round it is rolling bush. It sits higher than most water we list in South Dakota. For a base, Custer sits 9.4 miles out. For a city, Fort Collins is 238 miles off. In the same area: Lakota Lake sits 3.5 miles out, Legion Lake at 3.6 miles, Bismark Lake sits 5.2 miles out, Stockade Lake at 5.5 miles and Horse Thief Lake sits 7.1 miles out. The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Center Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Open biodiversity records for Custer County list rainbow trout, brook trout and bluegill. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. On Center Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 67°F on average, January about 24°F. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about early April. From about early April to around early December, expect open water on the long-run figures. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Center Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Overnight stays are possible half a mile away. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Lakota Lake sits 3.5 miles off and takes the overflow. Rules at Center Lake are worth checking on the day.