Gross Lake Fishing in McCook County, South Dakota

• Overview

  In South Dakota, Gross Lake belongs to McCook County. The bank is 1,424 feet above sea level. The water covers some 80 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. With about 1.5 miles of edge, you can try several depths in one session. It is a small entry by McCook County standards. Start from Salem, 6.8 miles down the road. Sioux Falls is the closest city, 40 miles away. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Gross Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Records held for McCook County cover black bullhead, green sunfish, orangespotted sunfish, rudd and bighead carp. The county list is broader than any single water. The shape of Gross Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 74°F and January reads 14°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Once it clears, about early April, the fishing comes on quickly. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about early April until roughly early December. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Expect Gross Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. For the catfish, fish bottom baits into the deeper holes and let them sit. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. If the gate is shut, Lehrman Slough at 3.9 miles is the nearest alternative. None of that is settled for Gross Lake in what we hold.