Johnson Lake Fishing near Volga, South Dakota

• Overview

  Johnson Lake stands in Brookings County, South Dakota. It stands 1,624 feet above sea level. The closest town, Volga, is 9.7 miles distant. Brookings is 14 miles away, with Clear Lake at 26 miles. Near neighbours include: Mortimer Slough roughly 0.6 miles, Round Lake out at 1.4 miles, Moe Slough roughly 1.9 miles, Lake Oakwood out at 2.1 miles and Lake Thisted roughly 7.3 miles. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Johnson Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Records held for Brookings County cover common carp, black bullhead, green sunfish and channel catfish. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. At Johnson Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 12°F in January to roughly 72°F in July. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. Break-up comes around early April, and the run that follows is short and strong. From about early April to around late November, expect open water on the long-run figures. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. That shapes the year on Johnson Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. Parking sits half a mile out, which makes for a walk with tackle. There is a jetty half a mile off, worth knowing on a busy day. Mapping records toilets within half a mile. The water borders Oakwood Lakes State Park, so reserve rules are likely to apply. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. The nearest alternative is Mortimer Slough, 0.6 miles out. None of that is settled for Johnson Lake in what we hold.