Lake Nicholson Fishing near Watertown, South Dakota

• Overview

  The Codington County entry here is Lake Nicholson, in South Dakota. It lies 1,709 feet above sea level. At some 947 acres it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. Some 7.6 miles of bank gives room to move when the wind turns. Watertown sits 15 miles from here and is the nearest stop. The big place round here is Sioux Falls, 107 miles distant. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Lake Nicholson

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Codington County records list Iowa darter, green sunfish, white sucker and northern pike among the fish reported. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. On Lake Nicholson the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 71°F and January reads 11°F. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about early April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around early April and starts locking again about late November. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Lake Nicholson fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Public data shows nothing built here, so treat the whole approach as informal. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Cooley Lake sits 1.9 miles off and takes the overflow. For Lake Nicholson in particular, ask before you travel.