Major Lake Fishing Guide, Pennington County, South Dakota

• Overview

  You will find Major Lake in Pennington County, South Dakota. Beyond the shoreline you have rolling bush. It covers about 5 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Most waters listed here for Pennington County are larger. Custer sits 12 miles from the bank. It is 244 miles to Fort Collins, the nearest city. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Major Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Species logged across Pennington County include brook trout, brown trout, rainbow trout, white sucker and rock bass. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Major Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 66°F and January near 24°F on the long-run figures. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Ice is part of the season here, ending near early April. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about early April until roughly early December. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. At Major Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. There is somewhere to leave the car, half a mile off. Facilities include toilets around half a mile from here. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Failing this one, try Horse Thief Lake, 5.3 miles away. The position on Major Lake is worth confirming on the day.