Mallard Slough near Britton: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Set in Marshall County, South Dakota, this is Mallard Slough. Everything around it is mixed forest. Surface area runs to roughly 708 acres, so plan for one area rather than the whole. On our Marshall County list it sits near the top for size. Britton is the closest place, 13 miles off. Fargo sits 91 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Mallard Slough

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Reported across Marshall County: bluegill, common carp, northern pike and smallmouth bass. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Mallard Slough responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 71°F, the coldest about 9°F. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around mid April. The open-water window runs from around mid April to about late November in an average year. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Plan any trip to Mallard Slough around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Twomile Lake at 1 mile is the sensible second choice. Confirm access to Mallard Slough locally before you travel.