McIntosh Lake Fishing Guide, Corson County, South Dakota

• Overview

  McIntosh Lake is one of the Corson County listings for South Dakota. The surface lies 2,257 feet up. Around 45 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. There is little indentation to the bank, so wind hits most of it the same way. The nearest town is Lemmon, 39 miles away. Mobridge follows at 51 miles, then Linton at 58 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on McIntosh Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Records held for Corson County cover northern pike. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. McIntosh Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 72°F in July and bottoms out near 13°F in January. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Ice-out usually falls in early April, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Open water usually runs from early April until about late November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. At McIntosh Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. A wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Should this one be busy, Morristown East Lake is 14 miles off. Where McIntosh Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.