Fishing at Morristown East Lake, Corson County, South Dakota

• Overview

  Morristown East Lake lies in Corson County, in South Dakota. Pine and birch runs right down to the water. The water covers some 100 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. A shoreline of some 2.3 miles keeps the choices simple. Supplies mean a trip to Lemmon, 25 miles off. The nearest city of size is Fargo, 240 miles away. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Morristown East Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Survey and observation records for Corson County include northern pike. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Treat Morristown East Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 72°F, the coldest about 13°F. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from early April. Break-up near early April, freeze-up near late November: that is the shape of an average year. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. At Morristown East Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. Pike mean a wire trace, no exceptions; big spoons and jerkbaits do the searching. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. If the gate is shut, Morristown Lake at 5.6 miles is the nearest alternative. Nothing here settles the position at Morristown East Lake for certain.