Reid Lake Fishing near Clark, South Dakota

• Overview

  Set in Clark County, South Dakota, this is Reid Lake. It sits in rolling bush country. At 1,046 acres this is proper open water rather than a pond. At about 7.8 miles of edge, most people work one arm at a time. Of the waters listed here in Clark County, this is the largest. Clark lies 10 miles from the water. Further out sit Webster (24 miles) and Watertown (32 miles). One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Reid Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Clark County records list northern pike, walleye, black bullhead, common carp and largemouth bass among the fish reported. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. At Reid Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 10°F and July at about 72°F, the water has a wide range to work through. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough early April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around early April and starts locking again about late November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. On Reid Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Should this one be busy, Round Lake is 2.1 miles off. Rules at Reid Lake are worth checking on the day.