Fishing Rush Lake in Deuel County, South Dakota

• Overview

  Deuel County in South Dakota is where Rush Lake sits. The setting is mixed forest on every side. The water covers some 133 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Around 2.8 miles of margin, front to back. Clear Lake is the closest town at 6.4 miles. Beyond it, Canby at 18 miles and Madison at 24 miles. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Rush Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Across Deuel County, recorded fish include white sucker, Iowa darter and johnny darter. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Rush Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 11°F and July at about 71°F, the water has a wide range to work through. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from early April. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about early April until roughly late November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Rush Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Rush Lake GPA runs up to the bank here, which usually means extra restrictions. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Lone Tree Lake, 3.7 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. For Rush Lake in particular, ask before you travel.