Fishing Whitestone Lake in Roberts County, South Dakota

• Overview

  Set in Roberts County, Whitestone Lake is a South Dakota water. The surface lies 2,005 feet up. The water covers some 214 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. With about 2.5 miles of edge, you can try several depths in one session. For supplies, Sisseton is 7.6 miles out. For a city, Fargo is 88 miles off. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Whitestone Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Across Roberts County, recorded fish include common carp, northern pike, walleye, yellow perch and freshwater drum. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. On Whitestone Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 9°F in January up to 71°F in July. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. The lid usually goes in mid April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Expect the water usable from around mid April until roughly late November. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. Plan around that when you fish Whitestone Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Greys Lake sits 6.2 miles off and takes the overflow. Check the current arrangement for Whitestone Lake.