Brookings, SD – January 2020
5:17
Mike Tietjen is host of the “Wild Dakota Outdoor” television show and is founder of “Mike’s Minute,” a Facebook page that includes 60-second video tips about fishing, rigging, using AMSOIL products and more. Check out Wild Dakota’s Facebook page for more.
Water temperatures are below average, so the fish have moved from the shallows to out deep. The water temperature is currently in the mid– to low–40s but should start warming up throughout May. There are a lot of different areas you can catch fish this time of year like Lake Poinsett, Lake Sinai, Francis Case/Missouri River, Lake Henry, Lake Thompson and the Rainy River.
Lake Poinseet is full of walleyes, white bass, crappies and some large northern pike. You typically will find the best bite toward evening this time of year. Mike suggests using a jig and minnow. He recommends looking for shallow current areas but also sand flats on the south side.
Lake Sinani also has been producing a lot of walleyes in the shallows at dusk using either a jig and minnow or suspending crankbaits.
The Francis/Missouri River has a lot of walleyes that have been caught from the shallows to deep. You can either troll from them with crankbaits with lead core line in 20 feet of water or ⅛–oz. jigs with a minnow or plastic in shallow water.
Lake Henry has some decent–size northern pike. You can catch them in the shallows using either spoons, cranks or whatever you feel confident in throwing for them.
Lake Thompson is full of white bass, crappies and a few walleyes at the Oldham Grade on the south end. Michael recommends using a jig and bobber with crappie rigs. You can also find northern pike in the bays.
The Rainy River in International Falls, Minn., currently has giant sturgeon. Michael said he had a blast catching them up to 45-60 pounds. He recommends fishing near little fork and big fork and catching them in water temperatures from the mid–50s to 68°F. Michael was using a bunch of crawlers on a circle hook with a 4-oz. weight.
MIKE TIETJEN:
(605) 695-2705
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