
South Dakota Fishing Report – August 12, 2026 – video
The number of good walleyes being caught has definitely decreased because of the heat, but hopefully, expected cooler temps will improve the bite.

The number of good walleyes being caught has definitely decreased because of the heat, but hopefully, expected cooler temps will improve the bite.

The crappies are starting to show themselves in the usual spots.

Don’t get caught out in the cold this spring.

Warmer days are ahead for the weekend and that should definitely turn on the bite across the area.

How the main sheet of ice is holding up coming into the month of April and what the open-water progress is looking like.

For coho salmon fishing in early spring, try this simple style of trolling that involves minimal gear and expertise.

The weather continued to be less than spring-like this past week with snow, cold, and wind. But Mother Nature is starting to show signs of warming up.

The river spawning runs of walleyes on the Maumee and Sandusky rivers is in full swing and the reef jig bite on the Western Basin of Lake Erie is starting to pick up.

Like with the weather, it’s been a roller-coaster ride on state fisheries. But there are fish to be had, with steelhead fishing good up and down the state.

Pretty much all of the lakes in eastern South Dakota are ice-free. As for the bite …
Sign up for the Outdoor News Weekly Newsletter and get 2 months of FREE access to OutdoorNews.com – packed with hunting, fishing, and conservation news. No Catch.
This offer includes digital access only (not the printed edition)
We’ve simplified things. Now you only need one password to access all your Outdoor News digital content.
If you hit the help page, follow the directions so you don’t miss out on any of our great content.
Let’s get you reading!
We’ve simplified things. Now you only need one password to access all your Outdoor News digital content.
• Click Continue below.
• You’ll be taken to the OutdoorNews.com sign-in screen.
• Don’t have an account yet? Create one—it’s quick!
• After signing in, click the E-Edition Login button again. When the pop-up appears, just click Continue. You’ll either:
If you hit the help page, follow the directions so you don’t miss out on any of our great content.
We know you love the outdoors—now we want to make OutdoorNews.com the ultimate destination for all things hunting, fishing, and conservation.
Take our brief 3 minute survey to share your thoughts, and help us build the best outdoor website on the planet. As a thank you, we’ll send you a special offer!
Together, we can make OutdoorNews.com even better.
For a limited time, you can get full access to breaking news, all original Outdoor News stories and updates from the entire Great Lakes Region and beyond, the most up-to-date fishing & hunting reports, lake maps, photo & video galleries, the latest gear, wild game cooking tips and recipes, fishing & hunting tips from pros and experts, bonus web content and much, much more, all on your smartphone, tablet or desktop For just a buck per month!
Some restrictions apply. Not valid with other promotions. $1 per month for 6 months (you will be billed $6) and then your subscription will renew at standard subscription rates. For more information see Terms and Conditions. This offer only applies to OutdoorNews.com and not for any Outdoor News print subscriptions. Offer valid thru 3/31/23.
Already a subscriber to OutdoorNews.com? Click here to login.