Question Fort Pierre National Grassland SD

swoab47 · 11-06-2009, 09:13 PM

I read about the Fort Pierre National Grassland in an ice fishing magazine a few years ago and it really looked like it would be a cool ice fishing destination. It is a 116,000 acre prairie south of Pierre SD. The public land is dotted with small stock ponds that are mainly used as watering holes for cattle that, for a fee ranchers are allowed to graze on. I was just wondering if any forum members heard of or have been there. Don't know if I will ever make the trip but thought it would be a lot of fun. If anyone wants a copy of the article just shoot me a pm with your address and I'll mail you a copy.
Thanks

Hooligan · 11-06-2009, 10:55 PM

Fished that area when I was in jr high and HS, and we did alright on some of the ponds, some are dead as...well...dead. It's a real crapshoot unless you have someone that knows the area well, and keeps tabs on it; even then sometimes you're liable to get a goose-egg because they can winterkill from one year to the next. There are a few there there we nailed the big gills on; that's actually where I caught my first 2lb gill. We would catch a couple legit 2lb fish a year there, with many 1+.
That said, I've not been there in more than 15 years, so updated information should probably be sought before making the trip.

Laramie · 11-09-2009, 04:27 PM

Back in college I was a wildlife and range tech for the USFS over west on the Buffalo Gap National Grassland just SW of Hot Springs....there were some really nice ponds with perch, gills some northern and largemouth. Like Hooligan said though there were some that were pretty dead too. I would start by calling the office and getting a grassland map and picking the bigger lakes on public ground and starting there. If it doesn't look promising and you still have questions I would recommend calling and talking to the wildlife biologist or better yet stop-by and let them know you are looking to fish and just wanted a better idea of lakes and ponds to shoot for. If they are like to folks I worked with in Hot Springs you will get some really good info. The office number @ Ft. Pierre is: 605-224-5517. I was always glad to give-up Mulie bedding areas, Antelope concentrations, P-Dog sites etc...Its big country and any little bit helps.
Id also say that since Pierre get's a little more rainfall they might be better suited to a better fisherie or one that last a little longer throughout the summer, but it also depends on the grazing scheme and how good the tennant is...

Good Luck!

11-06-2009, 09:13 PM	#1 (permalink)
swoab47 swoab47 is counting down the days till the water freezes Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Utica Posts: 59 Thanks: 32 Thanked 12 Times in 10 Posts	Fort Pierre National Grassland SD I read about the Fort Pierre National Grassland in an ice fishing magazine a few years ago and it really looked like it would be a cool ice fishing destination. It is a 116,000 acre prairie south of Pierre SD. The public land is dotted with small stock ponds that are mainly used as watering holes for cattle that, for a fee ranchers are allowed to graze on. I was just wondering if any forum members heard of or have been there. Don't know if I will ever make the trip but thought it would be a lot of fun. If anyone wants a copy of the article just shoot me a pm with your address and I'll mail you a copy. Thanks Last edited by swoab47; 11-07-2009 at 09:05 AM.. Reason: clairification

11-06-2009, 10:55 PM	#2 (permalink)
Hooligan Hooligan is crusading. Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1,129 Thanks: 60 Thanked 369 Times in 237 Posts	Fished that area when I was in jr high and HS, and we did alright on some of the ponds, some are dead as...well...dead. It's a real crapshoot unless you have someone that knows the area well, and keeps tabs on it; even then sometimes you're liable to get a goose-egg because they can winterkill from one year to the next. There are a few there there we nailed the big gills on; that's actually where I caught my first 2lb gill. We would catch a couple legit 2lb fish a year there, with many 1+. That said, I've not been there in more than 15 years, so updated information should probably be sought before making the trip. __________________ "If people don't occasionally walk away from you shaking their heads, you're doing something wrong." John Gierach

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11-09-2009, 04:27 PM	#3 (permalink)
Laramie Laramie is looking forward to bow hunting this week and next Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Omaha Posts: 102 Thanks: 21 Thanked 24 Times in 23 Posts	Back in college I was a wildlife and range tech for the USFS over west on the Buffalo Gap National Grassland just SW of Hot Springs....there were some really nice ponds with perch, gills some northern and largemouth. Like Hooligan said though there were some that were pretty dead too. I would start by calling the office and getting a grassland map and picking the bigger lakes on public ground and starting there. If it doesn't look promising and you still have questions I would recommend calling and talking to the wildlife biologist or better yet stop-by and let them know you are looking to fish and just wanted a better idea of lakes and ponds to shoot for. If they are like to folks I worked with in Hot Springs you will get some really good info. The office number @ Ft. Pierre is: 605-224-5517. I was always glad to give-up Mulie bedding areas, Antelope concentrations, P-Dog sites etc...Its big country and any little bit helps. Id also say that since Pierre get's a little more rainfall they might be better suited to a better fisherie or one that last a little longer throughout the summer, but it also depends on the grazing scheme and how good the tennant is... Good Luck!