Rainbow trout near Chamberlin

[fishlips]

Several years back, we caught a real nice rainbow trout (3 pounds or so) fishing the river offshore near the I90 bridge in Chamberlain. I was just curious if this was a fluke or if there is rainbows in the river that are fishable in the chamberlain area.
Thanks

[Guest]

Must have been a fluke. Most of the rainbows you hear of being caught are below the dam at pierre.

[ifishsd]

I caught one ice fishing below Big Bend dam in 1997. It weighed about 2lbs. I don't know how common there are in Franis case, but I would think most of them would be by the dam during the summer.

[Guest]

They are still there in the spring. We get them after we get our Walleyes for the day.

You have to fish on the West bank where it's real deep and target them by depth with your flasher.

Use 1/4-3/8 oz. Jig and minnow or a KastMaster Spoon, verticle jig it right on their nose.

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Chells

[JIGSTER]

Chells,Have you been out to Chamberlain yet?I spoke with Garry Allen at Hillside Motel and they where catching fish when it is nice enough to get out.Just wondering, got the itch to do some jiggin'. Good fishin'-Jigster

[Guest]

Not yet this year, I've got a 8.5 mo. old Son who is getting all of my attention right now!

If you're planning on a trip that way, try to go when they have the spillway open up-river--current=consistant bite. Call ahead of time if the forecast looks favorable and ask the guys at the Dam when they are going to be opening the spillway.

When the A.C.E. opens the Dam to generate power during the week that's prime time for catching your 'eyes.

Use 1/4oz. Northland Fireball Jigs in Chartreuse or Gold Plate and a Fathead(the only minnow available in the area).

Keep your boat smack-dab on the original river bed contours for almost all of your early fishing, back troll to stay as verticle as possible and watch your flasher for active walleyes 1-3' off the bottom. Fish depth depends entirely on water levels and flow, typically the fish are in 17-25' depending on water levels.

Don't forget the ability to use 2-lines out there--rig a dead-rod with a 1/8 oz. jig and Fatty and hang it off the bow--keep your eye on it!

As the water warms you'll find big numbers spawning on the shale in 1-3' below the bridge at Chamberlain on the East Bank, use 1/8oz. jigs and pitch right up on the rocks.

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Chells

[Dakota Iceman]

I have caught very nice rainbow trout in the early spring using crawlers and crappie rigs when fishing for prespawn walleyes from shore along the kiowa flats area. They definatly make their way from the dam down as far as chamberlain and then some probably. i want ot know if anyone has good recipes for frying or preparing rainbows wether it be open fire or in the kitchen.

[Valv]

We caught 3 drifting last summer at Ft. Thompson, 2 were small but 1 was a good 2.5lbs
Released immeditely, they are pretty fish though.