Want Musky?

[Tyler Holm]

Want Musky? How about a State Record? Here is what I know.

Lake Amsden “Dam” was the first body of water stocked with this monstrous creature. It also holds the next state record to be caught.

The current South Dakota state record Muskellunge is 40-0 and there’s no doubt this is a respectable fish.

Now what I am about to say was not heard directly from the “horse’s mouth”, but a witness (GF&P employee) told one of my best friends this. 2 years ago the GF&P setup some live traps in Amsden to catch the elusive Musky to do some study work on their populations, size, growth, etc. The live traps revealed some very sizeable fish. It’s been told that they caught 3 different musky in 3 different traps that were all over 40lbs (state record class fish). To me that sounds incredible.

The current state record (40 lbs) was caught in April of 1991. By now (15 years later) there are sure to be fish surpassing that mark.

Amsden is a considerably small body of water. Its only 235 acres (according to the map). You can drive a boat from one end to the other in 5 or 6 minutes. I think it has water depths up to 40, but the current map may not indicate that.

Amsden has very few houses around it. It very secluded and secretive-even to locals. It’s not uncommon to hit Amsden on a weekend and only see 1 or 2 boats (or 0). You might come across 1 guys casting from shore in his waders, but that’s about it.

Amsden also holds a good population of walleyes and perch. Last time I was there it was a beautiful Saturday afternoon back on April 23, 2004. There was 1 other boat on the water and there were 2 guys in float tubes giving it a whirl. We were hunting walleyes and caught 5 with the biggest at 21.” The time before that I hit a perch that was over 12”

I’ve never seen a Musky caught in Amsden, but I’m willing to change that. It’s only 30 miles from Aberdeen (my hometown) and I’ve fished there several times.

Lynn Lake also has Musky in it, but they we recently stocked and I don’t believe they’ve even reached the 40” mark yet which is minimum length to harvest a Musky. A guy I was with hit one through the ice 4 years ago, but it was only 3-4lbs. The lower Missouri has also been stocked, but I have no idea the stocking date(s).

[fishing4fun]

Tyler,

I'd try Amsden with you Tyler. I fish Mn lakes for muskies and have always wanted to try Amsden. We should get together for a day on the water chasing skies.

[Random guy]

Game on! I have yet to catch a musky in South Dakota. I need to fix that.

[mtreno]

count me in - lets leave tonight...... man we need a way to speed up time - or i guess we could slow it down to last season. when does the musky season open there?

[Tyler Holm]

There is no *CLOSED* season on musky in SoDak. Its open 24/7/365. I'd be interested in a trip.

[cold one sd]

Some years ago when they were netting Musky in Amsden in the spring they caught the same female three years in a row. The last time they netted her she weighed in at 54 lbs. I have heard nothing about this fish in several years and I am assuming that she probably died of old age.

[Tyler Holm]

My bloods pumping to get back there and give Amsden a try. All those years I lived in Aberdeen and I never once musky fished.

[sloughshark]

ok, I have also been meaning to try bag a ski up there but never have given it a try, a good buddy of mine fished it last summer and had a couple of hits and follows, but no fish. I would be up for a trip also fellas. Does anyone know, Do these muskies bite much through the ice?? that would also be a dammmmm good time in my opinion.

[Rost]

The last thing I need is to catch a musky! I have heard horror stories about hard core walleye guys catching their first musky, then never looking back! Hooked for life...Actually I think it would be fun to try.

The GFP stocked Tiger Musky in Poinsett several years ago. In fact, I caught a 12 inch musky ice fishing on Poinsett about 4 years ago!! They also stocked West 81 Ponds with tiger musky last year. So that may be an option for the future.

Where is Amsden?

[Random guy]

Thats it, I'm putting together a trip to SD for musky fishing. (never thought I would say that)I have to try out the SD lakes.

[Tyler Holm]

Amsden is 8 miles SE of Groton, about 30 minutes drive from Aberdeen.

Jon, all let me know if you want to book a trip together. I can probably hook us up with a free place to stay in exchange for Musky tips and tactics.

[Random guy]

I'm trying to chisel out some time between tournaments, sport shows, something called work and the already planned trips. As soon as I find a weekend to sneak away I'll let ya know.

[whitewolf6647]

I fished Amsden for the first time last April 23rd. Water clarity wasn't very good at all, maybe 2 foot of visibility, and I only fished for about 5 hours but I boated my first fish of the year after only fishing for 30 minutes over there which was a very nice ice breaker for the year and I missed one other a short while later all on bucktails I never even tried anything else since I was moving at a pretty good clip trying to get a feeling for the lake. Nice little lake the wind was blowing about 30 mph that day and it's protected enough the wind doesn't effect it to much. I plan on going again this year at least 2 times most likely in April sometime unless it really heats up and gets teh ice off over there sooner. It's only about an hour and 15 minutes from where I live which is also nice. So maybe I'll see some of you guys over there this year.

[whitewolf6647]

Lynn was first stocked with muskie's in 2001 so they have a while to grow but they have a great forage base over there so maybe they'll grow faster, wish full thinking, Lake Francis Case and Lake Sharpe both on the Missouri like you were talking have been stocked with hybrids and not pure breds. I hope this works but I got this directly from the SD game and fish department showing when they stocked skis in Lynn and Amsden and the size of the stocklings, and how many were stocked each time. If you have any questions about either lake e-mail the SD game and fish department and they'll give whatever information you need They are really a great group of people and very very helpful. This is what I got:

Below please find an Excel spreadsheet that shows Muskie stockings for Amsden and Lynn Lakes by date. This will give you some idea of how long they have been stocked in these lakes, as well as the number stocked and size. There has been no stockings of Tiger Muskies in these lakes. For the most part, you will find the muskies are at a length of 28 inches. They feed on perch and black crappie. Also, I will be providing you with lake contour maps for these lakes, as well as the most recent lake survey for Amsden

Lake. There hasn't been a lake survey conducted by the fisheries biologists, as of yet, for Lynn Lake, as it is a fairly new fisherie. I'll send the maps and lake survey to you by snail mail. Hope you find this information helpful, and Happy Fishing!

DATE LAKE NAME COUNTY SPECIES SIZE NUMBER STOCKED

01/01/75 AMSDEN DAY MUE FGL 2000

01/01/76 AMSDEN DAY MUE FGL 5000

01/01/79 AMSDEN DAY MUE FGL 215

01/01/83 AMSDEN DAY MUE FGL 250

01/01/84 AMSDEN DAY MUE FGL 75

01/01/85 AMSDEN DAY MUE FGL 143

01/01/89 AMSDEN DAY MUE FGL 35

01/01/90 AMSDEN DAY MUE FGL 250

01/01/92 AMSDEN DAY MUE FGL 500

01/01/94 AMSDEN DAY MUE FGL 1000

01/01/96 AMSDEN DAY MUE FGL 500

01/01/97 AMSDEN DAY MUE JUV 500

01/01/99 AMSDEN DAY MUE FGL 508

05/19/00 AMSDEN DAY MUE JUV 8

11/20/01 AMSDEN DAY MUE FGL 250

05/26/04 AMSDEN DAY MUE FGL 470

08/08/01 LYNN DAY MUE FGL 1000

11/20/01 LYNN DAY MUE FGL 625

10/01/03 LYNN DAY MUE FGL 2000

05/26/04 LYNN DAY MUE FGL 500

FGL - Fingerling

JUV - Juvenile

Hope you enjoyed the info and found it helpful. I hope to see you all on the water.

[Paul Waldowski]

Jon,

If you find some time count me in. Would love to catch a SD Musky....

[gorrilla]

Sounds like the quiet "hidden" lake is going to have plenty of MN plugs churning it up now...

[bnbrk94]

You hit the nail on the head gorilla! As if there aren't enough musky lakes in minnesota!

[Random guy]

Relax boys, it will be ok.

[cold one sd]

one thing ya have to understand about fishing Amsden Lake. The locals that live close to Amsden hate Muskies because they think GF&Parks ruined a good Walleye lake by stocking Muskies. When they catch one they club it to death at the boat and throw it back. I don't know how many this happens to, but I think it happens a lot.

[mtreno]

well we set a date and want to come out and chuck some baits. sad to here people may be killing fish but either way it will be a good start to the season. we will be leaving april xxth and fish thru the weekend. was wondering where a good place to stay would be? is there anywhere near the lake to stay? how about a fishin lic. can you get one at a gas station or do i need to go somewhere else?

thanks for your help,

oh ya and if anyone wants to join us your more than welcome.

[Tyler Holm]

I'm not sure if Groton has any lodging. If not, Aberdeen would be a possibility.

Most gas stations do NOT sell fishing licenses. You'll have to find a bait shop or a store like walmart. Again, Aberdeen would have several places to get a fishing license.

[mtreno]

ya i am thinking staying in Aberdeen is our best bet. maybe find somoething in Gorton once we are there. thanks for the info we are sure excited for our first trip of the season......

[bnbrk94]

Tyler, are there any catch and relase laws in south dakota for musky? Do they have to be a certain size limit to keep in the one or two lakes that have musky in sd? Just curious, do you live in sd or mn?

[whitewolf6647]

Statewide the daily limit for skis pure or hybrid is 1 and it has to be over 40 inch if you want to keep it.

[bnbrk94]

thanks wolf. have you ever fished amsden? or are there any musky lakes in you neck of the woods?