Lake Traverse

Lake Traverse is a lake on the Minnesota-South Dakota border in Traverse County. Lake Traverse covers about 10,848 acres, reaches a recorded 10 feet and holds about 80,730 acre-feet.

How the Size and Shape of Lake Traverse Affect Fishing

Lake Traverse is shallow enough that wind, weeds, shade and even a small dip in the bottom can make one part fish better than another.

Fish and Baits at Lake Traverse

Fish reported from Lake Traverse include bigmouth buffalo, bigmouth shiner, black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bluntnose minnow, brown bullhead, carmine shiner, channel catfish, common carp, common shiner, creek chub, emerald shiner, fathead minnow, freshwater drum, golden redhorse, green sunfish, iowa darter, johnny darter, largemouth bass, northern pike, orangespotted sunfish, quillback, rock bass, sand shiner, shorthead redhorse, smallmouth bass, tadpole madtom, walleye, white bass, white crappie, white sucker, yellow bullhead, and yellow perch.

Bass

For bass at Traverse, fish weeds, wood and shade with a spinnerbait, jig or Texas-rigged worm for largemouth, and work a tube, Ned rig or small crankbait across rock and firm points for smallmouth.

Crappie, Yellow Perch, and Sunfish

For panfish at Traverse, use a small jig or minnow beside brush for crappie, and fish a worm, cricket or tiny jig near weeds for bluegill and green sunfish, and keep a small jig, minnow or worm close to bottom for yellow perch.

Walleye and White Bass

For roaming fish at Traverse, jig a minnow or troll a crankbait along points and deeper edges for walleye, and follow shad with a spoon, jig or small crankbait for white bass.

Northern Pike

For large predators at Traverse, cast a spoon, spinnerbait or swimbait beside weeds for northern pike.

Catfish, Bullheads, and Carp

For bottom fishing at Traverse, put cut bait, a nightcrawler or prepared bait on bottom for channel catfish, and fish a worm or small piece of cut bait in quiet water for bullheads, and use corn or dough bait on a simple bottom rig for carp.

Other Reported Fish

Other choices at Traverse include these plans: bounce a jig, worm or crayfish bait along firm bottom for freshwater drum.

Rock Bass

At Traverse, use a small jig, worm or tiny crankbait around rock and firm shorelines for rock bass.

How the Seasons Change Lake Traverse

Spring at Traverse is a good time to check warm coves and incoming water, and summer is best early or late around weeds, shade and the few deeper holes. Fall at Traverse can bring fish back to windy points and banks, while winter calls for smaller baits fished slowly.

A Simple Plan for Fishing Lake Traverse

On a first trip to Traverse, check one quiet cove, one rocky or firm point and the nearby deep water with a moving lure, then use a jig or worm where you find fish.

Useful Tackle for Lake Traverse

A medium spinning rod covers smaller lures at Traverse, while a heavier rod and stronger leader are better for northern pike.

Lake Traverse FAQs

Where should an angler start on the 10,848-acre Lake Traverse?

At Traverse, pick one cove and the closest point or drop into deep water, then fish that small area well before making a long move.

Should anglers fish the 10-foot deep end of Lake Traverse?

Not every trip. A better place at Traverse is where a point, drop-off or group of baitfish gives the fish a reason to stop.

What does the 80,730 acre-foot storage figure mean at Lake Traverse?

At Traverse, it shows that a lot of the water sits away from the bank and around the old channel or deep end.