Highway 28 running out of MinnesotaI have a lot of favorite lakes outside of Minnesota. Bear Paw iup n Northern Ontario. Erie out East. Nelson over in North Dakota. Kasba up in the NW Territories. Now, I add South Dakota's Roy Lake to my list. Roy Lake has, in just a couple of fishing seasons, become one of my favorite fishing holes; Not because it's the most popular or best known, but because it fishes like few lakes I visit. Oh, and there's never anyone around when I fish it. As you head west out of Minnesota and into South Dakota on Highway 28 you can't help but notice the tower up on the bluff. Fishing buddy Brandon Murphy and I had to stop and 
The Nicollet Towerclimb the Nicollet Tower's ten stories to check out the three-state view. We could certainly see where we were coming from and where we were headed. About fifteen miles West to Lake City. We pulled into Roy Lake Resort at Roy Lake State Park right about 5 p.m., just in time to catch the evening bite. Owner Jan Thames was there to greet us. So, 
Launching the Triton Allurewe drop the Due North Outdoors Triton Allure in and we fish topwater baits on the glass-calm lake and the smallmouth bass, almost instantly, go 
Topwater Baitscrazy. I mean we catch a pile of fish on a bunch of my favorite topwater baits, including Zara Spooks, Skitter Walks and Lucky Craft Sammy knock-offs (I can't afford the real thing!). I even tied up this little 
Penfold's Shiraz Poppercritter after a buddy popped a bottle of red wine for dinner with our steaks. On our second day, wind kicked up and we encountered some downright tough weather. 
Weather hits us! A cold front moved in and we delt with squall front after squall front. Heavy wind pounded us all day and ever hour or two, we'd have to contend with a quick 
Shelter under a giant Cottowoodstorm blowing through. Weather got so tough we had to ditch the boat behind a protective point and under a giant Cottonwood tree to dodge heavy, heavy rain. The view after 
After the stormwas sure something to see! The weather put a damper on our topwater fishing, but
Brandon with another big smallie we were still able to find fish using jigs and cranks. Our second evening on the lake, Jan ordered us off before dinner time and over to the steak fry at Prairie Skies. I have never experienced anything like it. The recipie is 
Pitchfork Steakssimple enough; A big vat of hot oil, a couple of full-sized pitch forks and a bunch of sirloin steaks. Dip for a minute or two and 
The covered wagon kitchendinner served. The Glacial Lakes region of South Dakota is a widely untapped resource and the fishing 
Bill and Cy with a rainy day smallmouthis absolutely top-notch. Just don't be surprised if you have the lake to yourself. Trust me on that one...