The Scouting Report: A weekly digest

Fort Pierre fishing, history tour, SDSU swine day, ‘experts say’

Our week starts in Fort Pierre, a community whose fun and good times are overshadowed by the state’s capital city. There, a groundbreaking took place on Oct. 11 for a year-round fish cleaning station. Now, to the nonangler, this might not seem like a particularly big deal. But cleaning fish in the cold is not a fun chore, and the indoor facility should help Fort Pierre lure additional anglers during the colder months.

“Our main revenue source is hunters and fishermen – outdoors people,” Nicole Schwinler tells The Dakota Scout.

Schwinler, who owns the Fort Pierre Motel, was having coffee with some fishermen when they suggested that Fort Pierre would be well served to have a year-round cleaning station. They pointed out that Akaska, 81 miles to the north, had such an amenity. And if Akaska could have one, Fort Pierre should have one, Schwinler reasoned.

In 2022, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers agreed to lease property to the city at the Fifth Avenue boat ramp for the purposes of the indoor cleaning station, which Schwinler called a “perfect fit for the area.” But it was up to Schwinler and supporters to raise $200,000 to build the facility. 

By the time of the groundbreaking, the group had raised $180,000. A lot of local contractors donated to the effort, she said.

When complete, a central grinder table will accommodate up to four people. Side tables can seat more. The entire facility should comfortably accommodate eight people, and Schwinler said it will be ideal for Fort Pierre’s ice fishing tournament in January.

“It will get used, for sure,” she said.

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