Missouri River fishing report

Provided by: Great Lakes of SD Tourism Association

Fishing over the weekend was very good. The temperatures for the week will be in the 80s and 90s – with Tuesday heading for over 100! Summer is definitely here. You might consider coming mid-week if you can to avoid crowds.

Lake Oahe

In the Pollock area fishing is going quite good with minnows, crawlers and leeches

being used by anglers in 15-25 foot depth. All bait seems to be working. Anglers are

catching a lot of smaller fish, but also keepers coming in. Northern are still coming in

along with smallmouth bass. Anglers caught lots of fish over this past weekend

At Mobridge fishing is still good everywhere. Anglers are using jigs and minnows,

crawlers and leeches. Again, lots of smaller fish, but with a bit of work there are some

nice looking fish coming. Depth is around 15-25 feet – they are starting to go deeper.

At Akaska fishing is still really good. There are lots of smaller fish, but are seeing some

bigger and fatter fish coming in. Anglers are using jigs and minnows, with some still

using minnows. They are also using crawlers, leeches and bottom bouncers. There

is good fishing in the 12-25 foot depth. You need to try different depths to find what’s

working for that day, but again taking your time can pay off..

At Gettysburg the bite is good with anglers fishing in around 15-25 feet – again, using

jigs and minnows, crawlers and leeches – all bait seems to be working here too. The

smallmouth population is excellent and the bite is excellent! You’ll have to do a lot of

sorting with the walleye here as in other areas on the river.

Around Spring Creek / Cow Creek salmon are being caught around the intakes at the

face of the dam with down riggers at about 40 feet and also in shallow water and at

Spring Creek. Salmon are averaging 6-8 lbs. To get the salmon you have to pay your

dues and if you do you’ll be successful. Walleye are fantastic everywhere in around

5-25 ft. For larger fish you might try fishing the drop offs deeper than 25 feet. Anglers

are using jigs and minnows or Lindy rigs and a shiner or spinners and crawlers. All bait

seems to be working well.

To beat the heat you might think about night fishing around Peoria Flats or Sully Flats

and around the intakes at the Oahe Dam.

Northern are still biting here as they are on the entire river system. White bass and

smallmouth are starting around this area too. Walleye fishing is excellent from the face

of the Oahe Dam to the Cheyenne arm and on up to the North Dakota border. You can’t

go wrong on Oahe right now!

Lake Sharpe

Fishing on all of Lake Sharpe is very good from the Oahe Dam down to West Bend and

on to Big Bend Dam. You’ll have to do lots of sorting of fish to get over the 15 inch size,

but there are plenty to catch. The size limit will be coming off during July and August.

Not unusual to catch 50-100 per boat. Other good areas include the Farm Island flats

and Antelope Creek area.

Main bait being used is Lindy rigs with a shiner or a jig and minnow or spinners and

leeches. Some are using Lindy rigs with leeches, shiners and crawlers. Shore fishing

from the tailrace below the dam to the Stilling Basin is still excellent. Catfish, northern,

smallmouth and white bass are also being caught.

Walleye are being caught in about 11-30 feet or more. Anglers are using spinners and

crawlers, jigs and minnows, shiners or leeches. At West Bend the fishing is going really

well using jigs and minnows or shiners with crawlers being used here too. The walleye

are looking excellent. Smallmouth and white bass are going well in this area.

Around Big Bend Dam on Lake Sharpe there is a very good smallmouth bite. Walleye

are still mainly on the flats and points – and shallow. The area from the Grain Bins to

Iron nation has seen a good bite this past week. Anglers are using bottom bouncers,

minnows, crawlers and leeches.

Francis Case

Around Chamberlain fishing is still going well with boats bringing in 50-100 fish per day.

A good area seems to be from Carpenter Bluffs to White River. Fishing is also good

around the bridges and on down Francis Case. Anglers are using jigs & minnows or

crawlers and leeches in 15 – 35 foot depths. You have to catch a lot of fish to get the

size you need, but the fishing action is great. Limits are coming in from the Crow Creek

area. The White bass bite is excellent, mainly in the fast water.

In the Platte area the fishing results have been really good with lots of limits coming

in. Again Jigs and minnows, crawlers and leeches seem to work best in 10-25 feet.

The fish are looking good. The smallmouth bite is going well – in the bays and shallow

waters – and from shore.

At the Pickstown – Wagner – Lake Andes area fishing is still excellent below the Fort

Randall Dam, with anglers pulling plugs or using jigs and minnows. Above the dam from

North Point, South Scalp Creek and White Swan all the way to Pease creek it’s doing

pretty good. Although, it has slowed in some areas of the river. Lost of fish are being

caught, so again, sorting is necessary.

Anglers are using jigs and minnows, crawlers and leeches. Shore fishing is excellent all

over this area too. Good reports are still coming in on the small mouth bass, northern,

perch and crappie bite.

Prairie Dog Bay and South Shore have new large parking lots by the boat docks –

check them out!!

Around Lewis & Clark Lake walleye are being caught trolling from the Marina to

Gavin’s Point/Colonies and Boy Scout area – on jigs and minnows.

On the Missouri River catfish are being caught on cut bait and stink bait. Also white

bass and drum are being caught on worms and minnows.

Springfield Area – anglers are catching walleye on jigs & minnows and are trolling.

On Lake Yankton anglers are pulling in bluegill, crappie, catfish and largemouth bass.

For more information and up-to-the-minute reports on fishing Lake Oahe, please call

West Pollock Resort, 605-889-2448; Kemnitz MoRest Motel in Mobridge at 605-845-

3668. At Akaska call Akaska Bait Shop at 605-649-7847. Call Bob’s Resort at 605-765-

2500 or South Whitlock Resort at 605-765-9762 in Gettysburg. On the lower end of

Lake Oahe, call Spring Creek Resort at 605-224-8336, Outpost Lodge at 605-264-5450

and Lake Oahe/Lake Sharpe call Carl’s Bait Shop at 605-223-9453. On Lake Francis

Case, contact Cedar Shore Resort at 605-734-6376 or Platte Chamber of Commerce at

888-297-8175 and Circle H Motel in Lake Andes at 605-487-7652.