Fishing on the Missouri River over the weekend was really good. The temperatures will be around 100 most of the week so take the necessary precautions. There is a heat advisory out, so be safe when you’re in Central South Dakota. Summer is definitely here.
Lake Oahe
In the Pollock area fishing for walleye has slowed down – with minnows, crawlers and leeches being used by anglers in 15-25 foot depth. All bait seems to be working. Anglers are catching smaller fish, but also keepers coming in. Northern are still coming in along with smallmouth bass and crappie.
At Mobridge fish are everywhere, but they are a bit smaller. There are still decent limits being caught. 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 15-30 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. Minnows are still being used – harder to keep them alive though. Anglers are also using crawlers, leeches and bottom bouncers. There is good fishing in the 5-25 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 10-30 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 – also still catching northern! 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 some 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. To get the salmon you have to pay your dues and if you do you’ll be successful. Walleye are fantastic everywhere in around 5-35 ft. For larger fish you might try fishing the Cheyenne arm. Anglers are using jigs and minnows or Lindy rigs and a shiner or spinners and crawlers. All bait seems to be working well. Again, keeping minnows alive can be a challenge this time of year.
To beat the heat you might think about night fishing around Peoria Flats or Sully Flats and around the intakes at the Oahe Dam – July 3 is a full moon so those areas can be good – pulling plugs.
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 good from the face of the Oahe Dam to the Cheyenne arm.
Lake Sharpe
The 15-inch size limit is now off for July and August on 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. 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 minnows if you can keep them alive – also leeches and crawlers. 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 10-30 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 been good. Anglers are using minnows, crawlers and leeches.
Francis Case
The 15-inch size limit for walleye is off on Francis Case for July and August. Around Chamberlain fishing is still going well with boats bringing in 50-100 fish per day. 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 limits coming in. Again minnows, crawlers and leeches seem to work best in 10-30 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, North and South Wheeler to Pease creek fishing is going well. Also, fishing is good at the intakes by Fort Randall Dam. Lots of fish are being caught, and again, sorting is necessary.
Anglers are minnows, crawlers and leeches – with some pulling plugs. 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.
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.
More details
Please remember that the fishing conditions on the Missouri River change constantly. 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.
Missouri fishing report: Watch the heat
By Great Lakes of SD Tourism Association
Fishing on the Missouri River over the weekend was really good. The temperatures will be around 100 most of the week so take the necessary precautions. There is a heat advisory out, so be safe when you’re in Central South Dakota. Summer is definitely here.
Lake Oahe
In the Pollock area fishing for walleye has slowed down – with minnows, crawlers and leeches being used by anglers in 15-25 foot depth. All bait seems to be working. Anglers are catching smaller fish, but also keepers coming in. Northern are still coming in along with smallmouth bass and crappie.
At Mobridge fish are everywhere, but they are a bit smaller. There are still decent limits being caught. 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 15-30 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. Minnows are still being used – harder to keep them alive though. Anglers are also using crawlers, leeches and bottom bouncers. There is good fishing in the 5-25 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 10-30 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 – also still catching northern! 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 some 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. To get the salmon you have to pay your dues and if you do you’ll be successful. Walleye are fantastic everywhere in around 5-35 ft. For larger fish you might try fishing the Cheyenne arm. Anglers are using jigs and minnows or Lindy rigs and a shiner or spinners and crawlers. All bait seems to be working well. Again, keeping minnows alive can be a challenge this time of year.
To beat the heat you might think about night fishing around Peoria Flats or Sully Flats and around the intakes at the Oahe Dam – July 3 is a full moon so those areas can be good – pulling plugs.
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 good from the face of the Oahe Dam to the Cheyenne arm.
Lake Sharpe
The 15-inch size limit is now off for July and August on 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. 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 minnows if you can keep them alive – also leeches and crawlers. 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 10-30 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 been good. Anglers are using minnows, crawlers and leeches.
Francis Case
The 15-inch size limit for walleye is off on Francis Case for July and August. Around Chamberlain fishing is still going well with boats bringing in 50-100 fish per day. 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 limits coming in. Again minnows, crawlers and leeches seem to work best in 10-30 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, North and South Wheeler to Pease creek fishing is going well. Also, fishing is good at the intakes by Fort Randall Dam. Lots of fish are being caught, and again, sorting is necessary.
Anglers are minnows, crawlers and leeches – with some pulling plugs. 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.
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.
More details
Please remember that the fishing conditions on the Missouri River change constantly. 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.
Share on Facebook