In the Pollock area fishing for walleye has slowed down – with crawlers and leeches
being used by anglers in 25-35 foot depth. Anglers are catching a large variety of fish
with Northern, smallmouth bass, catfish and crappie still going well.
At Mobridge fish seem to be everywhere, with lots of smaller fish. There are still decent
limits being caught. Anglers are using crawlers and leeches. Again, lots of smaller fish,
but with a bit of work there are some nice looking fish coming. Depth is around 25-30
feet, with fish starting to go deeper.
At Akaska fishing is still good. There are lots of smaller fish, but are seeing some
bigger and fatter fish coming in. Anglers are using crawlers, leeches and bottom
bouncers. There is good fishing in the 20-30 foot depth. You need to try different depths
to find what’s working for that day, but taking your time can pay off.
At Gettysburg the bite here has slowed on walleye with anglers fishing in around 20-
30 feet – again, using jigs and minnows, crawlers and leeches – all bait seems to be
working here. 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 70 feet using heavy spoons. To get
the salmon you have to pay your dues – it’s spotty right now. Walleye are still going
well everywhere in around 20-35 ft. For larger fish you might try fishing the Cheyenne
arm, Peoria Flats or Sully Flats. Anglers are using jigs and minnows or Lindy rigs and a
shiner or spinners and crawlers. All bait seems to be working well, but keeping minnows
alive can be a challenge this time of year.
Fishing at the tailrace has been very good in the evening and certainly a bit cooler.
To beat the heat you might think about night fishing around Peoria Flats or Sully Flats
and around the intakes at the Oahe Dam pulling plugs.
Northern are still biting here as they are on the entire river system. 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 Pierre and on to West Bend and
Big Bend Dam. Not unusual to catch lots of fish per boat. Other good areas include the
Farm Island flats and Antelope Creek area. Come during the week if you can, to avoid
even more traffic.
Main bait being used is leeches and crawlers. Some are using Lindy rigs with leeches,
shiners and crawlers. Catfish, northern, smallmouth and white bass are also being
caught.
Walleye are being caught in about 20-35 feet or more. Anglers are using crawlers, jigs
and minnows, shiners or leeches. At West Bend the fishing is going well using crawlers
and leeches. 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 Iron nation to Lower
Brule has been good. Anglers are using minnows, crawlers and leeches in 10-20 foot
depths.
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. All of Francis Case seems to be doing well. Anglers are using jigs & minnows
or crawlers and leeches in 15 – 35 foot depths. The fishing action is great. Limits are
coming in from the Crow Creek area to the Dam.
In the Platte area the fishing has slowed a bit but limits still coming in. Most anglers are
fishing in 20-30 feet and 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 crawlers and leeches. Boat fishing
and shore fishing are equally excellent! Above the dam from Whetstone to White Swan
anglers are catching in 10-20 feet. Across from Pease creek fishing is going really well.
Lots of fish are being caught, and again, sorting is necessary. 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.
*Please remember that the fishing conditions on the Missouri River change
constantly and this report is simply a guideline – a snapshot in time.*
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 River fishing report
By Great Lakes of SD Tourism Association
Lake Oahe
In the Pollock area fishing for walleye has slowed down – with crawlers and leeches
being used by anglers in 25-35 foot depth. Anglers are catching a large variety of fish
with Northern, smallmouth bass, catfish and crappie still going well.
At Mobridge fish seem to be everywhere, with lots of smaller fish. There are still decent
limits being caught. Anglers are using crawlers and leeches. Again, lots of smaller fish,
but with a bit of work there are some nice looking fish coming. Depth is around 25-30
feet, with fish starting to go deeper.
At Akaska fishing is still good. There are lots of smaller fish, but are seeing some
bigger and fatter fish coming in. Anglers are using crawlers, leeches and bottom
bouncers. There is good fishing in the 20-30 foot depth. You need to try different depths
to find what’s working for that day, but taking your time can pay off.
At Gettysburg the bite here has slowed on walleye with anglers fishing in around 20-
30 feet – again, using jigs and minnows, crawlers and leeches – all bait seems to be
working here. 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 70 feet using heavy spoons. To get
the salmon you have to pay your dues – it’s spotty right now. Walleye are still going
well everywhere in around 20-35 ft. For larger fish you might try fishing the Cheyenne
arm, Peoria Flats or Sully Flats. Anglers are using jigs and minnows or Lindy rigs and a
shiner or spinners and crawlers. All bait seems to be working well, but keeping minnows
alive can be a challenge this time of year.
Fishing at the tailrace has been very good in the evening and certainly a bit cooler.
To beat the heat you might think about night fishing around Peoria Flats or Sully Flats
and around the intakes at the Oahe Dam pulling plugs.
Northern are still biting here as they are on the entire river system. 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 Pierre and on to West Bend and
Big Bend Dam. Not unusual to catch lots of fish per boat. Other good areas include the
Farm Island flats and Antelope Creek area. Come during the week if you can, to avoid
even more traffic.
Main bait being used is leeches and crawlers. Some are using Lindy rigs with leeches,
shiners and crawlers. Catfish, northern, smallmouth and white bass are also being
caught.
Walleye are being caught in about 20-35 feet or more. Anglers are using crawlers, jigs
and minnows, shiners or leeches. At West Bend the fishing is going well using crawlers
and leeches. 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 Iron nation to Lower
Brule has been good. Anglers are using minnows, crawlers and leeches in 10-20 foot
depths.
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. All of Francis Case seems to be doing well. Anglers are using jigs & minnows
or crawlers and leeches in 15 – 35 foot depths. The fishing action is great. Limits are
coming in from the Crow Creek area to the Dam.
In the Platte area the fishing has slowed a bit but limits still coming in. Most anglers are
fishing in 20-30 feet and 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 crawlers and leeches. Boat fishing
and shore fishing are equally excellent! Above the dam from Whetstone to White Swan
anglers are catching in 10-20 feet. Across from Pease creek fishing is going really well.
Lots of fish are being caught, and again, sorting is necessary. 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.
*Please remember that the fishing conditions on the Missouri River change
constantly and this report is simply a guideline – a snapshot in time.*
For more information and up-to-the-minute reports on fishing Lake Oahe, please call
Share on FacebookWest 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.