My teammate, sportswriter Ryan Deal, will host the chats. He will handle questions from readers about all sports.

Log in to aberdeennews.com to join in the chats.

Lake Oahe

In the Pollock area fishing has slowed, but they are still catching fish – with crawlers the main bait being used by anglers in 20-50 foot depth.  A variety of fish like Northern, perch, smallmouth bass, and catfish are also coming in.

At Mobridge there are lots of smaller fish being caught, but they are seeing the size go up a bit. Fishing has also slowed a bit. Anglers are using bouncers and crawlers or jigs and minnows. Anglers are fishing around the pillars of the bridges using bottom bouncers. Bigger fish seem to be coming in by the structures in the river. Depth is around 25-60 feet.

At Akaska  fishing is still good, but has slowed a bit. Anglers are still getting limits but they have to work for it, with most using bottom bouncers and spinners in about the 15-25 foot depths. The average size is 14”to 17”, with some larger fish being caught.

At Gettysburg  the bite here has slowed a bit on walleye and you have to look for them. Anglers are fishing in around 20-45 feet – again, using bottom bouncers, crawlers and leeches. Some anglers are using artificial lures and fishing deep. Smallmouth and northern are still being caught here also. Fall bite should be really good this year.

Around Spring Creek / Cow Creek  walleye are still coming in, but has been a bit slower –  anglers are fishing in anywhere from 10 to 80 feet depths. Fish are definitely moving deeper, but they seem to be everywhere. Live bait – crawlers and leeches – is working well with some anglers also using crank baits. West shore and East shore are going well, along with Spring and Cow creek. Some anglers are using crank baits with downriggers and fishing for walleye! Again, all species are being caught – northern, catfish, small mouth bass and walleye.

Remember: if you take fish from the deeper water, please keep the fish. They will most likely not survive if returned to the lake.

Lake Sharpe

Fishing is still good at the tailrace of the Oahe Dam using husky jerks, spoons and flicker shads and the mouth of the stilling basin is still going good in the evening.

The tailrace to Stony Point is going well in around 5-15 feet using crawlers, leeches and crankbaits against the current. They are letting out more water at times from the Oahe Dam so you need to slow down with electronics or have wind socks along.

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 continuing down to the Big Bend Dam. Anglers are still catching lots of smaller fish and they are doing well with live bait and crank baits against the current in 15-25 foot depths.

Species other than walleye are also being caught with a good bite on catfish, which are being caught at Farm Island and in the tailrace below the Oahe Dam. Northern, smallmouth and white bass are also being caught here.

Walleye are being caught in about 15-35 feet or more. Anglers are using bottom bouncers, crawlers, shiners or leeches. At West Bend and Joe Creek area the fishing is going well using crawlers, leeches and crankbaits.

Around Big Bend Dam on Lake Sharpe the fall bit is starting. Walleye seem to be mainly on the flats and points. The area from Iron nation to Lower Brule has been good. Anglers are using crawlers and leeches in 20-30 foot depths.

Francis Case
The 15-inch size limit for walleye is off on Francis Case for July and August. Around Chamberlain  the fall bite is starting with anglers catching fish around structures in 10-30 foot depths.  Best bait seems to be crawlers and leeches. All of Francis Case seems to be doing well, with limits coming in.  Fishing is going well around the bridges and structures.
In the Platte  area fishing has slowed, but anglers are still catching fish – you need to work at it. Most anglers are fishing in 20-40 feet using live bait. Some are fishing pulling plugs with lead core line and fishing deep. White bass are hitting well now also.
At the Pickstown - Wagner – Lake Andes area fishing is excellent below the Fort Randall Dam in the evening around 8 p.m. with anglers pulling plugs in the fast water. Above the dam fishing is good, with anglers fishing around 40 feet. The fish are very active from Pease Creek to North Wheeler, with the fall bite starting. Live bait is working well above the dam. Good eating size fish are being caught, which is what a lot of people are looking for. The water temp is cooling. Good reports are still coming in on the small mouth bass, northern, catfish, perch and crappie bite – there still seems to be an abundance of all species.

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 a few walleye are being caught trolling with Salmos and Flicker Shads. Also drum are being caught on crawdads.

Springfield Area – Catfish are going well on stink baits.

On Lake Yankton bluegill are going well on nightcrawlers. Largemouth can be caught using top water lures in early morning.

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.

Lake Oahe

In the Pollock area fishing has slowed, but they are still catching fish – with crawlers the main bait being used by anglers in 20-35 foot depth.  A variety of fish like Northern, perch, smallmouth bass, and catfish coming in.

At Mobridge there are smaller fish being caught, but is has slowed a bit. Anglers are using crawlers and leeches. Again, lots of smaller fish, but with a bit of work you can bring in some nice fish. Anglers are fishing around the pillars of the bridges using bottom bouncers. Bigger fish seem to be coming in by the structures in the river. Depth is around 20-40 feet – fish are going deeper.

At Akaska  fishing is still good, but has slowed a bit. There are lots of smaller fish and it can be hit or miss with most using crawlers and leeches in about the 45-60 foot depths. Nice fish are coming from the Moreau.

At Gettysburg  the bite here has slowed a bit on walleye and can be spooty. Anglers are fishing in around 25-45 feet – again, using crawlers and leeches. Some anglers are using artificial lures and fishing deep. Smallmouth and northern are still being caught here also. You’ll have to do a lot of sorting with the walleye here the same as other areas.

Around Spring Creek / Cow Creek  walleye are still coming in, but has been a bit slower –  anglers are fishing in anywhere from 2-80 feet depths. Fish are definitely moving deeper, but they seem to be everywhere. Live bait – crawlers and leeches – is working well with some anglers also using crank baits. West shore and East shore are going well, along with Spring and Cow creek. Some anglers are using crank baits with downriggers and fishing for walleye! Again, all species are being caught – northern, catfish, small mouth bass and walleye.

Remember: if you take fish from the deeper water, please keep the fish. They will most likely not survive if returned to the lake.

Lake Sharpe

Fishing is still good at the tailrace of the Oahe Dam using husky jerks, spoons and flicker shads and the mouth of the stilling basin is still going good.

The tailrace to Stony Point is going well in around 5-15 feet. Using crawlers, leeches and crankbaits against the current. They are letting out more water at times from the Oahe Dam so you need to slow down with electronics or have wind socks along.

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 continuing down to the Big Bend Dam. Anglers are still catching lots of smaller fish and they are doing well with live bait and crank baits against the current in 10-25 foot depths.

Species other than walleye are also being caught with a good bite on catfish, which are being caught at Farm Island and in the tailrace below the Oahe Dam. Northern, smallmouth and white bass are also being caught here.

Walleye are being caught in about 10-25 feet or more. Anglers are still using crawlers, shiners or leeches. At West Bend and Joe Creek area the fishing is going well using crawlers, leeches and crankbaits. Smallmouth can be caught here also.

Around Big Bend Dam on Lake Sharpe there is still a very good smallmouth bite. Walleye seem to be mainly on the flats and points. The area from Iron nation to Lower Brule has been good. Anglers are using crawlers and leeches in 15-30 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 anglers catching lots of fish.  All of Francis Case seems to be doing well, with limits coming in. Anglers are using crawlers and leeches in 15-30 foot depths. Fishing is going well around the bridges and structures.
In the Platte  area fishing has slowed, but anglers are still catching fish – you just need to look for them. Most anglers are fishing in 25-40 feet using live bait. Some are fishing pulling plugs with lead core line and fishing deep. White bass are hitting well now also.
At the Pickstown - Wagner – Lake Andes area fishing is excellent below the Fort Randall Dam in the evening with anglers pulling plugs in the fast water. Above the dam fishing is good, with anglers fishing in the shallow water. The fish are still active with active fishing around Pease Creek and Spring Creek. The good bait this past week was a pink jig and minnow! And, the depth of the week was 13-18 foot! Good eating size fish are being caught in around 16” to 18”. The water temp is cooling and is in the 70’s. Good reports are still coming in on the small mouth bass, northern, catfish 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.

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.

Aberdeen-born Brad Walker advanced to the Olympic pole vault finals at 1 p.m. (CT) Friday in London from among the three-member Team USA delegation.

Early Wednesday morning in the pole vault qualifying round, University of South Dakota assistant track and field coach Derek Miles failed to advance. The 39-year-old Miles was unable to clear the opening height of 17.06 feet on three tries. The 2012 Olympics are the third for Miles, who was fourth in the pole vault in Beijing and seventh in Athens.

Nebraskan Jeremy Scott also failed to qualify even after he cleared 18.04 feet, the cutoff point to make the finals. Scott, who had sisters run track at USD, had too many misses in previous rounds to qualify for the finals.
Brad Walker, who lived in Aberdeen until age 2 and whose parents still have friends here, cleared 18.37 feet. That was tied for the fourth best mark going into the finals.
The top qualifiers were France’s Renaud Lavillenie and Germany’s Raphael Holzdeppe at 18.54 feet.

The next six qualifiers for the final cleared 18.37 feet with Greece’s Konstadinos Filippidis based on less misses. Walker and Evgeniy Lukyanenko of Russia are tied for fourth with Romain Mesnil (France) sixth, Dmitry Starodubtsev (Russia) seventh and Lukasz Michalski eighth.

Tied for ninth at 18.04 feet are Igor Bychkov (Spain), defending Olympic champion Steven Hooker (Australia), Jan Kudlicka (Czech Republic), Steven Lewis (Britain), Malte Mohr (Germany) and Bjoern Otto (Germany).

2012: Travis Tritt and Hunter Hayes at 8 p.m. Aug. 16;, David Nail and Jerrod Niemann at 8 p.m. Aug. 17; and Dierks Bentley and Dustin Evans and the Good Times Band at 8 p.m. Aug. 18.

2011: LeAnn Rimes, The Band Perry, Josh Turner, John Anderson, Frankie Ballard, The Bellamy Brothers.

2010: Kenny Rogers, Clay Walker, Joe Diffie, Jake Owen, Love & Theft, Joey + Rory.

2009: Blake Shelton, Luke Bryan, Heidi Newfield, Herb Dixon, Rodney Atkins, Gloriana.

2008: Ronnie Milsap, Miranda Lambert, Kellie Pickler, Ashton Shepherd, Mark Chesnutt, Hailey Steele.

2007: Craig Morgan, Taylor Swift,Restless Heart, Blackhawk, Little Texas, Lonestar, Taryn Kranhold.

2006: Jo Dee Messina, Neal McCoy, Night Wing, Keith Anderson, Josh Gracin.

2005: The Oak Ridge Boys, Trace Adkins, Dierks Bentley, Lauren Lucas, Dustin Evans and the Goodtimes, 4-H Performing Arts Group.

2004: Chris Cagle, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Diamond Rio, Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike.

2003: Gary Allan, Kellie Coffey, Pat Benatar, Sawyer Brown.

2002: Lifehouse, Charlie Daniels Band, Great Pretenders, Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Phil Vassar.

2001: Eve 6, Blessid Union of Souls, Terri Clark, Yankee Grey, Creedence Clearwater Revisited.

2000: Glen Campbell, Chely Wright, .38 Special, Ty Herndon.

1999: Toby Keith, Sammy Kershaw, Lee Ann Womack, Mustang Sally, Montgomery Gentry, The Coates.

1998: Tracy Byrd, Bill Engvall, The Lynns, Little River Band, Kenny Chesney, BR5-49.

1997: Rhett Akins, Martina McBride, Williams and Ree, Joe Diffie.

1996: Chris LeDoux, The Trenchcoats, John Berry, Williams and Ree, Lonestar, Jo Dee Messina, Ricochet.

1995: Patty Lovelace, Blackhawk, Neil McCoy, the Guess Who.

1994: Little Texas, Diamond Rio, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Velvet Touch, Michelle Wright.

1993: Billy Dean, Confederate Railroad, Ronna Reeves, Mark Chesnutt, Restless Heart.

1992: Brooks & Dunn, Diamond Rio, Lee Greenwood, Suzy Bogguss, Pam Tillis, Pirates of the Mississippi.

1991: The Statler Brothers, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Baillie and the Boys, Joe Diffie, Restless Heart.

1990: Lorrie Morgan, The Oak Ridge Boys, The Bellamy Brothers, Highway 101.

1989: The Escape Club, Charley Pride, Sawyer Brown, Skip Ewing, Lucy J. Dalton.

1988: Three Dog Night, Tanya Tucker, Sweethearts of the Rodeo, Highway 101, Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers.

1987: Marie Osmond, Dan Seals, Sha Na Na, Gary Puckett.

1986: Exile, Lee Greenwood, Herman’s Hermits, Gary Puckett and the Union Gap, The Grass Roots, The Monkees.

The Bison return six starters on offense and seven on defense from a team that went 14-1 overall and 7-1 in the conference last year.

UNI is picked second as the Panthers earned 300 total points to edge Youngstown State (291) and Illinois State (287) in the voting.  The Panthers represented the league in the playoffs last year and compiled a 10-3 overall record and 7-1 league slate. UNI has been ranked in the Top 25 in 94 consecutive polls.

Indiana State is fifth in this year’s poll, with 228 points, while South Dakota State (182) and Southern Illinois (167) follow closely behind.  Newcomer South Dakota clocks in at No. 8 in the pre-season poll with 97 points, followed by Western Illinois (90) and Missouri State (69).

A pre-season favorite has claimed the league crown 14 times (in 26 previous polls). UNI was picked to win the league last season.

2012 Valley Football Preseason Poll
Team (first-place votes) — Points
1. North Dakota State (37) — 379
2. UNI — 300
3. Youngstown State — 291
4. Illinois State (1) — 287
5. Indiana State — 228
6. South Dakota State — 182
7. Southern Illinois — 167
8. South Dakota — 97
9. Western Illinois — 90
10. Missouri State — 69

2012 Missouri Valley Football Preseason Team

	Name, School	         Ht.	Wt.	Yr.	Hometown / High School
QB-	Kurt Hess, YSU        	6-3	230	Jr.	Dayton (Ohio) Chaminade-Julienne
RB-	Shakir Bell, INS	5-8	185	Jr.	Indianapolis (Ind.) Warren Central
	Jamaine Cook, YSU	5-9	215	Sr.	Cleveland (Ohio) Midpark High
FB-	Jordan Neukirch, ILS	6-2	225	Jr.	Algonquin (Ill.) Huntley High
WR-	Aaron Rollin, SDSU	6-1	210	Sr.	Lee's Summit (Mo.) West High
	Tyrone Walker, ILS	5-11	190	Sr.	Indianapolis (Ind.) Cardinal Ritter
TE-	MyCole Pruitt, SIU	6-3	241	So.	St. Louis (Mo.) Kirkwood High
OL-	Chris Elkins, YSU	6-4	290	Jr.	Beaver Falls (Pa.) High
	Jimmy Holtschlag, WIU	6-5	300	Sr.	Quincy (Ill.) Notre Dame
	FN Lutz, INS          	6-3	290	Sr.	W. Lafayette (Ind.) Lafayette Harrison
	Mark Pratt, YSU	        6-3	295	Sr.	Tooele (Utah) High
	Bryan Witzmann, SDSU	6-7	300	Jr	Houlton (Wis.) Somerset High
PK-	Tyler Sievertsen, UNI	6-2	185	Jr.	Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Kennedy High

DL-	Kenneth Boatright, SIU	6-4	244	Sr.	Bolingbrook (Ill.) Midland Lutheran
	Ben Obaseki, INS	6-3	260	Sr.	Washington (Ind.) High
	Nate Palmer, ILS	6-2	235	Sr.	Chicago (Ill.) Simeon High
	Kayon Swanson, SIU	6-1	282	Sr.	Southfield (Mich.) High
LB-	Aaron Archie, INS	6-0	235	Sr.	Detroit (Mich.) Cass Tech
	Evan Frierson, ILS	6-2	240	Sr.	Washington (D.C.) H.D. Woodson
	Tyler Starr, USD	6-5	236	Jr.	Little Rock (Iowa) George-Little Rock
	Jacolby Washington, INS	6-1	235	Sr.	Deltona (Fla.) Deltona Trinity Christian
DB-	Colten Heagle, NDSU	5-10	200	Jr.	Appleton (Wis.) Kimberly High
	Varmah Sonie, UNI	5-9	166	Sr.	Burnsville (Minn.) Apple Valley
	Marcus Williams, NDSU	5-11	195	Jr.	Minneapolis (Minn.) Hopkins High
	Winston Wright, SDSU	5-10	185	Jr.	Lee's Summit (Mo.) Blue Springs South
P-	Lucas Hileman, INS	6-1	195	Sr.	Anna (Ill.) Anna-Jonesboro High
RS-	Steve Strother, SIU	5-8	170	Sr.	Culpepper (Va.) Eastern View

Honorable Mention (minimum of five votes):

QB Matt Brown (Illinois State); WR Will Powell (South Dakota); TE Matt Thayer (Missouri State); OL Misha Danilov (UNI); OL Billy Turner (North Dakota State); OL Tim Ross (South Dakota); PK Kevin Robb (South Dakota); DE Cole Jirik (North Dakota State); DL Andy Mink (South Dakota State); DL Dwight Harris (Western Illinois); LB Teven Williams (Youngstown State); LB Andrew Beisel (Missouri State); LB Travis Beck (North Dakota State); DB Kieron James (Western Illinois); DB Garrett Scott (UNI); P Cole Zwiefelhofer (South Dakota); RS Ryan Smith (North Dakota State).

Former Northern State basketball coach Don Meyer had a permanent pacemaker put in. He also recently had three heart valves replaced with mechanical ones and a hole in his heart repaired.

The damage was done from the secretion of carcinoid tumors. Meyer has been fighting carcinoid cancer since it was discovered after his car accident in September 2008 where he lost part of his left leg.

Northern State said they are passing along well wishes and cards to Coach Meyer and wife Carmen. People can send them to:

Coach Don Meyer

Northern State University

1200 S. Jay St.

Aberdeen, SD 57401