Provided by: Great Lakes of SD Tourism Association

In the Pollock area they are still catching a number of walleye – with crawlers the main bait being used by anglers in 10-20 foot depth.  Anglers are catching a large variety of fish with Northern, smallmouth bass, catfish coming in – also some nice crappie being brought in.

At Mobridge there are 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 you can bring in some nice fish. Depth is around 20-30 feet – fish are going deeper.

At Akaska  fishing is still good. There are lots of smaller fish, but are seeing some bigger and nice fish coming in. Anglers are using crawlers and leeches. There is good fishing in the 15-30 foot depth. Anglers are bringing in some good eating size fish, and according to the cook at the Akaska Bait Shop they are frying up really well. 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 a bit on walleye with anglers fishing in around 35-40 feet – again, using jigs and minnows, crawlers and leeches – all bait seems to be working here. Lots of smaller fish, but some walleye that are coming in seem to be somewhat larger.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, but it’s spotty. Walleye are still coming in and anglers are fishing anywhere from 5-70 feet depths. Live bait is working well with some anglers also using crank baits. 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 at the tailrace of the Oahe Dam using husky jerks and at the stilling basin is still going good.

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 catching lots of smaller fish. One area that has been doing well is around the mouth of the Bad River and along the bluffs down to Farm Island and Antelope Creek. Anglers are doing well with live bait and crank baits against the current.

Species other than walleye are also being caught with a good bite on catfish, northern, smallmouth and white bass.

Walleye are being caught in about 20-35 feet or more. Anglers are using crawlers, jigs and minnows, shiners or leeches. At West Bend and Joe Creek area the fishing is going well using crawlers and leeches. Smallmouth can be caught here also.

Around Big Bend Dam on Lake Sharpe there is a very good smallmouth bite. Walleye are still 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. Anglers are using crawlers and leeches in 20 – 35 foot depths. The fishing action is great. Good catches still coming in around Crow Creek.
In the Platte  area the fishing is going well. Most anglers are fishing in 20-30 feet using live bait, with some anglers using crank baits.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 lots of fish and lots of species of fish being caught – the bluegill bite has been going very well. Above the dam fishing has slowed some, with good fishing from Pease Creek across on the points in around 20-30 feet. Good eating size fish being caught. Live bait is working well with some anglers also pulling plugs. Good reports are still coming in on the small mouth bass, northern, catfish and crappie bite.

The observation from the preliminary bait fish count that was just done is that it was really good – maybe not the best that they would like to see, but still good.

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.

With a Wildcard game still to be played this afternoon in Sioux Falls between Sioux Falls West and Rapid City post 320, this is how the opening round of the American Legion Baseball State A Tournament is shaping up for the opening round. The double-elimination, five-day event will start Wednesday at Fossum Field in Aberdeen:

10 a.m.: Brookings Bandits Post 74 vs Sioux Falls Post 15 West or Rapid City Post 320.

12:30 p.m.: Defending champion Sioux Falls Post 15 East vs. Spearfish Post 164.

5 p.m.: Rapid City Post 22 Hardhats vs. Watertown Post 17.

7 p.m.: Aberdeen Smittys Post 24 vs. Valley Springs Post 131 of Brandon.

Northern State track and field coaches Jim and Brenda Fuller are leaving after 24 years with the Wolves.
The Fullers have accepted positions at Central College in Pella, Iowa.
“There is never a good time to leave a program that you have made your life’s work,” said Jim, “but the opportunities to be around family, to start a subtle change in our careers and still have the opportunity to be on the track with kids every day, and to move to a smaller liberal arts college — which is the background we both came from — made this seem like the best time we might find.”
Jim’s new position will be as an associate head track and field coach.  He will also serve as an instructor in Central’s exercise science department and will also have some administrative responsibilities.  Brenda will also continue to coach the throwing events at Central like she did at NSU, with other duties yet to be finalized.

See Saturday’s American News for more details.

People are asking where to send well wishes and cards to Coach Meyer. NSU said they would take them:

Coach Don Meyer

Northern State University

1200 S. Jay St.

Aberdeen, SD 57401

Former Northern State basketball coach Don Meyer is doing OK after scheduled heart surgery this week in the Twin Cities.

Carmen Meyer said Thursday that her husband is in stable condition and that they are eager to return to Aberdeen. She also thanks everyone for their thoughts and prayers sent their way.

Meyer 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.