SD Missouri River Fishing Report

http://www.allenshillside.com/?fbclid=IwY2xjawFMS-xleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHR2F9z8YMeLhfZOrTYoTVHMf_MMEEAnv0vVCzDwg5Y8v3PVN_xTz1L06xg_aem_GLNonPkVbE2U1zH-YEgHBg
The Mighty Mo is turning up the action dial across the board!

Fishing is overall warming up to the season and we anticipate good weather approaching – a hot bite is upon us! Just keep an eye on upcoming weather. This Thursday looks like a little rain in the evening … otherwise we’ve got partly cloudy skies for the rest of the week in Central SoDak.

As the season rallies and the river gets busier, be prepared for boat ramps and docks to be busy and full. It’s a great time to refresh your Boating Etiquette. You can watch a YouTube Video below presented from Reel Talk Fishing Podcast linked under the Lewis & Clark section of this report.

All our best,
The SD Missouri River Tourism Team

Subscribe to the Missouri River Tourism Newsletter (https://www.sdmissouririver.com/newsletter-signup/)
With the stable weather this last week, the bite really fired up around Mobridge (https://mobridge.org/)  and Pollock (http://www.pollocksouthdakota.com/) . The MoRest Motel (https://www.sdmissouririver.com/directory/view/morest-motel/)  reports anglers are catching fish anywhere between 5-15ft depending on the day. Pretty much any presentation has been working; both minnows and crawlers are doing well.

The National Walleye Circuit had an excellent tournament on Lake Oahe in the Mobridge area and many good-sized walleye were caught. Read more about those results here (https://masterswalleyecircuit.com/) .

Around Akaska (https://oahewings.com/?y_source=1_OTk3NzA2Ny03MTUtbG9jYXRpb24ud2Vic2l0ZQ%3D%3D) , anglers in the area had a good week and it’s staying busy. Although you can catch high-quality fish about every day, getting them on the hook has not been very easy or consistent. Pulling bouncers with mostly minnows, and some crawlers in extremely shallow water. Some days anglers have to patiently pick them off with jigs or slip bobbers. There is a great population of giants in the Akaska area. Finding them with the livescope and jigging on them has been effective. Some are trolling for them as well, but big fish will be deeper at 20-40ft.
Reported from Oahe Wings & Walleyes (https://oahewings.com/)

REEL nice walleye in Swan Creek Area
Photo Courtesy of Oahe Wings & Walleyes (https://oahewings.com/)

https://www.southwhitlock.com/
In the Whitlock Bay area near Gettysburg (http://cityofgettysburg.com/) , South Whitlock Resort (https://www.southwhitlock.com/) reports that anglers out on boats did great this past week. Some were able to get limits, some not. Early morning and evening bite seems to be the time to go, the afternoon producing less action. Presentation has been mostly live bait (worms/minnow), but take a little bit of everything to try out. Depth has been about 14-17ft and anyone pulling plugs is between 20-30ft.

Bob’s Resort (https://www.bobsresort.com/)  shares the fishing is definitely picking up in the area and fishing anywhere north on up to Akaska is getting hot if you’re looking for a faster bite. Fish are healthy and fat. Presentation has been good with jig/minnow, and crawlers are starting to take some too. Most anglers have been using that presentation in as shallow as 6 ft.
Below the Cheyenne River, The Outpost Lodge (https://outpostsd.com/) shares the 1st Annual Formanek Electric Fishing Tournament had great success with a 10lb walleye brought in. The tournament was on Lake Oahe in the Spring Creek (https://www.sdmissouririver.com/directory/view/spring-creek-recreation-area/)  & Cow Creek (https://www.sdmissouririver.com/directory/view/cow-creek-recereation-area/)  areas.
1st Annual Formanek Electric Fishing Tournament
Photo Courtesy of The Outpost Lodge (https://outpostsd.com/)
Salmon Update on Oahe
The Oahe Salmon Guide (https://www.oahesalmonguideservice.com/) states fishing has been pretty inconsistent this past week, on one day and off the next. The fish appear to remain scattered. Starting to see some temperature separation, which will hopefully cause the fish to school. Flasher/ Fly took most fish this past week, but spoons were still worthwhile. Productive depth was 35-50ft, but may start creeping lower as the water warms. Blues and greens or any combination worked best.
https://sdmissouririver.com/follow-the-river/the-four-lakes-and-dams/lake-sharpe/
In the Pierre (https://pierre.org/) /Fort Pierre (https://www.visitfortpierre.com/)  areas, some nice walleye and white bass are being caught trolling on Hipple Lake. A decent amount of other species is creating good action. Otherwise, no newer reports have been released, and you can refer to last week’s report:

Prospt Professional Anglers (https://propstprofessionalanglers.com/?fbclid=IwY2xjawKF59NleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFQY1o3MDVVVk13MFd1ZlREAR5XKiPHMtl4AiPzaaSVimieC6OfbJNHtoSyEfHxcHlJSGznPPzE0kYp1vHJXg_aem_Hb8X78kEvNlB0YoQo-zgwg)  the bite on the river is fun! Once you find an active pod, it’s nonstop action. Start with small crank baits to search for them, then switch to jig and minnow once you hit a good spot. 9-12ft is the ticket right now.

Lip Ripper Fishing (https://midwestliprippers.com/) shares the fish are
constantly on the move! Mid-summer like temperatures have encouraged greater movement with water temperatures creeping into the 50s and fish scattering along the entire reservoir. As is the case every spring, anglers continue to target the traditional locations within town including the stilling basin, Marion’s Gardens, and the other sandbars along the bridges. Pitching jigs continues to be the primary option.

Further downriver, fish continue to filter through the reservoir, making the bluffs inconsistent. When fish are there, it’s often in great numbers, and occasionally in great sizes as well. However, fish will be there one day, and gone the next. Even further downriver, West Bend has been an active area with many boats reporting similar bite conditions.

Staying on fish has been difficult. Targeting depths between 8-11ft has been the most consistent, particularly along contours adjacent to the main channel. Using long passes, trolling crankbaits, and moving up and down the river will help you score fish.

Overall, there is a great number of fish between 14-18 inches in the system, with many right at the 15-16 inch mark, and there has been ample action taking place all along the reservoir. It has been an excellent spring!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFZaUuEUJc8
Lip Ripper Guide Service
Secrets Revealed: Mutispecies Fishing on Hipple Lake on Lake Sharp in Pierre

Nice action in the West Bend Recreation Area (https://www.sdmissouririver.com/directory/view/west-bend-recreation-area/)
Photo Courtesy from Campground Host, Bill Sherman
https://sdmissouririver.com/follow-the-river/the-four-lakes-and-dams/lake-francis-case/
In Chamberlain (https://chamberlainsd.com/) , Allen’s Missouri River Guide Service (http://www.allenshillside.com/) shares anglers are going through lots of short fish to get their limit. There is a lot of action. Presentation has been mostly crawlers at about 15-20ft. Some fish are being caught pulling baits.
This Chamberlain group is off to a REALLY great start!
Photo Courtesy – Allen’s Missouri River Guide Service (http://www.allenshillside.com/)

Great fishing in Platte (https://www.platteareachamber.com/?fbclid=IwY2xjawKqrjJleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETExZXc5U1ZzajdNWGlFbTJXAR5wxvKGC3XFb7yJjZc0NaVIhCJTjPD5xmbmNHXb3aXbVUMQlF0jyxFHx2TpOg_aem_uOkC9opF51b4XUjHrH5GwQ) – Photo Courtesy of Platte Creek Lodge & Guide Service (https://www.plattecreek.com/)

From the Geddes area, SD Outfitters Unlimited (https://www.sdoutfittersunlimited.com/)  says lower Lake Francis from Pease Creek – Fort Randall Dam has been excellent fishing! Look for fish in the shallows 8-17ft with crawlers and bottom bouncers. Lots of deeper fish being caught with crank baits.

Quality catches from Geddes, SD
Photo Courtesy from SD Outfitters Unlimited (https://www.sdoutfittersunlimited.com/)
Around Bonesteel (https://www.sdmissouririver.com/directory/category/cities-and-communities/bonesteel/) , Ed with Pavel’s Walleye Camp (https://www.sdmissouririver.com/directory/view/pavels-walleye-camp/) says Lake Francis Case fishing is strong around Whetstone Bay area. Presentation has been using live bait, minnows and crawlers between 150-20ft mostly on bottom bouncers. Jigging raps are also working from very shallow levels up to 40ft. Some really nice quality of fish are being caught, but as weather keeps warming up, so will the bite.

For the Lake Andes (https://www.sdmissouririver.com/directory/category/cities-and-communities/lake-andes/) , Wagner (https://wagnersd.squarespace.com/fort-randall-dam) , and Pickstown (https://pickstown-sd.net/) areas, Lake Andes Inn & RV Park (https://lakeandesinn.com/) reports walleye fishing was steady last week above and below Fort Randall Dam. The bite picked up near Pease Creek with anglers finding success at 10–17ft using minnows or crawlers. Small-mouth bass were active on the shore, hitting plastics and crank baits. Above the dam, trolling and jigging produced good numbers. Water temps are climbing, expect fishing to only get better in the coming weeks.
https://sdmissouririver.com/follow-the-river/the-four-lakes-and-dams/lewis-and-clark-lake/

The Walleye Guys (https://www.thewalleyeguys.com/) shares the latest report from the Yankton (https://www.visityanktonsd.com/)  area. The bite was excellent until this recent cold front brought nasty storms rolled in for a week dropping temps 15 degrees and dirtying up the water. With stable weather back in the forecast and temps warming back up, so is the bite. By the end of this week, it should be in full effect again. Walleye are being caught all over the lake. Shallow depths are the place to target them right now; however, some can be caught in deeper water as well. Shallow water fish are typically the most active and easier to catch. 6-7ft seems to be a good target for pitching jigs with live bait or plastics. Trolling the flats around the lake can also produce lots of fish. Drive around with your electronics to find the pods of fish and work them until you figure out what they want that day. Guides have been having bust luck pitching jigs but anticipate a great crankbait bite to take
off this week. Trolling Salmo Hornet and Berkley Money Badgers has been best.
A great string after sorting through keepers!
Photo Courtesy from T (https://www.sdoutfittersunlimited.com/) he Walleye Guys (https://www.thewalleyeguys.com/)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bkSvY_lqVg
The Walleye Guys
Reel Talk Podcast: Boating Etiquette
https://www.sdmissouririver.com/directory/category/outdoors/fishing/

Lake Oahe

·         Kemnitz MoRest Motel in Mobridge at 605-845-3668

·         Oahe Wings & Walleyes at 605-230-0280

·         Bob’s Resort in Gettysburg at 605-765-2500

·         South Whitlock Resort in Gettysburg at 605-765-9762

·         The Outpost Lodge in Pierre at 605-264-5450

·         Oahe Salmon Guide Service in Onida at 605-691-9020

Lake Oahe and Lake Sharpe

·         Lip Ripper Fishing in Pierre at 402-689-9947

·         Hutch’s Guide Service at 605-220-2844

·         South Dakota Walleye Charters at 605-366-1875

Lake Francis Case

·         Allen’s South Dakota Fishing & Hunting at 800-435-5591

·         Platte Creek Lodge at 605-941-1679

·         Missouri River Lodge in Geddes at 605-680-3877

·         Lake Andes Inn Motel & RV Park at 605-418-9888

Lake Lewis and Clark

·         The Walleye Guys in Yankton 402-499-4936
Please note – this report is a snapshot in time and changes can occur quickly. We suggest you call one of our members listed above – they can be very helpful with what is happening along the river. That way you’ll be assured of a great trip!

Questions about boat ramp access? Check the SD Game, Fish & Parks (https://sdgfp.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=79c3f941ae6c4abbbc6ac4b6987a06f5) interactive map. You’ll have to zoom in to the ramp you want to look at, and the information is regularly updated. It’s a great resource!

Help slow the spread of Aquatic Invasive Species! Check out the Game, Fish & Parks (https://gfp.sd.gov/) web site for detailed info on the regulations. They are very specific so you’ll want to be sure you’ve read the regulations. If you love to fish the Missouri River in South Dakota, please do your part to keep the reservoirs free of aquatic invasive species.

Have some great photos from your time on the water? South Dakota Missouri River Tourism would love to share them as part of our weekly Fishing Report update on our social media. Send your Mighty MO river photos to info@sdmissouririver.com and we’ll be sure to give you a shout out! Also, be sure to like us on Facebook for up to date information in the Missouri River Region.
Thanks for reading our Fishing Report!