SD Missouri River Fishing Report

From Walleye to Prairie Chicken: The Ultimate Prairie Adventure

This week’s fishing report is sponsored by SD Outfitters Unlimited (https://www.sdoutfittersunlimited.com/) . Located in Geddes on the east side of Lake Francis Case, this family-owned professional guide service does it all from fishing to hunting, providing an excellent resort-style lodge where you can escape from the busy life and take in nature’s peace. On the river, their experienced guides can lead you to walleye, bass, perch, paddlefish and other species. In the prairies, book a hunt for several days on 10,000 acres of prime habitat to track down pheasant, prairie chicken, and waterfowl. SD Outfitters welcomes groups small and large, offering Couples Retreat (https://www.sdoutfittersunlimited.com/blog/fishing-that-feeds-the-soul)  bookings for those honeys looking to relax together.
All our best,
The SD Missouri River Tourism Team
Subscribe to the Missouri River Tourism Newsletter (https://www.sdmissouririver.com/newsletter-signup/)
https://www.sdmissouririver.com/news/article/vying-for-the-paddlefish-on-the-missouri-river/
Vying for the Paddlefish on the Missouri River: THE RIVER GIANT
Joel Vasek, owner of South Dakota Outfitters Unlimited (https://www.sdoutfittersunlimited.com/) in Geddes, SD, has been accidentally catching paddlefish on the Missouri River since the late 1990s, estimating 500 paddlefish caught while walleye fishing. Read More (https://www.sdmissouririver.com/news/article/vying-for-the-paddlefish-on-the-missouri-river/)
Reports for the Mobridge (https://mobridge.org/)  and Pollock (http://www.pollocksouthdakota.com/)  areas are similar to last week, please refer to the latest update:
Brent Kemnitz shared from MoRest Motel (https://www.sdmissouririver.com/directory/view/morest-motel/)  that fishing has been super tough. Guides in the area have been catching a few in 30-40ft pulling cranks.
Around Akaska, Chad Schilling with Oahe Wings & Walleyes (https://oahewings.com/)  reported the bite seems to be getting a touch better, but it really couldn’t have gotten worse so there was only one direction to go. Good days reel in 6-10 walleye, bad days reduced to 1-2. Fish are scattered; they never seem to be in the same area and don’t bite the same things. Switching up the method helps a lot: pulling crank baits, jigging, and live bait rigs.
In the Whitlock Bay area near Gettysburg (http://cityofgettysburg.com/) , South Whitlock Resort (https://www.southwhitlock.com/)  shared some positive news: anglers are catching some really nice walleye, and they’ve seen good salmon numbers this weekend. Overall, walleye are deep and scattered. Boaters are catching the big ones 60-80ft on the main lake, 40ft if they are throwing over the trees. Some are fishing shallow and from the shore with nightcrawlers, minnow, and jig raps. Anglers looking for salmon are casting from shore using crocodile spoons. Salmon can be caught back in the bay areas as well. Recently, a salmon angler caught a 30-inch walleye casting with spoons.
Bob’s Resort (https://www.bobsresort.com/)  reported that overall the area has been fairly slow, but anglers are catching some. Bigger walleye can be found in deep waters. Salmon is starting to show up in the area, but have not fully taken off. Catfish and smallmouth bass are great to target right now.
Salmon Update on Oahe
Kevin Thibodeau with the Oahe Salmon Guide (https://www.oahesalmonguideservice.com/)  reported the bite remained good for the week. Weather was less than ideal but the fish didn’t care! Salmon were drawn up from 60-80ft down, almost all on FFs. At this point in the season, a decent shallow bite is possible. Many colors are working right now, and one will work just as productively as another. FF is still coming out ahead. Strike Assist sliders on riggers are pulling in their fair share of fish as well.
Kevin’s 2026 Salmon Season Review
It was a lights-out banger of a season! Kevin saw the best, most consistent fishing this year over all other years. Spring started strong, continuing well into the first 2 weeks of May, where it slowed till about mid-June. It picked up again with an extremely good, consistent bite through early July. Though the bite cooled off from this highest peak, it remained good up till early August. The shad hatch had been remarkably successful, plus the smelt population was doing well, thus creating a harder catching environment at that time. FF was the prime bite throughout most of the season.

Thanks SD GFP for the outstanding Salmon program on Lake Oahe!
Photo Courtesy of Oahe Salmon Guide Service (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577021757404)

Whitlock Salmon Spawning Station Starts October 8

The salmon spawning station at West Whitlock Recreation Area will open Thursday, October 8. Salmon spawning operations usually continue through the month of October depending on weather and water conditions.

During the fall of 2025, a total of 340 salmon returned through the fish ladder, while an additional 439 salmon were collected through boat electrofishing efforts. In total, South Dakota collected an estimated 1.2 million salmon eggs. North Dakota provided additional support to the regional stocking program by contributing approximately 740,000 salmon eggs.

It is important to note that not all collected eggs will ultimately result in stockable fish. On average, approximately one-third of the salmon eggs collected are expected to hatch and survive to the stocking stage.
https://sdmissouririver.com/follow-the-river/the-four-lakes-and-dams/lake-sharpe/
For the Lake Sharpe report, Nick Harrington with Lip Ripper Fishing (https://midwestliprippers.com/)  finds fishing to be a bit all over the place in terms of where to find fish, and what fish you do end up finding. Weather was definitely dicey last week due to frequent rain and thunderstorms in the area, making the water murky.

2026 Lake Survey Reports are being completed around this time, and will be published closer to winter and ice fishing season. When they are published, they are automatically uploaded to the Fisheries Report Viewer (https://apps.sd.gov/GF56FisheriesReports/) . They can also be found in the onX Fish app. Reports are also shared at SD GFP’s public meetings in winter.

West Bend Recreation Area Boat Launch Seeing Improvements
The West Bend RA boat launch is closed until early December while the marina is being dredged. This is a much needed improvement that will make the ramp ready to be enjoyed come the 2027 open water season. There’s also a couple campground improvements taking place as well!
https://sdmissouririver.com/follow-the-river/the-four-lakes-and-dams/lake-francis-case/
Reporting for the Chamberlain (https://chamberlainsd.com/)  area, Allen’s Missouri River Guide Service (http://www.allenshillside.com/)  shared the bite is getting better with fall approaching. Still looking for cooler weather to really get into the fall bite. Limits being caught on both reservoirs, but not all anglers are catching them. Walleye are very finicky. Surface temp is sitting in the upper 60s.
Skipper Bros Guiding (https://www.skipperbrosguiding.com/)  on Lake Francis Case said the bite is picking up! Fish have moved in shallow and are starting to go on the fall feed. All presentations are working.
https://www.sdoutfittersunlimited.com/
Joel Vasek with SD Outfitters Unlimited (https://www.sdoutfittersunlimited.com/)  said the water temperature is dropping and the fish are getting active. Francis Case has been hot this last week. Large groups are catching their limits!

Back to back days Friday & Saturday – Photo courtesy SD Outfitters Unlimited (https://www.sdoutfittersunlimited.com/) , Geddes SD
From the Bonesteel (https://www.sdmissouririver.com/directory/category/cities-and-communities/bonesteel/)  and Whetstone Bay area, Ed Pavel from Pavel’s Walleye Camp (https://www.sdmissouririver.com/directory/view/pavels-walleye-camp/)  reported that shallow fishing was very good this last week in 5-25ft of water. Using jigs and crawlers, or just jigging.
Lower Missouri River Fishing Report
Fort Randall / Lake Francis Case / Lewis & Clark / Gavins Point
From 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, Mark Schofield with Lake Andes Inn & RV Park (https://lakeandesinn.com/)  shared that fishing over the past week has changed very little. Overall the lower Missouri River has been fair to good, but anglers are still having to work for their fish. There is a lot of bait in Lake Francis Case right now, which is good for growing healthy walleye but can make the bite tougher for fishermen. Bite windows have been best in the morning and evening.

Above Fort Randall Dam on Lake Francis Case, walleye are scattered from wind-blown shorelines, points, rocky banks, and coves out to deeper structure. Jigging, cranking, and pulling bottom bouncers can all work, but precision matters. Crankbaits have been one of the better options in the 25-45ft range, especially when fish are holding deeper.

Around Bonesteel and Whetstone Bay, fishing has been picking back up. A jig and minnow around 20ft has been producing, and anglers are also catching fish on crankbaits in similar depths.

Below Fort Randall Dam, focus on current seams, riprap, eddies, and slower water close to moving current. A jig tipped with a minnow remains a dependable setup. Shore anglers should keep bait near bottom and work current breaks slowly.
https://sdmissouririver.com/follow-the-river/the-four-lakes-and-dams/lewis-and-clark-lake/

For the Yankton Area and Lewis & Clark Lake, Brian Bashore with The Walleye Guys (https://www.thewalleyeguys.com/) shared in his latest report that fall fishing is one of the best times of the year, producing cooler temps, less boat traffic, and a chance to get true trophy-sized walleye. Last fall, much of Midwest fishing didn’t take off as water temps didn’t drop until late November. But it looks like this fall will be different. Typically the bite tends to pick up mid-October as the reduction of daylights hours and changing temps trigger the walleye to put on the feed bag. Right now, temps are in the low 70s to upper 60s, and are expected to stay cool.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1UlqKYoxHg
The Walleye Guys | 2026 NWT AOY, Beau Schilling
https://www.sdoutfittersunlimited.com/
https://www.sdmissouririver.com/directory/category/outdoors/fishing/

Lake Oahe

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

·         Oahe Wings & Walleyes in Akaska at 605-230-0280

·         Bob’s Resort west of Gettysburg at 605-765-2500

·         South Whitlock Resort west of Gettysburg at 605-765-9762

·         The Outpost Lodge north of Pierre at 605-264-5450
·         Angry Walleye Guide Service at The Outpost Lodge at 605-321-3807

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

·         New Evarts Resort in Glenham at 605-762-3256

·         Pike Haven Resort north of Pierre at 605-264-5465

Lake Oahe and Lake Sharpe

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

·         Propst Professional Anglers in Pierre at 605-222-1621

Lake Francis Case

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

·        Platte Creek Lodge at 605-941-1679

·        Pavel’s Walleye Camp in Bonesteel at 402-340-0033

·        Missouri River Lodge & SD Outfitters Unlimited at 605-680-3877

·        Skipper Bros Guiding at 605-892-7777

·        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://experience.arcgis.com/experience/fa1e6cd335d8425183944b9f1a03e01e) 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!