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SD Missouri River Repot Last Report for May

by SD Tourism


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Fishing Update for The Missouri River in South Dakota

We will have a couple days in the 80s this week. Time to come to the river or plan your future trip! Be sure and bring bug spray and sunscreen!

REMINDER: Help stop the spread of Aquatic Invasive Species! Check out the Game, Fish & Parks 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.

 

Lake Oahe

In the Pollock and Mobridge and Akaska areas – At Pollock the fishing is really picking up for walleye. And the walleye are fat and healthy. Anglers are fishing in 10-25 feet.  In the Mobridge and Akaska areas the report is the same – fish are becoming active. Depth is anywhere from 10-27 feet with 10-15 giving the best results. Anglers are using jigs/minnows with some starting to use crawlers. The warmer weather is certainly helping the bite. Northern are still biting on smelt in the area and Catfish are being caught along with smallmouth bass. 

At Gettysburg the water is warming up and fishing is certainly picking up. Around 8-25 feet depth is working well with anglers using bottom bouncers or jigs/minnows and a few using crawlers.  Smallmouth, catfish and northern are biting here also. The area around Dodge Draw is still doing well for anglers. 

Around Spring Creek / Cow Creek  - On Oahe tne fishing is certainly picking up in many areas. The water is warming up and fish are becoming more active. Anglers are using bottom bouncers and minnows. The catfish action is good. Northern are still biting on slip bobbers and smelt in about 3 feet of water. The back creeks of Oahe are producing the best right now.

Lake Sharpe - around the Pierre/Fort Pierre the bite is in full swing for spring around the bridges and down to West Bend and along the bluffs. The water temp at West Bend is now over 50 degrees and around Pierre at 50 degrees.  Depths are around 10 feet or less. Best bait is bottom bouncers/minnows or jigs/minnows and some anglers using propeller blades with minnows. The average walleye is 17 inches. Some nice smallmouth are also being caught.

 

Lake Francis Case 

 Around Chamberlain , Lake Sharpe is producing walleye, and the bite is good. From Crow Creek to the Big Bend Dam the bite is on with anglers using spinners with minnows or crawlers. Water temp is around 55 degrees. Anglers are fishing in 10-20 feet. Good smallmouth bite here also.

On Francis Case in the Platte area fishing for walleye is definitely picking up. Warmer weather is helping. Anglers are using spinners and crawlers with some pulling crank baits. Nice smallmouth are being caught here also.

At the Pickstown - Wagner – Lake Andes  areas the fishing is good. Most anglers are fishing in 12-30 feet and some are casting towards shore. Pease Creek to Whetstone Bay is good. As with other areas, the warmer weather will give fishing a boost. The water temp is around 55 degrees here too. Shore fishing both above and below the Fort Randall Dam has been very good. 

 At Yankton the fishing is fair with some walleye being caught – again, the weather has been playing a part in the fishing here too.  Bottom bouncers or spinners /minnows are working best.

For more information and up-to-the-minute reports on fishing Lake Oahe, please call 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 Oahe and Sharpe call Hutch’s Guide Service at 605-224-4755. On Lake Sharpe and Lake Francis Case, contact Dakota Prairie Guide Service at 605-680-1910 or SD Dakota Walleye Charters at 605-366-1875. On Lake Francis Case, call Platte Creek Lodge at 605-941-1679 or Circle H Motel at 605-487-7652. 

Remember – 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!