This post is provided by the Great Lakes of South Dakota Tourism Association.
If you haven’t made that trip to Central South Dakota to fish theMissouri River, you’re missing out on some great action!
A reminder to all hunters out there – Pheasant opener is coming up fast – October 15 in fact. Have you made your reservations?
Grouse/Prairie Chicken – Season dates are September 17, 2011 to January 1, 2012 and the area is statewide. Daily limit is 3 with possession limit of 15.
Sharp-tailed grouse and prairie chicken are closely related native birds, and are interspersed across the short grass prairie of central and western SD.
For more information on hunting in South Dakotago to www.gfp.sd.gov.
Check out our Virtual Travel Planner to book that trip now – we have some of the best outfitters, lodges, restaurants, hotels, resorts and guides in the business! Remember, you can book hunting and fishing combination trips – awesome!
Campgrounds along the river that were flooding are opening again and the boat ramps are also starting to become usable once more. Please go to parks and check out the latest report.
Like us on Facebook – for up-to-date reports from our businesses and the area.
In the Pollock area the walleye bite is still on. There are a lot of walleye to be caught. Anglers are pulling plugs in 15-35 feet of water around the trees and shallows. The best time to fish is towards evening. A few salmon are coming in, being found mostly back in the bay and in very shallow water.
At Mobridge fishing is going well. Right in town and north of town are picking up and south of town remains good. Main bait being used is crawlers and spinners or bottom bouncers in 15-25 feet. A few anglers are starting to use minnows also.
At Akaska fishing is still going strong – limits are coming in daily and the fish are biting everywhere. The Moreau is a popular spot to be. Anglers are using live bait and spinners in 18-25 feet. Fish are healthy and looking good.
At Gettysburg lots of walleye are still coming in. Just about any bait is working in 5-35 feet. While the salmon bite has not taken off, anglers are catching a few all the time.
Around Spring Creek / Cow Creek the walleye bite is steady and limits keep coming in. Bottom bouncers and crawlers in 12-15 feet is working for most anglers, with some using minnows also. Smallmouth bass are also biting right now. Salmon fishing is slow at best for the time being.
Lake Sharpe
There is a temporary “no-wake zone” onLake Sharpe on the waters located between the island immediately upstream from the railroad bridge between PierreandFort Pierreand the western shore of the Missouri River. It’s bounded on the north by Echo Point and extends downstream to the southern tip of the island. GF&P has positioned buoys to mark the “no-wake zone.” This has been put in place to protect flooded private property along the west shore.
Fishing on Sharpe is going wild. Anglers need to do some sorting to get fish over 15 inches, but are catching limits. Minnows, crawlers, and crankbaits against the current are working well in 10-15 feet. The main boat ramp being used is by the Oahe Marina below the Dam. Farm Island, Antelope Creek andFort George are great places to get away from the crowds and find some nice fish.
Fishing at the Oahe Dam Tailrace has been good for all species, so you shore fisherman should head to that area. A few salmon have also been turning up in this area.
On Lake Sharpe the docks are back in atFarm Island. Fishing in Hipple Lake is very good using live bait in 10-20 feet. GF&P has started to open a few campsites at Farm Island – again, go to the link we have listed above to find out what areas are open on the entire river system. The water is starting to go down slowly.
At West Bend there is low traffic and lots of nice fish. Anglers are using minnows and crawlers. Now’s the time to come to the Pierre/Fort Pierre area – especially in the middle of the week when there is less traffic.
This should be a fantastic fall in the Pierre/Fort Pierre area – bring your boat and shotgun – fish half a day and hunt half a day – perfect!
Around Chamberlain the bite is not going down onLakeSharpe and Francis Case. This is one of the best years for fishing that Francis Case has seen. The water level is dropping, with fishing going very well. Anglers are fishing along the banks and high points in the river –West Bend, Iron Nation & Lower Brule are good areas. It’s going well both north and south of Chamberlain. Fishing on Case is excellent in 7-25 feet using crawlers. The catfish bite has slowed, but expect fishing to remain good into the late fall and early winter.
In the Platte area the fall bite is picking up. Anglers are having success with crankbaits in 12-15 feet. Shore fishing is also picking up.
At the Pickstown – Wagner – Lake Andes area walleye fishing on Lake Francis Case is steady. Ramps are open in this area also. From the Pease Creek area to the dam the fishing is going well. Anglers are pulling plugs in 30-40 feet. Access is good now as all ramps are open! Below the dam, the fishing is great! Anglers are using a jig and a minnow or crawler or pulling plugs. Afternoons and evenings in the fast water are exceptional with limits being caught quickly. Shore fishing is also very good. Lots of paddlefish are being spotted in this area, which is a good reminder that paddlefish season is just around the corner, beginning on October 1.
Around Lewis & Clark Lake walleye are being caught in the Boy Scout Camp area using flicker shads.
On the Missouri River boats are allowed on the river with signs marking where boats are permitted. Walleye and white bass are being caught in the still water. Shore fishermen are catching walleye, crappie, catfish and drum.
Springfield Area – Anglers are using minnows to catch crappie and walleye.
On Lake Yankton anglers are catching largemouth bass, bluegill, catfish and crappie.
*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 inGettysburg. 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 the Platte Chamber of Commerce at 888-297-8175, Fort Randall Bait & Tackle at 605-487-7760 in Pickstown and Circle H Motel inLakeAndesat 605-487-7652.
South Dakota Outdoors 
Bill Davies William Davies