Chamberlain South Dakota and springtime walleye fishing just goes hand in hand. Each year, the towns of Chamberlain and Oacoma play host to both local and national tournaments, thousands of anglers from across the region, and one of the best spring walleye bites in the country. Indeed, Lake Francis Case in the Chamberlain area is a destination fishery for every walleye angler.
Conveniently located along Interstate 90 in central South Dakota, anglers come from across the region to take advantage of the year-round walleye fishing opportunities. Sitting under Big Bend Dam in Fort Thompson, the Chamberlain area often is one of the first open water fishing opportunities in the area. Flowing water from the dam, major tributaries in Crow Creek and the White River, and miles of spawning structure attracts walleyes from up and down the reservoir congregating fish in predictable areas for anglers to target.
Two large marinas, American Creek Marina and Cedar Shore Resort, are capable of handling hundreds of boats and trailers each day once ice conditions recede. Additional boat ramps in the American Creek Campground, Dude Ranch Lakeside Use Area, and Right and Left Tailrace Campground and boat ramps provide numerous areas for anglers to access the water. The rock grades in town are also a shore angler’s dream and can produce excellent fishing for anglers powered by their own two feet.
Numerous areas that hold walleye allow anglers to target fish with numerous tactics. The most popular ways to target walleyes in the Chamberlain area are dragging jigs, pitching jigs, and trolling crankbaits. Anglers can also catch fish casting crankbaits, bottom bouncing with minnows, and simply hanging crappie rigs off the bottom. One of the aspects that makes this bite so appealing to so many different anglers is the ability to customize the way you fish.
Far and away the most popular location for anglers to target is the Crow Creek area. The large flats congregate walleyes that are most commonly targeted by anglers dragging jigs and minnows along the flats and breaklines adjacent to the main channel. Trolling crankbaits is also an effective way to cover these expansive flats and breaklines and locate active walleyes.
Just downriver, Kiowa Flats is another popular location where similar tactics can be deployed. Both of these areas feature expansive flats, submerged timber, and are adjacent to the main channel. These elements are important to look for across Lake Francis Case particularly in the springtime.
Closer to town, anglers looking to pitch jigs will find miles to target along the rocky grades in town. Walleyes will congregate in deeper water in the main bays, such as Pontoon Bay, before moving up to sit on the shallow rocks where an excellent pitching bite can set up. Pitching ⅛-3/16 oz jigs with minnows or plastics is the most common way to target these fish, but casting shallow crankbaits can produce as well.
Anglers looking to target some of the largest walleyes in the system can find one of the best big fish bites trolling crankbaits on leadcore between the bridges. Large female walleyes will stage in this deep water where anglers fishing with small crankbaits can find one of their biggest fish of the season.
Further downriver, Carpenter Bluffs is an excellent location to both drag jigs along the breaklines adjacent to the channel or pitch jigs up shallow depending on what their electronics are telling them. Trolling crankbaits in this area can also be productive as well.
Below Carpenter Bluffs sits an area similar to Crow Creek, but often less popular in terms of boats. This area is the White River, where walleyes and saugers both will congregate along the flats and bluffs and be targeted by pitching jigs or trolling crankbaits. Trolling crankbaits in particular is an excellent way to target large areas and locate active fish.
Anglers looking to fish with jigs are going to find the best success with the traditional jig and minnow presentation. When dragging jigs or fishing vertically, ¼-½ oz sized jigs are often best based on current and wind conditions. Anglers pitching jigs will often do best with ⅛-¼ oz jigs again depending on depth and current, but in certain situations even 1/16 oz jigs can be productive as well.
As far as crankbait selection, smaller baits are often most successful. Lake Francis Case is a gizzard shad based fishery and in the spring, gizzard shad numbers are at their lowest after mortality throughout the winter months. Fish are still keying on the smaller shad profiles and the best baits are #5 Rapala Shad Raps, Berkley Flicker Shads, or even Salmo Hornets. Top colors on the Missouri River reservoirs are blue, purple, green, and plain white.
Expect to find fish in various stages of spawn throughout the reservoir, some fish may be pre-spawn, while other fish are spawning, and other fish have already completed their spawning rituals and are preparing to go back on the feed. The various locations and large number of fish keep a steady flow of fish looking to bite. If an area goes cold don’t give up on it, new fish may filter on in the next few hours or next day or so.
The most important component to finding success on Lake Francis Case in the Chamberlain area is finding clear water. Dirty water makes fishing tough on the Missouri River especially in the spring when water temperatures are still low. After heavy snow or rains, the water coming from the feeder creeks can be incredibly dirty and finding the clearest water is critical to success.
The term “destination fishery” can be used loosely, but in the spring there is no hotter place to be walleye fishing than the Chamberlain area on Lake Francis Case. Numerous areas to launch the boat, stringers of walleye to be caught, and small town South Dakota hospitality awaits every angler looking to experience spring fishing in the Chamberlain area!
Lake Francis Case Regulations
Lake Francis Case is a popular fishery in the springtime and whether it is your first time fishing the Chamberlain area or you just need a refresher here are a few reminders on regulations on Lake Francis Case in the Chamberlain area in the springtime:
- Daily limit 4 walleye/sauger combination per person.
- 15-inch minimum both walleye/sauger.
- Up to one walleye/sauger greater than 20 inches per person in daily limit.
- Possession limit 8 walleye/sauger combination per person.
- “Dredge Hole” closed to fishing until May 1.
- All plugs must be pulled immediately after loading and remain out until immediately before launching.
- No lake water may be transported away from the access point.
- Valid South Dakota fishing license is required.
- (Note 15-inch minimum does not apply during July and August)
Walleye and Sauger Identification
Anglers fishing on Lake Francis Case in the Chamberlain area are frequently going to catch both walleye and sauger. Both species are closely related and the regulations apply to both of them, but it is fun for anglers to know specifically what they are catching. Find a breakdown of how to tell these two species apart below!
National Walleye Tour Highlights
The National Walleye Tour, Masters Walleye Circuit, and numerous other touring and local events have taken place on Lake Francis Case in the springtime. Check out some of the highlights to see what keeps bringing these anglers back year after year!
The National Walleye Tour is no stranger to the Chamberlain area! Check out the recap from the 2022 event on Lake Francis Case!
The 2021 season also saw the National Walleye Tour visit Lake Francis Case, check out some of the action from this tournament!
Plan Your Trip to Chamberlain
If you’ve never have enjoyed spring walleye fishing in Chamberlain, South Dakota we have everything you need to make your trip a success! Check out our Plan Your Trip page and get ready to hit the water and enjoy the spring bite!
