After a long stretch of difficult fishing, Lake Sharpe is finally making up for it! There is no other way to put it, the bite is very, very good up and down Lake Sharpe! We take a look at all the bites throughout the reservoir in this week’s Lake Sharpe Fishing Report!
Lake Sharpe Fishing Report
Fish can be caught across the reservoir, so we’ll just start at the top and work our way down! In the stilling basin, fishing has been hit or miss. Anglers are able to deploy a variety of methods to catch fish, including pitching jigs, vertical jigging, dragging bottom bouncers, and trolling crankbaits on leadcore. This area is also one of the best spots on the reservoir that anglers have the opportunity to catch a true trophy-caliber walleye.
For the most part, fish being caught are males in the 15-17-inch range. Though, there is always the opportunity for a big one too!
Moving down river a few miles, the fishing continues to be very good on the sandbars within town. Pitching jigs has been the best technique, with the best spots being the Causeway, Marion’s Gardens, along the rocks near Pizza Ranch/Drifters, and along the docks on the east side of the river.
Below the Bad River, muddy water continues to be a problem. Heavy rains from storms this week exasperated the mud troubles, but the mud conditions are better than they had been. The muddy water continues from the Bad River to about Stoney Point and the Fort George area.
East of Pierre, the fishing is beginning to pick up in Hipple Lake at Farm Island Recreation Area. There is a lot of life in Hipple Lake right now, with abundant white bass of all sizes, gizzard shad, freshwater drum, catfish, crappie, and of course walleye!
The white bass are currently shallow along the reeds and can produce some very exciting fishing! White bass greater than 15 inches are present, but of course there are plenty of smaller white bass too!
Crappies can make a nice surprise catch too!
Still east of Pierre, while the mud challenges are still present on the main-channel side, the shore fishing is really beginning to pick up along the Fort George area. Fishing from Twin Bridges down to Fort George is an extremely popular shore fishing spot and as the mud subsides, this spot is getting better and better for anglers looking to target walleye from shore. There will of course be plenty of catfish and white bass too!
Further down, the West Bend area is offering some of the best fishing on the reservoir right now as well. Anglers are catching significant numbers of fish with plenty of unders and of course fish greater than 15 inches too!
Indeed, the fishing on Lake Sharpe is finally coming to life! Anglers should expect to find plenty of short fish, with many in the 9-12-inch and 12–14-inch range too. There should be no shortage of 15–17-inch fish as well, with the opportunity to catch ones significantly larger too!
News and Notes
Open House Weekend
This upcoming weekend is the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) Open House Weekend! This means from May 19-21, you can enjoy free entrance into all state parks and recreation areas and no fishing license is required. Regulations and length limits do still apply. Now is a great time to make plans to hit the water and the park!
South Dakota Park Entrance Licenses Expiring
Following the free fishing weekend, the 2022 South Dakota Park Entrance License will expire and visitors will be required to have a 2023 Park Entrance License. The 2023 license will be valid until May 19, 2024.
Durable License Hard Cards Available for Purchase
When you purchase your South Dakota Park Entrance License, check out the durable license hard cards! These hard cards feature artwork by Terry Redlin, display your licenses on the size of a credit card, and can be collected as well.
Enter to Win the Ultimate Outdoor Package
There is still time to purchase your tickets for the ultimate outdoor package! This package includes a Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, Alumacraft Classic 165, and $5,000 in outdoor gear! Purchase your tickets before June 3 for your chance to win!
