When discussing the Missouri River reservoirs in South Dakota, the term “walleye factory” is often brought up when speaking of Lake Francis Case and Lake Sharpe. Indeed, these fisheries can crank out incredible numbers of 15-20 inch fish and provide ample opportunities for anglers to fill a limit throughout the season. Sitting above these fisheries is another, one that is not a “walleye factory”, but rather a “trophy walleye factory.”
Coining a fishery a “walleye factory” is a bold enough statement, what gives the grounds to coin a fishery a “trophy walleye factory?” While the history of Lake Oahe shows it has always been home to massive walleyes, the fall of 2023 elevated this fishery to the next level. Indeed, Lake Oahe deserves to be categorized in the likes of other “trophy walleye factories” such as Lake Erie, Lake Winnipeg, and the Columbia River to name a few.
While Lake Oahe has always produced big walleyes, particularly in the 8-12 pound category, it was the fall of 2023 that really showcased the fishery in terms of its trophy potential. It was during this period that the South Dakota State Record Walleye was broken not once but twice. Both of these occurred in very big ways.
The previous state record had been held for 21 years, before Aaron Schuck boated a 16 pound 8 ounce walleye on Friday, October 27 fishing near Akaska. Schuck’s fish was 33 inches long and had a girth of 21 inches.
Schuck’s record would not last another 21 years, in fact, it was much closer to 21 days. This was when a 17 pound 13 ounce walleye was caught by Keith Pazour fishing in a similar area. This fish was also 33 inches long, with an even greater girth at 22 inches.
While these two fish caught the attention of the walleye world, and region as a whole, they were far from outliers in what had been a historic bite on Lake Oahe between Gettysburg and Mobridge. Anglers were catching numerous fish over 10 pounds each day, with many tipping the scales at 12, 13, and 14 pounds. There we even more fish in the 8-10 pound range as well.
These aren’t an accident, Lake Oahe is built to be a true trophy walleye factory. The unique forage base, and nature of the reservoir, is what sets up for this scenario. Further downriver, Lake Sharpe and Lake Francis Case are both gizzard shad-based fisheries. Gizzard shad grow walleyes extremely quickly, but walleyes on a near exclusive shad-based diet have a much more difficult time reaching beyond 20 inches.
Lake Sharpe and Lake Francis Case produce highly consistent year-classes of fish and grow them quickly, with many reaching 15-16 inches by age-three, and they are then able to be harvested by anglers and continue to replenish the fishery. These reservoirs are indeed well-oiled and efficient walleye factories.
Lake Oahe offers much different characteristics of these two fisheries. The first of which, that stands out to many anglers, is the pure size and volume of the reservoir. Lake Oahe stretches from Bismarck, North Dakota to Pierre, South Dakota. Three major tributaries, the Grand, the Moreau, and the Cheyenne Rivers provide substantial spawning habitat and hundreds of other creeks and smaller tributaries are present in the system as well.
While the shear volume of the reservoir, both in terms of surface acres and depth, provides an abundance of water for walleyes, and other species, to call home. The cold water also provides an opportunity for walleyes to live to greater ages where they continue to eat and grow both in terms of length and weight.
While the physical attributes of the fishery are ones an angler can peg as trophy walleye waters, it is the forage options in the fishery that makes these giants what they are. Gizzard shad are present in Lake Oahe, similar to Lake Sharpe and Francis Case, and similar to the reservoirs downriver this can grow walleyes extremely quickly. The greatest factor to growing giants, is that once walleys do reach that 20 inch mark, they can then transition to another food source that is not present in the reservoirs below.
This food source, or in this case food sources, would be rainbow smelt and ciscoe. Once walleyes reach these greater sizes, they can begin really capitalizing on these forage options and continue to grow and grow regardless how large they get. When it comes to growing trophy walleyes, it is not only the abundance but also the type of forage that must be considered. This combination allows walleyes to have preferred food options throughout all stages of life, and in the case of our trophy walleye factory, the growing process.
Contrary to Lake Sharpe and Lake Francis Case, Lake Oahe could be considered a “boom or bust” fishery. The consistent year classes and quick growth rates is not always present like it is in the two reservoirs below. However, when conditions are of the “boom” category, the combination of the expansive nature of the reservoir, the abundance of forage, and the various types of forage sets to grow truly massive walleyes.
Lake Oahe should be on every walleye angler’s bucket list, as it can produce some of the best fishing an angler will experience in their lifetime. Many of the anglers who launched their boats from October to November 2023 were able to see for themselves. Regardless of the time of year, excellent trophy walleye fishing can still be had as walleyes in the 8-12 pound category are always present in the reservoir.
Planning Your Trip to Lake Oahe
The best way for anglers to set themselves up for success is to spend a good bit of time studying the reservoir. The expansive nature, combined with population dynamics for both the forage and the walleyes, as well as environmental factors such as rising and falling water conditions can make Lake Oahe a complex fishery to target.
Fortunately, we have a wide variety of resources to help get started. The first and best resource would be attending or viewing South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks’ (GFP) public meetings regarding the fishery. GFP often conducts these meetings in the winter months and recordings of the 2023 meeting in Pierre can be found on the GFP YouTube page. Hear from the fisheries biologists directly what makes Lake Oahe such a tremendous trophy walleye fishery, and hear a great bit of history on the reservoir and fishery as well.
We have an in depth look into the fishery as well, in A Deep Dive into Lake Oahe. Evaluate the fishery throughout the reservoir and how the different dynamics can actually make Lake Oahe present as two different fisheries depending on the stretch of river being targeted. We also take a deep dive into the history of the reservoir from the floods, high water and low water events, and subsequent stockings by GFP. Find all of this and more, in A Deep Dive Into Lake Oahe.
The next step is to begin evaluating the angling techniques that are often most successful on the system. We have a good number of articles to help get started.
The most common timeframe to target walleyes on Lake Oahe would be in the summer months, and we’ve got everything you need to get started.
In the early summer months, fish are often holding adjacent to spawning tributaries and the larger creeks of the reservoir. Many of these fish will still be in these areas as they work their way towards the main lake. These fish are often quite shallow as well, best targeted by pitching jigs or bottom bouncing. We breakdown everything there is to know in Early Summer Walleyes on Lake Oahe.
As traditional summer patterns continue to take hold, the summer patterns on Lake Oahe can actually set up some of the best times to target trophy caliber fish. Throughout this time, fish will begin focusing on main lake structure and tactics such as trolling crankbaits and fishing vertically are often the most effective. We breakdown everything there is to know in Mid-Summer Walleyes on Lake Oahe.
Lake Oahe is more than a trophy fishery as well. Anglers can expect to catch good numbers of fish on any given day, with limits being common during a time that they may be more difficult on surrounding fisheries. Take an overall look at the fishing throughout the summer on the reservoir in Summer Strategies on Lake Oahe.
Finally, if you’re looking to get on Lake Oahe but don’t quite feel prepared to tackle the reservoir yourself just quite yet, we have you covered! We offer guided walleye fishing trips on Lake Oahe, and fishing with Nick Harrington, Mason Propst, or Bob Propst Jr you’ll have local anglers ready to get you on the hottest bite.
Be sure to find us on all social media platforms to stay up to date on the hottest bite as well. The best resource is to follow Lip Ripper Fishing on Facebook, as well as Nick Harrington (mrwalleyesd) and Mason Propst (masonpropstfishing) on Instagram as well.
Lake Oahe is a special reservoir and one that should be on every anglers bucket list. From getting to know the fishery, to finding the best tactics and techniques, to fishing reports and guided trips we have everything needed to make a memorable trip on Lake Oahe. Good fishing!
