Memorial Day means summer is here, which also means that summer fishing patterns are upon us as well. Summer always sees an increase in boat traffic, fishing pressure, and brings a different style of fishing than anglers were targeting throughout the springtime. We’ve got everything you need to know to help make this a great summer out on the water!
Lake Sharpe Fishing Report
Fishing on Lake Sharpe is slowly transitioning into the traditional summer patterns. Currently, the best bite is in the West Bend area, with both good numbers of fish and keepers available. Anglers should expect to catch a number of short fish and find an abundance of fish between 15 and 15 1/2 inches. Better quality fish are available as well. Anglers can expect to catch fish both bottom bouncing with livebait and trolling crankbaits.
The best bite closer to the town of Pierre has been in the stilling basin below Oahe Dam. Similar to the West Bend area, anglers should expect to find a number of short fish and the bulk of fish between 15 and 15 1/2 inches. Trolling crankbaits has produced better than bottom bouncing or jigging with livebait.
In town, the bite continues to be productive below Pizza Ranch and Drifters on the Fort Pierre side below the bridge. Anglers are doing best jigging or slowly bottom bouncing with livebait. Once again, expect to go through a number of short fish to produce keepers.
Spring rains and minimal flow have continued to make below the Bad River very dirty. This has greatly reduced the amount of fishing pressure taking place down river and while there are a number of fish present, getting them to bite continues to prove to be difficult. Fish that do bite are caught trolling crankbaits along the main channel adjacent to deep water. Anglers targeting this area should also expect to catch predominantly saugers due to the dirty water.
A traditional summer spot, Hipple Lake in Farm Island, is still waiting to ramp into summer patterns. There is an abundance of crappie, which are mostly 8-10 inches, as well as white bass but overall the walleye bite continues to be difficult. There are short fish present, but the area is still slow to produce the quality walleyes it is known for throughout the summer.
Missouri River Reservoir Summer Forecast
Summer on the Missouri River reservoirs brings a handful of consistent patterns that anglers can plan to target. We’ll break down the best summer spots on the reservoirs to help plan your summer fishing trip!
Lake Oahe
Summer is when Lake Oahe begins to really come to life. Throughout the spring, the bulk of the fish move up the reservoir into North Dakota or the major tributaries: Grand River, Moreau River, and Cheyenne River to complete their annual spawn. As the spawn completes, fish will begin moving out of these areas towards the main body and down towards the lower end of the reservoir.
In the summer, the bulk of the fishing takes place between the 212 Bridge and the face of Oahe Dam. The fish will move to main-lake points, humps, flats, and where present tree patches. Submerged trees particularly in the Whitlock area is extremely popular. Further downriver, fishing points and humps near Sutton Bay and Bush’s Landing are two popular locations as well.
Closer to Pierre, the best bite is often found just below the Cheyenne River along Fantasy Island, Agency Creek, Snake Creek, and Sully Flats. Closer to the dam, Peoria Flats and Chantier Creek are two other popular options.
Lake Sharpe
Below the Oahe Dam, the bulk of the fishing pressure on Lake Sharpe throughout the summer months takes place on the lower third of the reservoir near West Bend and Iron Nation. Here, large flats make bottom bouncing a successful method and anglers can expect to catch good numbers of fish.
The best bite in the Pierre area takes place in the Oahe Dam tailrace, where targeting walleyes casting crankbaits from the shore or dropping below the boat in the evening hours is the most popular way to catch both good numbers and very quality fish.
Lake Francis Case
While the Chamberlain area was the epicenter of walleye fishing throughout the spring months on Lake Francis Case, the bulk of the fishing is now going to be taking place in the Platte area. Large flats, tree patches, and points congregate fish all summer long, including very nice fish as well. Bottom bouncing these points and flats as well as trolling crankbaits along the tops of the trees are often best.
Fishing is best out of the Snake Creek and Platte Creek areas, though good fishing can also be found further down the reservoir near Pease Creek and Whetstone Bay. Focusing on areas adjacent to deep water, or structure within that deep water such as trees, often is the best starting points.
The fourth week of the Tuesday Night Walleye Fishing season in Pierre is in the books and the theme continues to be good numbers of fish, but a lack of great quality fish. The evening brought gorgeous weather with clouds and mild temperatures, but water clarity continues to be a major factor forcing the bulk of the field to continue to fish above the Bad River.
The Lip Ripper Fishing boys were happy to get back on the water following an infected root canal for Nick and an illness for Mason, which forced them to miss week three. The boys decided to attempt to target downriver and see if they could find better quality fish despite the dirty water.
“Not being able to be out on the water we were forced to make our plan for this week based on previous year’s notes, which essentially gave us two options,” said Nick Harrington, Owner of Lip Ripper Fishing. “While one gave us the best chance to win, it was also the biggest risk. We knew fishing the dirty water was also a risk, but we felt confident it minimized our chance at a zero.”
The risk was rewarded right away with three quality saugers in the first half hour. Following this, the bite completely shut off.
“Our first pass when we had an 18 inch, 17 inch, and 16 inch sauger we thought we were going to be able to scratch out a quality night even if it required some sorting,” continued Harrington. “We had one short walleye that same pass as well, but that was it and honestly that was really surprising to us.”
The boys were able to pick up a fourth walleye closer to the launch but weren’t able to bring a full five-fish limit.
“Overall, it was a disappointing night, but we’re just happy to be able to get back out there,” concluded Harrington. “Last week was pretty rough so I’m happy to be healthy and back on the water.”
The boys’ four fish weighed in at 4.80 pounds for 13th place. Overall, weights continue to be very tight with anglers catching the same quality of fish across the reservoir.
Tuesday Night Walleye Fishing League Week Four Top 5:
- 1st Place: Kueter/Karr 8.40 pounds
- 2nd Place: Anderson/Zilverberg 7.60 pounds (tie)
- 2nd Place: Metzinger/Devon 7.60 pounds (tie)
- 3rd Place: Laube/Menning 7.40 pounds
- 4th Place: Young/Dillman 7.00 pounds
Casting for Recovery Donation
Each week throughout the Tuesday Night Walleye Fishing League season, plus Sharpe Showdown, for each pound the boys bring to the scale $1 will be donated to Casting for Recovery South Dakota.
Current weights/donations:
- Tuesday Night League Week One: $3.85
- Sharpe Showdown: $12.94
- Tuesday Night League Week Two: $6.79
- Tuesday Night League Week Four: $4.80
Total Current Donation: $28.38
Reel in Memories in South Dakota State Parks Update
This year, the annual theme for South Dakota State Parks is Reel in Memories. Anglers who go fishing in a South Dakota State Park or Recreation Area are eligible to submit photos of their adventures to earn stickers and enter to win the ultimate state park fishing package!
So far this season Nick Harrington has fished primarily out of two state parks, Oahe Downstream Recreation Area and Farm Island Recreation Area in Pierre. Stay tuned throughout the year to see how many parks Nick is able to collect!
State Parks Fished: 2
- Oahe Downstream Recreation Area (Lake Sharpe, Pierre)
- Farm Island Recreation Area (Lake Sharpe, Pierre)
