The 2025 South Dakota Governor’s Cup is set for July 19-20. The Governor’s Cup launches out of Spring Creek Recreation Area north of Pierre on to Lake Oahe.
“Last year we celebrated 50 years of the Gov Cup,” said Nick Harrington, Owner of Lip Ripper Fishing. “This year we set our sights on the next 50 years, and hope 2025 sets the tone for the future of this event.”
Anglers can fish anywhere from the Oahe Dam to Bush’s Landing, putting the entire lower third of expansive Lake Oahe in play.
“Lake Oahe is a massive reservoir and it’s a challenging fishery,” continued Harrington. “This tournament really tests your skills and forces you to be versatile.”
The 2024 event was won by Tyson Keller and Duane Hjelm. Tyson and Dewey brought 42.45 pounds to the scales across both days, winning by just over half a pound.
“Last year there was an abundance of 18-19 inch fish in the system and they were all incredibly healthy and plump,” concluded Harrington. “It will be interesting to see if there are more fish to follow them, or if overs are going to play an even more important role in this year’s event.”
Complete information regarding the South Dakota Governor’s Cup can be found on The Fishing Crew’s website.
