This upcoming weekend is Open House Weekend, which is hosted by South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks. This means there is free entrance into all South Dakota State Parks, and no fishing license is required from May 16-18. This is the unofficial kick off to summer, and it certainly feels like summer out there right now as well! All of this and more in this week’s fishing report!
The time of transition continues on Lake Sharpe, as fish continue to be wrapping up their spawning activities and constantly on the move! Mid-summer like temperatures have made these movements even greater, with water temperatures creeping into the 50s and fish scattering out along the entire reservoir.
As has been the case this entire spring, there is good fishing to be found throughout the reservoir. As is the case every spring, anglers continue to target the traditional locations within town including the stilling basin, Marion’s Gardens, and the other sandbars along the bridges. Pitching jigs continues to be the primary option.
Further down river, fish continue to filter through the reservoir and this makes the bluffs consistently inconsistent as fish are on the move. When the fish are here, they are often in great numbers, and occasionally in great sizes as well. However, as fish continue to move the “here today, gone tomorrow” scenario is playing out for many anglers.
Further down river, and the target of Nick Harrington, is the flats east of town. Setting Stoney Point as a focal point, fish continue to move on and off the sandbars throughout this stretch of river. The constant movement, which has been further exacerbated by the high sun and hot temperatures, makes staying on fish difficult and thus making trolling crankbaits key.
The best baits continue to be #5 Berkley Flicker Shads, with white, purple, and blues the best colors. Targeting depths between 8-11 feet has been the most consistent, particularly along these contours adjacent to the main channel. Fish are scattered about, so using long passes has been the key to success.
Fish are scattered among all these flats from Stoney Point all the way down towards Cedar Creek. While there is no magic spot, continuing to stay on the move until you contact fish is the most important element to success.
Further down river, summer fishing on Lake Sharpe means West Bend and many boats are already on their way and reporting a very similar bite. It is worth noting that several of the Top 15 finishers for the National Walleye Tour event did make the run to the West Bend area.
Overall, there is a great number of fish between 14-18 inches in the system, with many right at the 15-16 inch mark, and there has been ample action taking place all along the reservoir. It has been an excellent spring, and it should be a great number as well!
Learn About Nick’s Trolling System
Last week Nick provided a detailed video regarding the walleye movements and bite on Lake Sharpe on YouTube and received a lot of great feedback, and lots of questions on his trolling program. This week features a deep dive, literally, into the trolling system Nick uses when targeting Lake Sharpe walleye! Check out this video, and be sure to leave your feedback as well!
Lake Sharpe Status Report
There’s been a great deal of attention on Lake Sharpe this spring, which makes this a great time to check in on the forecast we shared this winter. The theme is so far this season has been lots of fish, mostly in that eater class size. Lake Sharpe is a walleye factory, and it looks like productivity is high right now! Check out all the details in the 2025 Spring Recap!
Make a Splash for Open House Weekend
Open House Weekend is a great time to try a new activity or visit a new park, and this year’s theme for South Dakota State Parks is Make a Splash! Hit the water, and enjoy free fishing as well, to get the summer started! As a reminder all other regulations, as well as camping fees, still apply. Learn more about Open House Weekend!
Remember to CLEAN, DRAIN, DRY
Summer means boating and fishing, which also means it’s our responsibility to remember to CLEAN, DRAIN, DRY and do our part to slow the spread of aquatic invasive species every time we are on the water! Make sure you are pulling your plugs, lowering your motors, and disposing of your bait properly. Brush up on your reminders about how to do your part to slow the spread of aquatic invasive species!
Check Out the Fishing in Custer State Park
You might not think fishing when you think Custer State Park, but there’s some great fishing opportunities available within the park! If you’re looking for one of the best kept secrets in Custer State Park, check out the fishing opportunities!
