The 2025 South Dakota Governor’s Cup and 2nd Annual Lieutenant Governor’s Cup is coming up and we have a few important reminders for both anglers competing and ways to follow along throughout the entire weekend!
2025 South Dakota Governor’s Cup Reminders
The 51st Annual South Dakota Governor’s Cup will take place Saturday and Sunday, July 19-20, with a mandatory rules meeting at the Ramkota Convention Center Friday, July 18.
All anglers will launch out of Spring Creek Recreation Area north of Pierre in four-flights, with the first flight taking off at 7 a.m. and the following flights taking off at 7:15 a.m., 7:30 a.m., and 7:45 a.m. respectively. Due-in times will be based on their corresponding flight, beginning at 3 p.m. CT.
Anglers must be checked in to the rules meeting by 6 p.m. CT. Check in starts at 4 p.m. CT and the rules meeting is mandatory for all teams. The address for Ramkota is 920 W Sioux Ave, Pierre, SD 57501.
Anglers are allowed to fish from Oahe Dam to Bushes Landing and into the Cheyenne River Arm. Only one tank of gas is permitted and anglers are not allowed to carry extra gas.
Scoring will be based on the most weight of walleyes, sauger, or saugeye with each boat allotted 8 tags per day. The best six fish will be weighed. All fish must be properly tagged in the mouth and placed in a live well or cooler on ice. No fish are allowed to be kept in water.
Teams are allowed two walleyes over 20 inches per day, one per angler, and there is a 15 inch tournament minimum.
Marshals will be placed with the top five teams from 2024 on Day One, on Day Two marshals will be randomly placed with the top ten teams after Day One.
Complete rules are available on TheFishingCrew.com, and anglers must read the rules prior to the event.
Pre-tournament interviews, take-off, mid-day updates, and live weigh-ins will be available through The Fishing Crew Facebook page. Weigh-ins are available to the public at Spring Creek Marina beginning at 2 p.m. daily, with first flights due in at 3 p.m. each day.
2025 South Dakota Lieutenant Governor’s Cup Reminders
The 2nd Annual Lieutenant Governor’s Cup will take place Saturday, July 19 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. along the shore of Spring Creek marina. The event is full, with 150 kids signed up to participate!
Anglers will meet at 8:30 a.m. CT near the weigh in trailer for a short rules meeting, with fishing to follow.
This event is open to parents, volunteers, and other individuals who wish to assist and cheer on the participants. There are over $25,000 in prizes courtesy of sponsors and donors.
Anglers should meet at the marina near the weigh trailer where they will have their rules meeting before heading out to fish. Weigh-ins will take place in the same location, with lunch and beverages provided for participants.
The first annual Lieutenant Governor’s Cup was a tremendous success, and the second year is set to be even bigger! Anglers are encouraged to stay for the Day One weigh-ins following the Lieutenant Governor’s Cup, which will begin at 2 p.m. with official check-in times beginning at 3 p.m. for the first flight.
Previewing the 2025 South Dakota Governor’s Cup
We’ve got our Insider Outlook for this year’s 51st Annual South Dakota Governor’s Cup. This includes Nick Harrington’s official weigh predictions, and a deep dive into the fishery of Lake Oahe. Be sure to check it out in preparation of the event!
