We’ve reached another milestone in the fall season, the start of the South Dakota Grouse Season! Grouse season opened Saturday, September 20, which is the official start to the upland game hunting seasons across South Dakota. We highlight this, and everything else going on in the South Dakota outdoors in this week’s report!
Fall Fishing Report
It was a busy week on the Missouri River, but not necessarily in a good way. Upwards of 4 inches of rain fell across much of the Pierre area, which led to a River Flood Warning as the Bad River surged into Lake Sharpe. Mud, trees, and other debris blew into the reservoir as No Travel Advisories were issued for county roads across the area.
The fishing piers in the Fort Pierre area of the Bad River were ripped away, as the dock was pulled, and trees tore through the river. This has left a great deal of mud and debris for the entire reservoir downstream of the Bad River, putting a great deal of the top fall fishing spots out of play. The culverts within town also muddied the river, creating some turbidity even within the normally clear areas of the reservoir.
On the heels of an already struggling bite after a major rain event to start the month, this has further complicated the bite even further. The tailrace area, normally the cleanest part of the fishery, was mostly void of walleyes though there were some smallmouth bass to be caught. The bite in the stilling basin has also been very, very slow.
Patience will be the name of the game with Lake Sharpe. The forecast looks mostly clear for rain, and if the current flow can clean up the reservoir the bite should continue to improve. Until that happens, unfortunately, the fishing report is not very good.
Grouse Season Begins
The South Dakota Grouse Season began this Saturday, September 20. The stage has been set for a phenomenal grouse season, and early reports from the field are just that. The damp conditions gave way to a gorgeous opening weekend, and hunters are experiencing what was shared in the South Dakota Prairie Grouse 2025 Hunting Outlook.
60th Buffalo Roundup Takes Place This Week
The 60th Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup will take place this Friday, September 26. Whether this is your first Roundup or you’ve felt the thunder of the herd before, check out the new western video series presented by Travel South Dakota for an in-depth understanding of the event and what it means for South Dakota’s western heritage.
Shallow Money Badger Hits the Market
The Berkley Shallow Money Badger has officially hit the market, and we were fortunate to test this bait out in August on Eagle Lake. Whether you’re casting or trolling, the Shallow Money Badger’s aggressive action is one you’ll want to add to your tackle box!
Stockmen’s Livestock Fall Brawl Scheduled for This Weekend
The 2025 Stockmen’s Livestock Fall Brawl will take place this weekend, September 27-28, fishing out of Spring Creek Recreation Area on Lake Oahe. Expect some big fish, and big weights, to come across the scales!
Preference Point Purchase Window Open
The general purchasing period for South Dakota preference points is currently open. Preference points for all major limited draw seasons can be purchased until December 15. Start planning for the coming season, and make sure you have all of your preference points purchased!
