One of the most unique fishing opportunities in South Dakota is the salmon fishery within Lake Oahe. The deep, cold reservoir provides one of the best salmon fishing opportunities in the Midwest. South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) fisheries biologists provided an update on this fishery at a public meeting in January 2026 at the AmericInn in Fort Pierre.
The Lake Oahe salmon fishery is maintained via stocking efforts, which center around the Whitlock Bay Spawning Station at West Whitlock Recreation Area. Each fall, stocked salmon return to the ladder and are spawned by fisheries biologists. Their eggs are collected, fertilized, hatched, and raised within the fish hatchery system before being stocked back into the reservoir for anglers to enjoy.
Lake Oahe salmon generally have about a two year life expectancy, and grow extremely quickly throughout their life cycle in the reservoir. This means a consistent supply of fish is available for anglers each year, and the population continues to be maintained via stocking efforts.
While a significant number of salmon eggs are collected through the Whitlock Bay Spawning Station, GFP fisheries biologists will also work with other states such as North Dakota to obtain additional eggs. Generally speaking, Lake Oahe salmon come through South Dakota and North Dakota, but other states such as Washington have provided eggs as well.
This partnership with Washington resulted in increased stockings in both 2023 and 2024. In 2023, 710,182 salmon were stocked into the reservoir. These fish were a combination from South Dakota, North Dakota, and Washington. These fish were what returned to the spawning station in 2025 as they neared the end of their life cycle.
The 2025 spawning season was decent, with slightly below average fish returning to the ladder. In total 340 salmon returned to the ladder. Fortunately, electrofishing was good and an additional 439 salmon were collected by electrofishing. In total, 1.2 million eggs were collected by GFP fisheries staff.
The eggs collected within South Dakota will be supplemented with 800,000 eggs from North Dakota. Generally speaking, approximately one third of eggs make it to being a fish stocked. This means with approximately 2 million eggs, it is anticipated to stock 650,000 fish into Lake Oahe in 2026.
In 2026, another large stocking from 2024 will be nearing the end of its life cycle. This stocking was also supplemented by Washington, which saw 479,575 fish stocked. Similar to 2023, these fish were a combination of South Dakota, North Dakota, and Washington eggs.
Salmon Stocked into Lake Oahe
- 2022: 169,366 salmon (South Dakota eggs)
- 2023: 710,182 salmon (South Dakota, North Dakota, and Washington eggs)
- 2024: 479,575 salmon (South Dakota, North Dakota, and Washington eggs)
- 2025: 238,947 salmon (South Dakota and North Dakota eggs)
While anglers enjoyed an increased number of fish stocked in 2023 and 2024, which were available to catch in 2025, the amount of forage on the lower end of Lake Oahe played a major factor in salmon fishing throughout the 2025 season.
While rainbow smelt populations have been increasing in Lake Oahe, it is the gizzard shad that have been having a greater impact on salmon fishing techniques and catch rates. Salmon anglers have reported that not only have salmon been consuming gizzard shad, but it’s also impacted angling techniques as well.
Gizzard shad are a warm water species, so they stay above the thermocline in shallower water. Salmon, particularly in the summer months, will often stay below the thermocline in the colder water where they are more comfortable.
While anglers reported seeing salmon on their graphs below the thermocline, when they set their lines at these depths they had a difficult time catching them. However, when they were bringing their lines up and above the thermocline near the shad schools they would get bites and catch fish.
This means that salmon were likely coming up throughout the thermocline and feeding on gizzard shad, then retreating back to the cold water to digest and relax. This is a good reminder that anglers need to focus their fishing efforts where fish are actually feeding, not necessarily where they may see them on their graphs. Fishing where fish are active is critical to success.
Any time there is an abundance of forage in the system catch rates can be impacted. In the case of salmon fishing on Lake Oahe, anglers need to consider not only the smelt and ciscoe as a salmon prey base, but also gizzard shad as well. There is a good abundance of fish in the system thanks for large stockings in recent years. Anglers who adjust their depths and techniques are often going to be rewarded.
Lake Sharpe Paddlefish Population Continues to Grow
Another unique fishery just below the dam is a growing population of paddlefish within Lake Sharpe. The ultimate goal is to make a sport fishery for this species, and after a decade of stockings GFP has a major study planned to learn more about this species.
Lake Sharpe Smallmouth Bass Update
The smallmouth bass fishery in Lake Sharpe has received a significant amount of attention, and regulation changes could be coming for both Lake Sharpe and Lake Oahe. Learn about angler bass harvest trends and how a prospective regulation could impact the fishery.
Gizzard Shad Stockings Providing Additional Forage Option in Lake Oahe
Gizzard shad have been stocked in Lake Oahe to improve the walleye fishery, and the walleye population has responded. Learn how these gizzard shad are offering a new food source for all game species in Lake Oahe.
Learn More About South Dakota Fisheries
You can learn more about fisheries across the state on the South Dakota Fisheries Focus page. Learn about walleye populations, forage, salmon, paddlefish, yellow perch, smallmouth bass, and more!
View the Public Fishery Meeting
South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks biologists held a public meeting regarding the Lake Oahe and Lake Sharpe fisheries at the AmericInn in Fort Pierre. A complete recording of the meeting can be found on the GFP YouTube page.
