It was a busy 4th of July weekend! The weather was toasty, lake was busy and the fish were biting! The hot bite on the lower end of Lake Oahe is still going strong and we’ve got everything you need to know about it!
Lake Oahe
The changing weather conditions has made the fishing on Oahe tough to pinpoint, but once you find the fish you often catch them in great numbers! Following the wind is an excellent starting point as windblown shorelines and points have consistently been the top producers.
Okobojo Creek continues to produce an excellent numbers bite. Much like stated above, once you find fish there is often not much left to do except enjoy reeling them in! This area is more so a “numbers bite”, with a vast majority of fish between 12-14 inches, but there are some better fish mixed in as well. Bonus smallmouth have also been present, while drum and yellow perch have been successful bait thieves as well!
Pulling bottom bouncers with .8″ Mack’s Lure Smile Blades once again continues to be the ticket! Also true to form, nightcrawlers continue to outproduce leeches. I swear I haven’t copy/pasted any prior fishing reports, but this presentation just continues to put fish in the boat for me. Color doesn’t seem to matter too much, particularly when the wind is blowing, as pink, purple, blue and silver have all produced fish consistently!
Further upstream, there appears to be a giant magnet placed on Sully Flats that draws boats in from all directions. The cause of phenomenon appears to be the excellent fishing the area is providing! While there is a large concentration of boats, both numbers and quality walleye are present along this flat.
In this area, presentation has varied as some anglers prefer to deploy bottom bouncers and other prefer trolling crankbaits. Both presentations seem to produce fish, but I’ve had a better bite with bottom bouncers and crawlers. I will warn, be prepared to lose some snells the closer you get to the timber!
Earlier in the mornings or when the wind is blowing, aggressively working shorelines and points with Jigging Raps, Shiver Minnows or Tillys has proven to be effective for larger fish. While the bite is more hit/miss, this technique and timing seems to be producing some of the better fish.
Color often does not seem to matter, but I have done better with brighter colors such as chartreuse, clown, pink uv and hot steel. However, blue has produced fish for me as well. Pay attention to your electronics for active fish, searching around and spot-locking on promising marks often results in fish quickly after dropping down. If you aren’t marking fish, keep moving and don’t waste time on an unproductive area.
The smallmouth bass are also plenty aggressive on rocky points and shorelines. While bottom bouncing has produced plenty of bonus smallies, they can be found anywhere in the water column. Not one, not two, not three but four smallmouth bass were caught this weekend simply draping the jigging presentation over the side of the boat while searching for marks. Be sure to keep a firm grasp on your rod-that bite is startling!
I am sure real bass anglers would have much more insightful information to share, but it just goes to show how aggressive these fish are!
News and Notes
From July 1 to August 31, the 15 inch minimum on walleyes is removed for Lake Sharpe and Lake Francis Case. This happens every year as increased water temperatures can result in increased mortality from fish who may deeply swallow a hook. This gives anglers the opportunity to keep these fish that may otherwise die, keeps large year classes in check and allows anglers the opportunity to put more fish in the livewell for what could be a slower bite than spring and fall fishing. Note that the “one over 20” regulation still does apply.
Read the 2020 Fishing Handbook
It was a difficult weekend for the Pierre area as an individual with the Hughes County Sheriff Department lost his life attempting to save his eight-year-old son who had fallen into the river. Many times as anglers/boaters we take for granted every time we step into a boat, but even our bravest and strongest individuals are susceptible to the dangers posed by the Missouri River.
As anglers/boaters we must always be sure we are taking proper safety measures. Life jackets are the number piece of safety equipment we have in our boats, but only when we are wearing them. It might not be the coolest, but there is no shame in wearing your life jacket. Invest in a nice, inflatable life jacket-they are less bulky, keep you cooler and are ready to save your life.
It is also important to remember to never operate your boat while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. This isn’t only dangerous to yourself, but dangerous to your passengers and fellow boaters as well.
Don’t forget other important safety devices such as kill cords, throwables, fire extinguishers, a method of propulsion if your motor(s) should fail and a signaling device. These are essential pieces of equipment that can be easily stored in your boat, but hopefully are never required.
I want to offer my condolences to this individual’s family, friends, fellow officers and everyone impacted by this loss. There were a reported 18 agencies involved/currently involved in the search efforts, a true testament to the teamwork and unity within these agencies.
Read the Capital Journal Article
I hope you all stay cool, stay safe and are able to get out for some fishing this week! Good fishing!
