Winter is here in South Dakota, kind of-maybe, and fishing opportunities are really covering the spectrum. While a wide variety of open water fishing opportunities are present on the Missouri River, there is ice fishing taking place in the Glacial Lakes region as well. We have an update on all opportunities available right now!
Open Water Opportunity
The open water opportunities are the easiest to provide an update on! The Missouri River reservoirs are open, accessible for boats, and the fishing is pretty good! Fishing on Lake Sharpe out of Pierre the bite had been spectacular through November and into the early part of December. The bite has slowed down a bit, but there are still plenty of fish to be caught when conditions are right!
The amount of water flowing from the dam has been the biggest factor. Current is always important on Lake Sharpe, but it is even more critical in the winter months. When water is flowing, the bite is often strong. When the water is off, the bite is too.
Pitching jigs and minnows has been the top option. Focus on areas adjacent to deep water, as walleyes will be moving in and out of the deep water onto shallower sandbars. Fish will move through in pods, which results in sporadic bite windows. If the bite slows, either move the boat a few hundred yards or wait for the next pod to move through.
As much as the main river is driven by current, shore anglers fishing the tailrace are even more current dependent. When the current is flowing, the bite can be very fast, particularly in the dark. When there is no current, expect very difficult fishing.
The trophy walleye bite that captured the state, and the region, by storm is also effectively over. This bite held strong through the month of November, before shutting down around the time the calendar flipped over to December.
If you love to fish out of the boat, this winter has been one for you so far! Take advantage of the continued opportunity to get out and enjoy some bonus fishing this season!
Ice Fishing Update
If you love to ice fish, this winter has not been the one for you so far! That said, there are ice fishing opportunities available particularly in northeast South Dakota, for anglers that are comfortable on thinner ice conditions and on smaller waterbodies.
Ice anglers focusing on smaller, shallower bodies of water are finding fishable ice. Particularly, waterbodies that don’t require great travel away from the access points to find fish have been the best options.
Ice conditions are varying greatly across many lakes, but generally speaking 4-6 inches is what anglers have been fishing on. Anglers need to be aware that these thicknesses are not uniform, and only yards away from safe ice could be weak spots and there is still open water on many waterbodies as well.
As always, the further north you go the better the ice conditions. Anglers looking to get out on the ice have the best odds of finding safe north of Watertown, particularly up towards Webster. There are safe ice conditions near Brookings, but the best bet is the further north you go.
Anglers fishing in the Black Hills are finding similar ice conditions, with some lakes providing opportunities while others are not quite ready yet.
Regardless of where folks are looking to ice fish, the most important thing is to be safe. This has been a warm start to the winter, and ice conditions are not what many would expect for mid-December. Don’t make decisions based on the calendar, but rather the weather conditions. There is going to be plenty of opportunities to get out on the ice this season, and we want to make sure everyone is able to enjoy.
Make Plans for 2024
The best way to patiently wait for ice conditions to improve is to make plans for the 2024 season! Anglers looking to compete in tournaments for the 2024 season have the bulk of the events already scheduled, with all major circuits releasing their upcoming season information.
South Dakota is going to have a very big year, with both Chamberlain and Webster playing host to two Masters Walleye Circuit (MWC) events. The MWC comes to Lake Francis Case at the end of April, and will takeoff from Bitter Lake in August.
The Pierre area also has a big year, with the Lake Sharpe Showdown returning in 2024. This event is hosted by the Pierre Area Chamber and The Fishing Crew, and is a great way to showcase the awesome fishery on Lake Sharpe!
The 2024 season will also feature the 50th Annual South Dakota Governor’s Cup, and this is going to be a big one! After the state record being shattered twice this past fall, this year has all the makings of being a tremendous event with Lake Oahe being on full display.
We’ve got all the major tournament schedules available for you here as well!
Fishing is a year-round activity in South Dakota, and the opportunities right now are quite broad. The open water opportunities right now continue to be abundant, and the ice conditions will continue to improve throughout the season. Good luck, have fun, be safe, and happy holidays from Lip Ripper Fishing!
