Every October the fields of South Dakota turn orange as hunters from across the world come to enjoy the greatest pheasant hunting in the country. On average over 140,000 hunters will hit the field and harvest over 1 million birds. It truly is the greatest pheasant hunting in the country, but many fail to take advantage of the greatest bite of the year too!
Indeed, as the calendar flips to October the best bite of the season is underway. Whether it’s the trophy walleyes of Lake Oahe, the fast action of Lake Sharpe and Lake Francis Case, or the excellent bite that occurs in the Glacial Lakes region of northeast South Dakota there are walleyes to be caught! Even more so, many of these walleyes can be caught easily from shore.
The combination of the great pheasant hunting and fantastic fishing sets up for what many refer to as the “Blast and Cast” opportunity. This means tromping the fields for pheasants in the middle of the day, and ending it casting for walleye as the sunsets. The best pheasant hunting spots often align with the best walleye fishing spots, meaning that whether you’re hunting on the bluffs along the Missouri River or the sloughs of the Glacial Lakes there are blast and cast opportunities for you.
Fortunately, the casting component is actually quite simple. Fall walleyes don’t require much gear, and a good spinning rod, box of crankbaits, some line, and a pair of pliers are all you really need. The fishing isn’t complicated, any shallow running crankbait along the rocks will work. If jigs and plastics are more your style, that’s fine as well. You don’t even need to grab bait, all you need is to make a stop at the end of the day.
Along the Missouri River, the highest percentage areas to target are the tailrace areas below the dam. This is the area where water is coming directly out of the powerhouse. The fast current keeps the water cool, a constant supply of forage, and plenty of walleyes looking to stock up on big meals prior to winter.
Casting directly off the rocks is the best bet, and the majority of the bites are going to occur near the shoreline. This is where the current will lessen, and fish will stage in the slack water as they wait for a meal to float by. This makes it extremely important to be sure you complete every cast, as many times the big will occur as the bait is just about to come out of the water near the rocks.
In the Pierre area, the Oahe Dam tailrace is the highest percentage area to target. Casting #7 Rapala Shallow Shad Raps mirrors the gizzard shad well, and a #11 Rapala Husky Jerk will also emulate the smelt and herring that may be flushed through the Oahe Dam. This is historically where the biggest walleyes in Lake Sharpe are caught from, as they have the cooler water and abundant forage to help them stay comfortable and reach large sizes.
A similar bite exists below the Big Bend Dam in Fort Thompson north of Chamberlain. Similarly to the Oahe Dam, this area holds a great number of walleyes. The primary forage in this tailrace is gizzard shad, and the larger bodied preyfish such as smelt or lake herring are not present where they may be below Oahe Dam. The tailrace below the Fort Randall Dam in Pickstown tells a similar story, though historically offers fewer walleyes, but larger walleyes, than the dams above it.
Explore: Cedar Shore Resort
The combination of excellent pheasant hunting, tremendous grouse hunting opportunities, and the great bite makes the Pierre, Chamberlain, and Mobridge areas particularly phenomenal. In these locations, hunters have a legitimate chance to bag the “trifecta” – pheasant, prairie chicken, and sharptailed grouse then end the day with walleye, smallmouth bass, and/or channel catfish.
Add in some fantastic camping and lodging opportunities at Oahe Downstream Recreation Area, as well as camping at Indian Creek Recreation Area near Mobridge, Farm Island Recreation Area near Pierre, Swan Creek Recreation Area near Akaska, and West Whitlock Recreation Area near Gettysburg and the Missouri River truly does offer the greatest outdoor opportunities in both the state and Midwest.
Explore: Oahe Downstream Recreation Area
The same is true in northeast South Dakota, with many of the Glacial Lakes region’s sloughs and lakes providing an outstanding fall walleye bite. The highest percentage areas are along rocky shorelines and these areas can be even better when adjacent to culverts. The rising water that occurred over two decades ago flooded many roads and put others directly adjacent to the water, these areas make the perfect fall walleye spot.
These fisheries are driven by juvenile yellow perch and white bass, which makes the same baits just as effective. A #5 or #7 Shallow Shad Rap is highly productive, and the new Berkley Fishing Shallow Money Badger is another bait to try out for aggressive fall walleye. The Shallow Money Badger in particular is an excellent way to emulate white bass in both size, profile, and action.
One of the top shore spots for fall walleye is 81 Ponds, which sits outside Brookings. This complex of ponds offers a crack at some of the biggest walleyes in eastern South Dakota. Another favorite in the Brookings area is Lake Poinsett, with Stone Bridge on the northside of the lake offering a terrific action bite.
Further north, both anglers and hunters can expect to find hidden gems in the northeast corner of the state. A perfect example of this would be Roy Lake State Park, which offers multiple different lodging accommodations, a fantastic bluegill fishery, crappies, walleyes, and northern pike. This area also quietly offers spectacular pheasant hunting.
Explore: Roy Lake State Park
South Dakota is the greatest state to pheasant hunt, and there is no month greater than October. Wherever you’re chasing roosters, be sure to bring a fishing rod so you can put the “cast” in blast and cast. Pheasants, walleyes, and campfires….there’s no greater way to enjoy a fall day. Good fishing!
Fall Walleye Fishing Tackle Box:
- Medium Fast Spinning Rod
- Spinning Reel with 8-10 lb Berkley Fireline Mainline
- 10-12 lb Berkley Vanish Fluorcarbon Leader
- #5 and #7 Rapala Shallow Shad Raps
- 6.25, 6.75, and/or 7.25 Berkley Shallow Money Badgers
- Scissors/Knife and Pliers
- Headlamp and Flashlight
Best Fall Walleye Shorefishing Spots:
- Lake Sharpe-Oahe Dam Tailrace (Pierre)
- Lake Francis Case-Big Bend Dam Tailrace (Chamberlain)
- 81 Ponds (Brookings)
- Lake Poinsett (Brookings)
- Roy Lake (Roy Lake State Park)
- Dry Lake #2 (Clark)
Shorefishing Fall Walleye at the Oahe Dam Tailrace
The Oahe Dam tailrace is one of the top options for targeting fall walleye from shore, particularly after a day chasing pheasants and grouse across the river bluffs. Learn about everything you need to know to take advantage of this bite!
