The Masters Walleye Circuit (MWC) will visit Bitter Lake near Webster, South Dakota on August 21-22, 2026.
“Mid-summer walleye fishing in the Glacial Lakes region of South Dakota doesn’t really slow down,” said Nick Harrington, Owner of Lip Ripper Fishing. “The bite remains good throughout the summer months, and there’s a variety of ways to target these fish.”
The event makes the fifth stop of the 2026 MWC season, which features six qualifying events and a championship.
“Bitter Lake is one of the most popular waterbodies in northeast South Dakota, and it’s a very complex and diverse fishery,” continued Harrington. “There will be fish along weed edges, in submerged timber, and in the deeper water structure too.”
The variety of locations means that a variety of techniques can be successful.
“There’s so many ways to target these fish, including trolling crankbaits, bottom bouncing, slipbobbering, and livescoping too,” elaborated Harrington. “The key is to break down the fishery and find a couple areas that are holding the right fish.”
Anglers in South Dakota are allowed to keep one walleye over 20 inches, or an “over”, per day. This means that finding quality fish both above and below the 20 inch mark is critical.
“There’s big walleye to be caught, but there’s also a ton of quality fish to be caught too,” concluded Harrington. “Making the right decision on what to keep and what to put back is equally as important as catching them.”
The complete 2026 Masters Walleye Circuit schedule, as well as other major tournaments across South Dakota, can be found on the Fishing Tournament News page.
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