The calendar has flipped to June, the temperatures have increased, and summer fishing patterns are officially in full swing! To kick off the summer, South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) fisheries biologists shared updates from their area in a recent email, and we’ll incorporate all of this information to provide a comprehensive statewide fishing report!
Missouri River Fishing Report
The fishing on the Missouri River has continued to follow the same progression often seen every year. The early spring action begins on Lake Francis Case near Chamberlain, before transitioning up river to the West Bend area on Lake Sharpe, then Lake Oahe for the summer months.
Lake Oahe
Lake Oahe, despite being in the spotlight for the National Walleye Tour event in Mobridge, has remained largely quiet throughout the first part of the year. An abundance of forage has walleyes well fed, but when fish are caught they are extremely quality fish.
Day One of the National Walleye Tour saw Dylan Nussbaum weigh a massive 28 pound bag, and ultimately it was Jason Stahl on top of the leaderboard with 46-12 pounds after two days of fishing to capture the victory. Combined between the two days of fishing, there were over 25 single day 20-pound-bags weighed.
The bulk of the fishing has focused on that Mobridge area down toward Akaska and Gettysburg, but the fishing has now taken off in the Cheyenne River as well. Anglers can find fish throughout the reservoir, and should begin looking in the middle to lower portions as summer continues to heat up.
Trolling crankbaits and livescoping adjacent to main lake areas have been productive, and bottom bouncing in the backs of creeks has been the top approach for eater caliber fish. Anglers should focus between 8-15 feet of water when bottom bouncing and 15-30 feet of water for trolling crankbaits and livescope.
Lake Sharpe
The fishing on Lake Sharpe has been very up and down this year. This has been reported by both anglers and in the creel survey reports conducted by GFP. GFP fisheries staff interviewed 120 anglers and reported significant variability in catch success day-to-day. One day the bite is very good and nearly every angler reports limits, the next day the bite is poor and no limits are brought in.
This is due to a number of factors. The flows from the Oahe Dam have been variable, and so have wind and water conditions. The bite improves with water being released from Oahe Dam, and slows down when releases decrease. This is true particularly for fishing in the Pierre area.
The other factor, and probably the largest, was an abundance of smelt that came through the Oahe Dam and were in the upper end of Lake Sharpe. The number of smelt was the highest observed in quite some time, which had fish well fed and not seeking food.
Fishing in Hipple Lake is picking up, though still hit and miss. The walleyes being caught are extremely quality, and both trolling crankbaits and bottom bouncing can be effective on any given day. Crawlers are most effective when bottom bouncing.
Lake Francis Case
Fishing started strong on Lake Francis Case in March and April, but got a bit tougher for the month of May. Patterns were tough to establish, as the nights would get down into the 30 degree temperatures and days would vary between cold and windy or warm and windy.
Fishing in the Platte area has picked up, as fish have transitioned from the upper end of the reservoir near Chamberlain to further down to the middle and lower ends as part of their seasonal movements.
Glacial Lakes Region Fishing Report
Similar to the Missouri River, the fishing has been variable in eastern South Dakota. In northeast South Dakota, fishing has been off to a slower start because of colder temperatures. However, southeast South Dakota saw some of the best spring fishing in quite some time. The fishing overall was very good in May, particularly from the middle to the end of the month. The further north came on stronger by the end of the month.
Rush Lakes
Some of the best fishing in northeast South Dakota has been on the Rush Lakes. While these are seeing heavy traffic, reports of good bites across a number of waterbodies have continued to increase in the last two weeks.
Lake Whitewood
One of the best fisheries in eastern South Dakota this spring has been Lake Whitewood. The fishing got particularly good during the second week of May, and was seeing 50-100 boats per day by Memorial Day weekend. Over the holiday weekend, Conservation Officers reported every boat except two with a limit.
Lake Thompson
Right by Lake Whitewood, Lake Thompson is also seeing very good fishing. The Glacial Lakes Walleye League saw nearly every team bring a five-fish limit, with 19 pounds to win and 15 pounds or more down to 12th place. Shore fishing after dark is also producing big walleyes.
Lake Henry, just north of Lake Thompson, has also been productive.
Lake Albert
Lake Albert is producing numerous large northern pike, as well as limits of walleye too.
81 Ponds
West 81 Lake had a particularly strong year for large walleye, smallmouth bass, and muskie. The shorefishing off Highway 81 grade has been excellent.
Oakwood Lakes
Similarly in the Brookings area, Oakwood Lakes has been very productive for walleye, yellow perch, and northern pike. Following a winterkill a few years ago, these lakes are back to producing good fishing.
Cavour Lake
Following a winterkill in 2023, saugeyes were stocked in Cavour Lake and these fish are now being caught by anglers. There was an abundance of forage, which has now been cropped down, and the saugeyes are extremely quality between 18-22 inches.
Brant Lake and Lake Madison
Shore anglers fishing Brant Lake consistently caught limits of walleyes, which saw its best spring in recent memory. Fishing boats outnumbered recreational boats over the holiday weekend, indicating the quality of the recent fishing.
Lake Madison is also producing walleye.
Sioux Falls Area
In the Sioux Falls area, Wall Lake has produced great walleye fishing throughout the month of May. Anglers from both shore and the boat are catching limits of fish. Lake Alvin has also produced excellent eater caliber saugeyes.
Panfishing
East Vermillion Lake has been producing good crappie fishing, and Lake Yankton has also had an excellent spring for panfishing.
Western South Dakota
GFP fisheries staff in Rapid City are reporting a delayed walleye bite on the bigger waters due to varying temperatures. The warming weather has increased the number of jaw tags being reported on both Angostura and Belle Fourche reservoirs, indicating the bite has picked up.
Article of the Week: Fishing Out Facts – The Role of Tagging Studies
Tagged fish, regardless the size, are a special moment for an angler that’s lucky enough to catch one. The metal jaw tag on a walleye or smallmouth bass holds the same weight as a banded duck or goose to waterfowl hunter, and similar to waterfowl these tags play an important role in fisheries management.
