Hunting & Fishing Reports
Check Out The Latest South Dakota Fishing Reports & South Dakota Hunting Reports
Fishing Report: April 14, 2024
Ice is off the Mighty Mo - so what's in store for the season?
All major boat ramps/docks are now put in, the only exception being the West Shore area where silt has caused delays. For live water access updates, use the ramp/dock status on SD Game, Fish and Park's Public Ramp Access Map.
Sign up for our Weekly Fishing Report which will start in early May. Subscribers receive the weekly reports from up and down the river and other news pertaining to the Missouri River. Please reach out to SD Missouri River Tourism if you would like to contribute to the report.
All our best,
The SD Missouri River Tourism Team
Have some great photos from your time on the water? South Dakota Missouri River Tourism would love to share them as part of our weekly Fishing Report update on our social media. Send your Mighty MO river photos to info@sdmissouririver.com and we’ll be sure to give you a shout out!
Also, be sure to like us on Facebook for up to date information in the Missouri River Region!
Lake Oahe
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For more information and up-to-the-minute reports on fishing at Lake Oahe please contact:
Lake Sharpe
For more information and up-to-the-minute reports on fishing at Lake Sharpe please contact:
Lake Francis Case
Nick Harrington with Lip Ripper Fishing has been spending time on Lake Francis Case. For the Chamberlain area, he sees a heavy concentration of anglers below the White River, half the time trolling crankbaits and the other half dragging jigs. Some boats are north of town closer to Big Bend Dam. The Kiowa Flats area has hardly any traffic. Further upriver, a small number of boats are targeting the bluffs below Crow Creek. Overall, the angling pressure north of Chamberlain is lower than average. In Chamberlain, shore anglers are fishing along the highway grade.
The Platte area is seeing significantly less angling pressure than the Chamberlain area. Anglers are targeting the Snake Creek Recreation Area near Dock 44, cranking and jigging. Overall, the fishing is pretty quiet.
Generally speaking, on Lake Francis Case, the bite is tough for overall numbers, but fish caught are high quality. This isn’t a tremendous surprise, especially considering what we discussed in our 2025 Lake Francis Case Status and Forecast. The theme is fewer fish, but better fish, and so far that trend appears to be holding true!
Ed Pavel commented, "As of right now the fishing on Lake Francis Case appears to be on track for a great spring and summer bite." Ed is the owner of Pavel's Walleye Camp in Bonesteel South Dakota.
Tom Steinhouser, owner and guide for The Platte Creek Lodge, shared, "Ice is off the river and we're in the boats. There was a large shed die-off and fishing this spring has so far been phenomenal. The die-off was what needed to happened. Fishing looks to be positive with 17-18 inch, a good-sized eater fish."
From Lake Andes, Angela, owner of Lake Andes Inn, shared that ice fishing in her neck of the woods was quiet and short. "The Missouri over by Fort Randall Dam didn’t really freeze at all. Around the North Point Recreation Area, there were some beautiful winter scenes. The good news was March came through with some amazing weather, and anglers have already been out enjoying some great fishing days. Looks like spring is ready to make up for what winter didn’t deliver!"
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For more information and up-to-the-minute reports on fishing at Lake Francis Case please contact:
Lake Lewis and Clark
No new report for the Yankton area from our angler contacts. Check the SD Game, Fish & Parks Facebook for the latest updates.
For more information and up-to-the-minute reports on fishing at Lake Lewis and Clark please contact:
For more information and up-to-the-minute reports on fishing please contact:
Lake Oahe
- Kemnitz MoRest Motel in Mobridge at 605-845-3668
- Oahe Wings & Walleyes at 605-230-0280
- Bob’s Resort in Gettysburg at 605-765-2500
- South Whitlock Resort in Gettysburg at 605-765-9762
- The Outpost Lodge in Pierre at 605-264-5450
- Oahe Salmon Guide Service in Onida at 605-691-9020
Lake Oahe and Lake Sharpe
- Lip Ripper Fishing in Fort Pierre at 402-689-9947
- Hutch’s Guide Service at 605-220-2844
- South Dakota Walleye Charters at 605-366-1875
Lake Francis Case
- Allen's South Dakota Fishing & Hunting in Chamberlain at 800-435-5591
- Platte Creek Lodge at 605-941-1679
- Missouri River Lodge in Geddes at 605-680-3877
- Pavel's Walleye Camp in Bonesteel at 402-340-0033
- Circle H Motel at 605-487-7652
Lake Lewis and Clark
- The Walleye Guys in Yankton 402-499-4936
Remember – this report is a snapshot in time and changes can occur quickly. We suggest you call one of our members listed above – they can be very helpful with what is happening along the river. That way you’ll be assured of a great trip!
Questions about boat ramp access? Check the SD Game, Fish & Parks interactive map. You’ll have to zoom in to the ramp you want to look at, and the information is regularly updated. It’s a great resource!
Help slow the spread of Aquatic Invasive Species! Check out the Game, Fish & Parks web site for detailed info on the regulations. They are very specific so you’ll want to be sure you’ve read the regulations. If you love to fish the Missouri River in South Dakota, please do your part to keep the reservoirs free of aquatic invasive species.
The Missouri River is a fishing and hunting paradise, filled to the brim with extraordinary opportunities to reel in or hunt your limit before the day is done. Come see why hunters and fishers alike cannot stop coming back to take in the sublime conditions along South Dakota’s Missouri River.
Hunting Fishing
