Hunting & Fishing Reports
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Fishing Report: September 29th, 2025
Wings and Fins on the Missouri River
This week looks like the perfect weather for all things outdoors in Central SD, with mostly clear skies forecasted for every day except Sunday. SD has officially opened the 2025 Grouse Season: view details on Ruffed Grouse, Sharp-tailed Grouse and Prairie Chickens on the SDGFP website.
All our best,
The SD Missouri River Tourism Team
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
The bite continues to be extremely tough. Finding fish and bait with electronics has not been an issue, but getting them to bite has been nearly impossible. Fish have been in 10-15ft on some days, 30-40ft on others. Once the water temps cool down some, the bite should kick back into gear.
Around Akaska, there are no new reports, please refer to last week's:
Chad Schilling with Oahe Wings & Walleyes shared angling for walleye have been pretty tough. Catfish, on the other hand, are easy to catch, spot locking in between 40-60ft and using jig and crawler. Walleye have been coming from 30-40 ft, using a bouncer and a crawler.
In the Whitlock Bay area near Gettysburg, South Whitlock Resort shared things are about the same as last week. Some anglers have caught really nice walleye in the bays. Salmon fishing picked up some last week, but success is still hit and miss day by day. The salmon are very nice quality as spawn hasn't taken full effect. Depth has varied depending on the type of lure you're using. Pull plugs in more shallow ranges, and use jig raps deep over the trees. Overall, anticipating nice fishing with the cooler weather approaching.
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Anglers are beginning to see a few more salmon caught in the shallower areas casting from shore and long lining. Boats this past week seemed to have a little harder time with salmon. Some walleye anglers are having luck finding large ones using jigs over trees. Live bait worm and minnow in 25-30ft have been the best method.
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For more information and up-to-the-minute reports on fishing at Lake Oahe please contact:
Lake Sharpe
In the Pierre/Fort Pierre areas, Propst Professional Anglers updated that things haven't really changed. Needing less 90 temp days. Lake Sharpe is fishable if the wind isn't blowing up stream. There isn't a lot of current right now, so when it's calm, the water produces. However, if the wind's blowing upstream, it stirs it all back up. Go to the deeper channel areas to catch fish. The fish are running very small in the 14 inch range, so you have to go through quite a few fish to get your keeper 15 inches and over.
Last week's reporting for Lake Sharpe: heavy rains last week caused the Bad River to dump insane amounts of mud and debris into the main river. The culverts in town also muddied the river, creating some turbidity even within the normally clear areas of the reservoir. Navigating Sharpe for the foreseeable future will require a lot of attention; trees are hung up everywhere. Sharpe will likely not clean up very fast. A lot of debris and silt will catch on the sand bars and anything else it can attach to, and once the Oahe Dam releases more water, it stirs Lake Sharpe up again. It will take a few weeks to clear up proper for the upper portion of Sharpe.
This has put a great deal of the top fall fishing spots out of play. The tailrace area was mostly void of walleyes, though there were some smallmouth bass. The bite in the stilling basin has also been extremely slow. Patience will be the name of the game with Lake Sharpe. With no rain forecast for this week, hopefully the current flow can clean up the reservoir and improve the bite.
For more information and up-to-the-minute reports on fishing at Lake Sharpe please contact:
Lake Francis Case
In the Platte area, Platte Creek Lodge & Guide Service reported that the fishing is continuously picking up. Catching fish jigging and using bottom bouncing around 11-14ft. Pulling crankbaits has also been been a good presentation.
From Geddes, SD Outfitters Unlimited shared there's a good jig rap bite starting! Depth has been between 14-18ft using cranks, best presentation has been trolling flicker shads.
For the Bonesteel area, Pavel's Walleye Camp reported Fall fishing is picking up and looks like the area is going to have a good bite!
In the Lake Andes, Wagner, and Pickstown areas, Lake Andes Inn & RV Park shared conditions remain much the same as last week, with anglers seeing steady action. Out in the fields, turkeys and pheasants are showing up in good numbers. It looks like it will be an awesome hunting season!
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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
For the Yankton area, the Walleye Guys shared Fall is in the air, though some days are still hitting 80s-90s. Water temps are still in the low 70s but they won't be for long, and with less daylight each day, walleye are migrating to fall locations and starting to put on the feedbags as egg development has begun. Expect this fall season to be one of the best ones yet, with great numbers of fish in the system and several fish over 20" already showing up in the past two weeks. As water temps drop, the fish will begin to search out those deeper breaks and continue to chase bait, which is plentiful, so being around fish when the bite window presents itself is crucial.
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
- Propst Professional Angers at 605-222-1621
- 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 & SD Outfitters Unlimited at 605-680-3877
- Pavel's Walleye Camp in Bonesteel at 402-340-0033
- Circle H Motel at 605-487-7652
- Skipper Bros Guiding at 605-892-7777
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
