Hunting & Fishing Reports
Check Out The Latest South Dakota Fishing Reports & South Dakota Hunting Reports
Fishing Report: May 11th, 2026
First Fishing Report of the Year is Here,
Open House & Free Fishing Weekend is too!
Welcome back to another season on the water! As spring settles in and the Missouri River begins to wake up, we’re excited to kick off our first fishing report of the year. Conditions are changing daily, fish are getting active, and anglers from across the region are once again finding their way to one of the finest fisheries in the country.
Before we get into the latest river conditions and fishing updates, we want to give a special thank you to our sponsors at South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks for their continued support of outdoor recreation, fisheries management, and access opportunities across the state.
The Missouri River corridor is home to many outstanding state parks that offer excellent camping, boating access, hiking, and family recreation. Whether you're launching before sunrise, spending the weekend on the water, or simply enjoying the scenic views along the river, South Dakota’s state parks help make the Missouri River experience second to none. Open House & Free Fishing Weekend happens this coming weekend May 15-17th.
We’re looking forward to another great season and can’t wait to share what’s happening on the water each week.
Let’s get fishing!
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 2026 National Walleye Tour (NTW) takes place May 20-21 on Lake Oahe in Mobridge. Registration is still open to anglers.
Around Akaska, Chad Schilling with Oahe Wings & Walleyes shared the season is starting like it always does. The fish are on the cusp of firing and it seems like any day anglers should start seeing things get good. They are catching a few, but no big numbers yet. Using jigs with minnows or plastics seems to be working the best. There is plenty of big fish in the system. Water temps right now are in the low to mid 50s so it should start going any day.
The 2026 AFTCO Walleye Throwdown returns to Akaska for its second year in partnership with the South Dakota Walleye Classic, bringing even bigger prizes and an expanded tournament-style format. Anglers who register by June 30, 2026, will receive a $200 AFTCO gear pack-getting the full value of their entry fee back!
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For more information and up-to-the-minute reports on fishing at Lake Oahe please contact:
Lake Sharpe
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Lip Ripper Fishing shared fishing on Lake Sharpe right now is very hit and miss. Fish are essentially done with spawning activities and have shifted completely to finding food sources. This means fish are constantly on the move as they transition down the reservoir. Best spots are in the West Bend Recreation Area, which has historically always been the case in the post-spawn period. There is good fishing to be had in the Pierre area, mostly between Farm Island Recreation Area and De Grey Lakeside Use Area. Fish are using the large flats, as well as areas of submerged timber, to stop as they work their way down the reservoir. Fishing is best between 8-12 feet, with that 9-10 feet holding the most fish. Trolling crankbaits allow anglers to cover water and contact these active fish. The best baits right now are #5 Berkley Flicker Shads and #5 Rapala Shad Raps. |
For more information and up-to-the-minute reports on fishing at Lake Sharpe please contact:
Lake Francis Case
Skipper Bros Guiding on Lake Francis Case reported that fishing has been good so far this year with good eater-sized walleye and really nice bass. Skipper Bros are headed to Mobridge for a couple of weeks and plan to dig a little more into the the northern bite of the system. Overall, the season is starting well!
SD Outfitters Unlimited updated that the fall fishing bite around the Pease Creek area has remained strong to steady. Lots of bigger fish in the 2-5lbs range. Presentation working the best has been trolling crank baits in 42-45ft. Jigs and jig raps are producing also. On the hunting end of things, it's looking to be an outstanding start to bird season for the area!
Out of Bonesteel and Whetstone Bay area, Pavel's Walleye Camp shared that fishing has been good and getting better every day. Most fish are being caught in shallow to more average ranges between 6-30 feet of water. But you can catch them just about any way you want right now using jig, minnow, bottom bouncers, worms or crankbaits.
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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
The Walleye Guys in the Yankton area shared reports about Lower Francis Case Lake and Lewis & Clark Lake:
The spring bite is picking up on the lower end of Lake Francis case. There are still several fish around the Chamberlain area but that will soon begin to dwindle as many of these fish migrate south for the summer. Fishing from Platte to the dam is a great place to catch some very healthy and possible trophy-sized walleye. Hard to beat trolling cranks on the flats and pitching jigs to the shore line for the month of May before these fish move to deeper water. Don't be afraid to use plastics such as ripple shad, jerk shad and many others as this is an efficient way to put walleye in the boat. Small cranks like a #7 Flicker minnow or Flicker Shad are deadly when trolling. Use your side scan to find pods of fish on shallow flats adjacent to deeper breaks.
On Lewis & Clark the lake bite is starting to pick up with water temp warming slowly. The fish are done spawning in the lake but there are still a few stragglers upriver. The numbers and health of fish looks excellent, so expecting good things this spring. The walleye are staged near their typical spring locations and are going to be on fire any day. Shorelines, flats, and humps are the ticket for these spring walleye until the water temps get into the 70s. Trolling cranks such as Mondy Badgers, Salmo Hornets and Flicker Shads are the ticket. Pitching jigs to the shoreline can produce epic days when the weather is cooperating.
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
- 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
