Page 5 - VisitorGuide2019

Walleye spawn in spring when water temperatures climb to 65˚F. The
The walleye rules on the Missouri River. Prized for their taste most popular large mouth lures are plastic worms, jerkbaits,
and abundance, walleye are fished with jigs and minnows in crankbaits and pork rind.
the spring, crawlers and leeches in the summer and through Lake Oahe and Lake Sharpe have been recognized
the ice in the winter. Captivated by the walleye, anglers nationally as a prize bass destination. Pierre hosted the
come to Pierre from across the region, state and country. The Bassmaster Elite Tournament in 2018, bringing in professional
site of numerous tournaments, including the South Dakota anglers and ESPN national coverage.
Governor’s Cup, Pierre has become a familiar stopping point
on the professional walleye tours. But day in and day out, it’s
the amateurs who reign. They come from behind
office desks and out of operating rooms, sales
offices and retail stores. They come for a day, they
come for a week, but they all come for walleye.

Northern pike
Both the deep, cold waters of Lake Oahe and
the prairie lakes of central South Dakota provide
excellent year-round fishing for northern pike.
Caught with dead bait rigs in the cool early
spring, spoons and crankbaits as the water
warms, these fish often reach 20
pounds or larger. In the spring of 1993,
for example, a record-setting 36-pound
pike was pulled from Oahe’s chilly
depths. Trophy pike are fished from
local lakes year-round; the species is a
common ice-fishing catch.

Bass
Found throughout the Missouri River
system, both white and smallmouth
bass are prevalent in Lake Oahe, and
in Lake Sharpe, bass are the second
most commonly caught fish. Smallmouth
fishing peaks during the May–June spawning season in clear Salmon, Trout and Catfish
water near rocks, logs and dams. Deep-diving lures bring From the face of Oahe Dam north to the Cheyenne River,
success through the heat of summer. Lake Oahe offers excellent fishing for Chinook salmon. These
Native to eastern South Dakota, largemouth bass are cold-water fish are pulled from depths of 50 to 100 feet or
dominant in the calm, well-vegetated ponds and smaller more. The salmon’s primary prey is the rainbow smelt, and the
lakes of Pierre. Similar to smallmouth bass, largemouths most effective lures imitate this silvery fish.
Pierre’s reputation as a trout hotspot is growing, thanks
to a healthy population of large rainbow trout, some
weighing over 10 pounds. Trophy catches have been
pulled from areas below Oahe Dam, often using silver
and chartreuse lures that imitate smelt and baitfish.
Fly fishing is increasingly common near the tailrace
and marina, starting in the season just after ice-out.
An easy catch from small craft or the shore, channel
catfish are found in many habitats and depths in both
Lake Sharpe and Lake Oahe. You’ll land prize specimens
— perhaps over 30 pounds — using night crawlers, chicken
livers, crawfish and other meaty, strong-smelling bait. Look
for the best fishing from spring through fall, when warmer
waters create peak spawning conditions.

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