Many times we hear that 90% of the fish are in 10% of the water. According to Gerald Wickstrom, wildlife biologist at the American Creek Fisheries Station in Chamberlain, water levels actually held strong during the spawn. The water level is dropping, with fishing going very well. The Calumet Bluff Theater programs highlight construction of Gavins Point Dam, the Lewis and Clark Expedition and native wildflowers. ; Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0; additional terms may . Another area that can take off during the fall is Hipple Lake. A large sand bar infront of Marions Gardens is another popular location as large numbers of fish will stage on this sand bar, producing an excellent numbers bite for anglers pitching jigs. The sand bars in town can also produce very good fishing opportunities. The Lewis and Clark Center is located on top of Calumet Bluff just downstream from the Gavins Point Power plant. Instagram: chrisseylar09, Proudly powered by WordPress | Smallmouth Bass have a long, slender body green to bronze in color and 9-16 vertical bars along the side. Pike can be caught bottom bouncing, trolling crankbaits or even pitching jigs. The lake is named after South Dakota Governor Merrill Q. Sharpe. Macks Lure .8 Smile Blades in silver, pink, blue and green are top options with a mix of nightcrawlers and minnows as the water temperatures continue to drop. Minnows and crawlers are the best for bait. Water releases through the Big Bend Dam powerhouse (foreground) and eight spillway gates (upper right) reduce the likelihood of water flowing over the dams earthen embankment. The Hunting & Fishing Magazine of the Dakotas! NAWS battleMORE, The North Dakota Game and Fish Department trackedMORE, The Tolly, Gifts for Greatness presented Lake Sharpe provides many opportunities for outdoor recreation. See the Lake Sharpe website for additional information. "Fishing has been really hot, and limits are very common.". Lake Oahe. Because of the lake's size and the possibility of high winds, it's recommended that boats be at least an 18-foot deep "V" with 50 horsepower outboard. Pierre is the state capital of South Dakota. Check out the Game, Fish & Parks web site for detailed info on the regulations. In thePlattearea the water levels are up. . While Sharpe is known for its walleye fishing, anglers will often find saugers in their bag as well. Particularly in May, the stilling basin can still produce very good fishing for anglers looking to bottom bounce in the same areas they had been jigging previously. The reservoir's crystal blue waters are ideal for recreational activities such as boating, fishing, skiing, and more. No reports. South of town, the Bad River is a large tributary and though the water can be incredibly muddy, it will dump water into the river come spring. From Chamberlain to the Platte/Winner Bridge fishing is really picking up. Fishing is a very popular activity on Lake Sharpe and in the tailwater area. During normal operations, USACE releases water through the powerhouse to generate power and balance reservoir levels for other uses. Boaters are reminded they must pull their plugs every time after they load up and only put them back in once they are ready to launch. Note: 16,000 CFS indicates low water, over 40,000 indicates very high water. In thePollock and Mobridge areas the fishing is really kicking into gear. Big Bend Dam: A unique bend in the Missouri River in south central South Dakota brings the river to a near complete loop . "This is the place to be," says veteran angler Karl Palmer of Fort Pierre. Fish are looking very healthy. Casting crankbaits or jigs and plastics can produce both excellent numbers of walleyes and quality fish as well. Winchester's Nathan Robinson talks features with Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. Fishing Update for The Missouri River in South Dakota. The towns of Fort Thompson and Lower Brule were relocated to their present sites in the early 1950's before the old town sites were flooded due to the construction of the Fort Randall Dam. The depthfinder screen was on fire with schooling walleyes stacked on the subtle dropoff from 17 to 21 feet. Anglers are casting to shore and fish are being caught in 18 feet or less. Nathan Simmons of Browning and Game & Fish's John Taranto take a closer look at both cartridges at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. The rifle has five caliber offerings, two barrel choices and three different riser stocks. It creates the fourth largest artificial reservoir in the United States, supplying irrigation, conservation, flood control and electric power to many Midwestern states as well as abundant recreation along Lake Oahe. Call (605) 245-2255. Lake Sharpe is created by the Big Bend Dam, which is located near Fort Thompson, just south of a major bend in the Missouri River. There are still plenty of overs, or fish greater than 20 inches, available for anglers to catch as well! Anglers report fair fishing with most trout in the 6 to 12-inch range. At the Lake Andes National Wildlife Refuge, visitors may encounter any number of species indigenous to the area, from beaver to white-tailed deer. Learn More About Walleye Fishing on the Missouri River. The amount of water scheduled to be released through Garrison DamMORE, Zebra Mussels Found in Moss Balls at PetMORE, Angler Qwest Troll Series Offers Six Models, Nearly limitless custom options andMORE, News of Interest The thin strip of land between the two ends of the Big Bend is known as the Narrows. Their journals are filled with vivid descriptions of the area and its inhabitants. Shad will often congregate in this area and larger walleyes will be following these schools and will be willing to chase suspended crankbaits. It's no secret that tailrace fishing is king when it comes to early-spring walleyes in the Dakotas. Location: Near Chamberlain, S.D., River Mile 987.4. Targeting rocky shorelines is often the best strategy. Whether you are looking for a fishing trip on Lake Sharpe, turning your South Dakota pheasant hunt into a blast and cast or are looking at the other hunting and fishing opportunities the Missouri River region has to offer, the Pierre area has everything you need. Invasive zebra mussels, found on the wire ropes that lift and lower Big Bend Dams spillway gates to help reduce downstream flooding, can compromise how well these wire ropes can work when needed. But we've learned to savor these occasional bonanzas, because we know that come August, when the dog days of summer set in, we'll pay in spades for our early-season windfall. Two national wildlife refuges, Lake Andes and Karl E. Mundt, are set aside to protect the waterfowl and wildlife. Lake Sharpe is named for former South Dakota Governor, Merrill Q. Sharpe, who was instrumental in implementing the construction of USACE dams on the Missouri River. Walleyes over 20 inches are certainly possible and there is a population of trophy caliber walleyes in the 27-30 inch plus variety too. On our second rods, we went with our usual backups, consisting of light Lindy rigs. Tying a #9-#11 Floating Rapala to a 1 1/2 oz bottom bouncer and floating in the current can not only produce good numbers of fish, but very large fish as well. "I like to anchor along the sandbar between the car bridge and railroad bridge and work the current with jigs. Gavins Point Dam, located four miles west of Yankton, was authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1944. . The South Dakota record is 120 pounds, 12 ounces caught at Fort Randall Dam in 1979 by Don Gregg (location now closed to fishing.) Major to record flooding occurred on the James, Vermillion and Big Sioux Rivers in eastern South Dakota in March 2010 following an excessively wet fall and winter. Tribal licenses not required unless fishing on reservation soil. Hunting Some fish are being caught in back of bays in shallower water and many fish are out on he main lake points much deeper so hunting them is much harder. For more information, please call (605) 245-2255. Smallmouth Bass are found statewide in both warm and cool waters. Top 10 Campgrounds and RV Parks. Walleyes that had spent most of the winter and spring in the upper third of the reservoir will transition their way down and spend the summer in this area. Search Search Cancel. "I don't know where those rumors started," Wickstrom stated. Project staff at Big Bend Dam walk below a huge spillway gate during a dam safety inspection. It is located along the eastern bank of the Missouri River. There are few fisheries that can offer a strong walleye bite all 12 months of the year, but Sharpe is one of these fisheries. A lack of current slows the bite, in Palmer's view, so the key is to get anchored and let the current and fish come. The Big Bend dam near Fort Thompson, South Dakota, is named for an unusual, horse-shoe-shaped bend in the Missouri River. President Dwight D. Eisenhower threw the switch that started the first power generating unit in 1954. It is operational mid-May through mid-September. Northern, catfish and smallmouth are going well right now. There are numerous recreational areas along Lake Sharpe's path. We detail everything you need to know to find spring walleyes inSearching for Spring Walleye. Walleye and northern pike abundant. Average depth of 11 feet, maximum depth of 33 feet. These species include lake herring and smelt, which are a particular favorite of the trophy caliber walleyes in Sharpe. Missouri River Lodge in Geddes at 605-680-3877. Black crappie, yellow perch and northern pike can also find their way into an anglers bag as well. Sharon J. G./Tripadvisor. The word Oahe, once the name of a Christian mission, is a Sioux Indian word meaning "a foundation," or "a place to stand on.". Fishing is the main attraction to the area, with walleye being the primary sport fish, although sauger, smallmouth bass, white bass, channel catfish and northern pike also provide great fishing action. Recreation areas vary from primitive to highly developed areas like the Left Tailrace area located below the dam. Featured People on Fishidy. Fishermen will find a variety of fish including crappie, northern pike, white bass, muskie and walleye here. While low water levels have troubled the upper reaches of the Missouri River System for the past year, Hendrickson feels that the lower releases from the dam will actually help walleye fishing in the tailrace this month. Lake Sharpe sits below Lake Oahe and above Lake Francis Case. Zebra mussels were discovered in Sharpe in July of 2019. When Lewis and Clark passed through, they noted an abundance of wildlife hereand the same holds true today. Walleye/sauger regulations feature a 15 inch minimum, except during July and August. Lake Sharpe is the 54th largest reservoir in the . Old Fort Randall, a military fort built in 1856, once stood in the shadow of Fort Randall Dam. Here walleye and bass are hitting either jigs or bottom bouncers and minnows. Lake Sharpe- Big Bend Dam, South Dakota. I like to go with a plain jig at this time of year: no body, no trailer - just a jig and the biggest minnow in the bucket. south dakota water data maintainer Pease Creek to the Fort Randall Dam is going good. The public land and water of the project also provide a wide variety of recreational activities, such as fishing, boating, and camping. For shore anglers, this is the best opportunity to catch a trophy caliber fish on Lake Sharpe. No reports. Once again, the bluffs will produce excellent fishing opportunities as fish will utilize this area as they transition up and down the reservoir. From Pierre: East on Hwy 34, South at Hwy 47, west on North Shore Road, From Chamberlain: North on Hwy 50, West on Hwy 34 and west on North Shore Road, 1.5 miles southwest of Fort Thompson, South Dakota on Highway 47. Lake Sharpe is a Missouri River reservoir located in central South Dakota. Boat ramp elevation readings for Fort Peck, Garrison, Oahe and Fort Randall Projects. "Most of the walleyes people have been catching are right around that 18-inch mark and above," says Jeff Hendrickson, fisheries biologist with the North Dakota Game and Fish Department. Washing off your boat before moving it from one waterway to another is a critical to helping reduce further impact on critical regional infrastructure. Lake Sharpe is a Missouri River reservoir located in central South Dakota. The northeast end of the dam is located near the site of Fort Thompson, a reservation headquarters established in 1863 for Santee Sioux and Winnebago agencies. ELD-X Precision Hunter). The Karl E. Mundt National Wildlife Refuge, just below Fort Randall Dam, is where visitors often spot bald eagles sitting high atop cottonwood trees lining the shore. For more detailed information call the store at (605) 336-9132. . All public lands around the Lake Sharpe and the Missouri River are open to hunting, except for developed recreation areas. Tribal licenses not required unless fishing inland on reservation soil. You can also get the latest tips, tricks and see the latest fishing reports and catches by followingLip Ripper Guide Fishing on Facebook! Give a Gift Visitors can view the Oahe Dam and Lake Oahe by following the highway seven miles north of Pierre. While Lake Oahe has been plagued with a predator/prey problem that has left the system full of small, hungry walleyes, Hendrickson says the resident walleyes in the Garrison tailrace look good. Immediately out of the boat launch beyond the riprap, anglers can enjoy good fishing by anchoring next to the ice in the stilling basin and pitching jigs at aggressive walleyes that seek shelter from the current along the steep ledge that lines the break. Omaha District Flood 2011. Off-season or groups of 10 or more: Call (605) 245-2255. Big Bend Dam takes its name from the unique bend in the Missouri River seven miles upstream from the dam. Find out everything about Oahe in our Lake Oahe Profile. Circle H Motel at 605-487-7652. Unloaded and ready, we skimmed through a light crust of ice before hitting the open channel and heading for our favorite spring location near Crow Creek, several miles southeast of the dam. Facilities at the Left Tailrace include campsites with electrical hookups, comfort stations with showers, a dump station, boat ramp, fish cleaning station, courtesy dock, picnic shelters, tables, grills, drinking water and playground. Construction began immediately and in September 1956 the power plant began producing electricity. Good fishing ahead! This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. CROOKED RIVER: trout, whitefish.