Thank You for a Great Fishing Season Save the Date for Platte’s 2027 Fishing Tournament! As we wrap up our final fishing report of the season, we want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all our dedicated readers for joining us on the water throughout the season! We appreciate you following along and will resume the report May – October 2027. For this final report, we are excited to spotlight this week’s sponsor, the Platte Area Chamber of Commerce! Located along the beautiful shores of Lake Francis Case, Platte is one of South Dakota’s favorite fishing destinations, offering outstanding fish habitat, scenic views, and plenty of opportunities to make lasting memories on the water. When you’re ready to reel in the fun, Platte’s vibrant downtown, incredible state parks, and welcoming small-town charm offer even more reasons to visit. SAVE THE DATE: Platte’s Annual Fishing Tournament returns May 1–2, 2027! Anglers can register in February, so start planning now and get ready for another exciting year of fishing, friendly competition, and great days on Lake Francis Case. Make Platte part of your fishing plans next spring! Thank you again for a fantastic fishing season. We look forward to seeing you back on the water next year! All our best, The SD Missouri River Tourism Team Subscribe to the Missouri River Tourism Newsletter (https://www.sdmissouririver.com/newsletter-signup/) For the Mobridge (https://mobridge.org/)  and Pollock (http://www.pollocksouthdakota.com/)  areas, Brent Kemnitz shared from MoRest Motel (https://www.sdmissouririver.com/directory/view/morest-motel/)  that fishing is the same: pretty tough. 30-35ft depths, trolling crankbaits. Limits are hard to come by. Mobridge Area Northern Pike – catch and release! Reader Submitted Around Akaska, Chad Schilling with Oahe Wings Walleyes (https://oahewings.com/)  reported the fishing seems to be getting better every day. Still slow, but anglers are able to consistently put a few fish in the boat each outing. Trolling crank baits has been the most used and probably the most productive. Some anglers are using forward facing sonar and getting a few fish. There has definitely been more trophy fish being caught lately with some landing absolute giants in their boats. Should be a good finale to the open water season. In the Whitlock Bay area near Gettysburg (http://cityofgettysburg.com/) , South Whitlock Resort (https://www.southwhitlock.com/)  shared some fairly warm days are still ahead; the river could still use some cooling down. Walleye and salmon fishing have been picking up. The salmon is still nice and silver. Once the temps drop, expect a quality drop in the salmon for spawning season, but the salmon season isn’t half over yet. Most salmon have been averaging 10-15lbs but some larger ones have been caught, up to 24lbs recently. Northerns are being caught in the area as well. Overall, walleye are deep and scattered. Anglers are catching 40ft if they are throwing over the trees, using plugs and spoons, no live bait. Bob’s Resort (https://www.bobsresort.com/)  reported overall the area has been fairly slow, but anglers are catching some. Bigger walleye can be found in deep waters. Salmon is starting to show up in the area, but have not fully taken off. Catfish and smallmouth bass are great to target right now. Salmon Update on Oahe There is no new report for salmon-angling on Lake Oahe, see the last report from Kevin Thibodeau with the Oahe Salmon Guide (https://www.oahesalmonguideservice.com/) : Salmon are being drawn up from 60-80ft down, almost all on FFs. At this point in the season, a decent shallow bite is possible. Many colors are working right now, and one will work just as productively as another. FF is still coming out ahead. Strike Assist sliders on riggers are pulling in their fair share of fish as well. Kevin’s 2026 Salmon Season Review It was a lights-out banger of a season! Kevin saw the best, most consistent fishing this year over all other years. Spring started strong, continuing well into the first 2 weeks of May, where it slowed till about mid-June. It picked up again with an extremely good, consistent bite through early July. Though the bite cooled off from this highest peak, it remained good up till early August. The shad hatch had been remarkably successful, plus the smelt population was doing well, thus creating a harder catching environment at that time. FF was the prime bite throughout most of the season. Thanks SD GFP for the outstanding Salmon program on Lake Oahe! Whitlock Salmon Spawning Station (https://www.facebook.com/WestWhitlock) The salmon spawning station at West Whitlock Recreation Area is open! Salmon spawning operations usually continue through the month of October depending on weather and water conditions. During the fall of 2025, a total of 340 salmon returned through the fish ladder, while an additional 439 salmon were collected through boat electrofishing efforts. In total, South Dakota collected an estimated 1.2 million salmon eggs. North Dakota provided additional support to the regional stocking program by contributing approximately 740,000 salmon eggs. It is important to note that not all collected eggs will ultimately result in stockable fish. On average, approximately one-third of the salmon eggs collected are expected to hatch and survive to the stocking stage. https://sdmissouririver.com/follow-the-river/the-four-lakes-and-dams/lake-sharpe/ For Lake Sharpe, there is no new report. See the latest from Nick Harrington with Lip Ripper Fishing (https://midwestliprippers.com/) : While fishing is all over the place on the lake, c asting shallow crankbaits for walleye is the best way to end a pheasant hunt, or deal with a Nebraska football loss! Watch Nick’s full quick Lake Sharpe Update (https://www.facebook.com/reel/1111492351422159) . West Bend Recreation Area Boat Launch Seeing Improvements The West Bend RA boat launch is closed until early December while the marina is being dredged. This is a much needed improvement that will make the ramp ready to be enjoyed come the 2027 open water season. There’s also a couple campground improvements taking place as well! Lake Survey Reports 2026 Lake Survey Reports are being completed around this time, and will be published closer to winter and ice fishing season. When they are published, they are automatically uploaded to the Fisheries Report Viewer (https://apps.sd.gov/GF56FisheriesReports/) . They can also be found in the onX Fish app. Reports are also shared at SD GFP’s public meetings in winter. Pheasant Season South Dakota’s traditional Pheasant Season is here! With the ongoing fall fishing season, a trip to Central SoDak can include both wings and fins! See Nick Harrington’s quick update (https://www.facebook.com/reel/1903766513937724)  for the pheasant season. https://sdmissouririver.com/follow-the-river/the-four-lakes-and-dams/lake-francis-case/ Reporting for the Chamberlain (https://chamberlainsd.com/)  area, Allen’s Missouri River Guide Service (http://www.allenshillside.com/)  shared their part of the river is finally getting into some fall fishing. Fishing is getting a little better by the day as temperatures drop (they need to drop more, though!). Not many boats on the water as most people have switched over to hunting. Water is low on Lake Francis Case so be careful where you boat. Lake Sharpe, however, never changes. Summer fishing tactics are still holding out best. Right around the corner you should be able to get your jigging rod out. Skipper Bros Guiding (https://www.skipperbrosguiding.com/)  on Lake Francis Case said the bite is picking up very quickly right now. Bass and walleye are biting good and the reservoir is loaded with bait. Water levels are dropping fast, resulting in boat docks being pulled out. Fish are scattered in all different depths as the water is turning over. All presentations are working and the minnow bite is taking off. https://www.platteareachamber.com/about-1 Large Groups Catching Limits Photo Courtesy SD Outfitters Unlimited Joel Vasek with SD Outfitters Unlimited (https://www.sdoutfittersunlimited.com/)  said the bite is strong on lower Lake Francis Case. Fish are in the 25-35ft depth biting on crank baits and slow death rigs with crawlers. From the Bonesteel (https://www.sdmissouririver.com/directory/category/cities-and-communities/bonesteel/)  and Whetstone Bay area, Ed Pavel from Pavel’s Walleye Camp (https://www.sdmissouririver.com/directory/view/pavels-walleye-camp/)  reported that shallow fishing was very good this last week in 5-25ft of water. Using jigs and crawlers, or just jigging. Lower Missouri River Fishing Report Fort Randall / Lake Francis Case / Lewis Clark / Gavins Point From the Lake Andes (https://www.sdmissouririver.com/directory/category/cities-and-communities/lake-andes/) , Wagner (https://wagnersd.squarespace.com/fort-randall-dam) , and Pickstown (https://pickstown-sd.net/) areas, Mark Schofield with Lake Andes Inn RV Park (https://lakeandesinn.com/)  shared that fishing over the past week has changed very little. Overall the lower Missouri River has been fair to good, but anglers are still having to work for their fish. There is a lot of bait in the lower part of Lake Francis Case. Bite windows have been best in the morning and evening. Above Fort Randall Dam on Lake Francis Case, walleye are scattered from wind-blown shorelines, points, rocky banks, and coves out to deeper structure. Jigging, cranking, and pulling bottom bouncers can all work, but precision matters. Crankbaits have been one of the better options in the 25-45ft range, especially when fish are holding deeper. Around Bonesteel and Whetstone Bay, fishing has been picking back up. A jig and minnow around 20ft has been producing, and anglers are also catching fish on crankbaits in similar depths. Below Fort Randall Dam, focus on current seams, riprap, eddies, and slower water close to moving current. A jig tipped with a minnow remains a dependable setup. Shore anglers should keep bait near bottom and work current breaks slowly. https://sdmissouririver.com/follow-the-river/the-four-lakes-and-dams/lewis-and-clark-lake/ No new report from the Yankton Area and Lewis Clark Lake, please refer to the latest report: Brian Bashore with The Walleye Guys (https://www.thewalleyeguys.com/) shared fall fishing is one of the best times of the year, producing cooler temps, less boat traffic, and a chance to get true trophy-sized walleye. Last fall, much of Midwest fishing didn’t take off as water temps didn’t drop until late November. But it looks like this fall will be different. Typically the bite tends to pick up mid-October as the reduction of daylights hours and changing temps trigger the walleye to put on the feed bag. Right now, temps are in the low 70s to upper 60s, and are expected to stay cool. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1UlqKYoxHg The Walleye Guys | 2026 NWT AOY, Beau Schilling https://www.platteareachamber.com/ https://www.sdmissouririver.com/directory/category/outdoors/fishing/ Lake Oahe ·         Kemnitz MoRest Motel in Mobridge at 605-845-3668 ·         Oahe Wings Walleyes in Akaska at 605-230-0280 ·         Bob’s Resort west of Gettysburg at 605-765-2500 ·         South Whitlock Resort west of Gettysburg at 605-765-9762 ·         The Outpost Lodge north of Pierre at 605-264-5450 ·         Angry Walleye Guide Service at The Outpost Lodge at 605-321-3807 ·         Oahe Salmon Guide Service in Onida at 605-691-9020 ·         New Evarts Resort in Glenham at 605-762-3256 ·         Pike Haven Resort north of Pierre at 605-264-5465 Lake Oahe and Lake Sharpe ·         Lip Ripper Fishing in Pierre at 402-689-9947 ·         Propst Professional Anglers in Pierre at 605-222-1621 Lake Francis Case ·        Allen’s South Dakota Fishing Hunting at 800-435-5591 ·        Platte Creek Lodge at 605-941-1679 ·        Pavel’s Walleye Camp in Bonesteel at 402-340-0033 ·        Missouri River Lodge SD Outfitters Unlimited at 605-680-3877 ·        Skipper Bros Guiding at 605-892-7777 ·        Lake Andes Inn Motel RV Park at 605-418-9888 Lake Lewis and Clark ·         The Walleye Guys in Yankton 402-499-4936 Please note – 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 (https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/fa1e6cd335d8425183944b9f1a03e01e) 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 (https://gfp.sd.gov/) 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. 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 [email protected] 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. Thanks for reading our Fishing Report! ...read more read less