Ice is off the Mighty Mo – so what’s in store for the season? Spring angling season is here! We are excited for what this year on the water will bring. We’ve got news about Lake Francis Case, word from our local fishing guides on what they have seen so far this spring, and some forecasts f or 2025. All major boat ramps/docks are now put in, the only exception being the West Shore area where silt has caused delays. For live water access updates, use the ramp/dock status on SD Game, Fish and Park’s Public Ramp Access Map (https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/fa1e6cd335d8425183944b9f1a03e01e/page/Ramps) . Our Weekly Fishing Report (https://www.sdmissouririver.com/plan/hunting-fishing-reports/) will start in early May. Please reach out to SD Missouri River Tourism if you would like to contribute to the report. All our best, The SD Missouri River Tourism Team Subscribe to the Missouri River Visitor Newsletter (https://www.sdmissouririver.com/newsletter-signup/) Chad Shilling, Lund Pro and owner of Oahe Wings Walleyes (https://oahewings.com/) from the Selby/Akaska area, says, “After an extremely tough ice fishing season, we are way excited to see a good bite so far this spring. Fish have been in great shape and limits have been reasonably easy to come by.” Chad said he is angling in shallow water pitching jigs and using minnows. https://sdmissouririver.com/follow-the-river/the-four-lakes-and-dams/lake-sharpe/ 3rd Annual Sharpe Showdown Walleye Tournament https://www.sdmissouririver.com/calendar/view/sharpe-showdown-2025/ The third annual Sharpe Showdown is coming up and anglers will have a variety of prizes they will be fishing for come tournament day. This fishing tournament hosted by the Pierre Area Chamber of Commerce (https://pierre.org/)  and put on by The Fishing Crew (https://thefishingcrew.com/) . Anglers will launch onto Lake Sharpe (https://midwestliprippers.com/2020/02/25/lake-sharpe-profile/)  from Downs Marina, with both days of fishing counting toward their total weight. David Spaid Guiding (https://www.sdmissouririver.com/directory/view/dave-spaid-guiding/) , located in Pierre, says he is expecting a strong population of walleye around 16 inches this season. He also mentioned that smelt numbers are looking good. National Walleye Tour (NWT) https://www.sdmissouririver.com/calendar/view/national-walleye-tour/ https://sdmissouririver.com/follow-the-river/the-four-lakes-and-dams/lake-francis-case/ In March, South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks held a public meeting about the lower portion of the Missouri River. This covered details projected for Lake Francis Case and Lewis and Clark Lake for the 2025 season. You can watch the YouTube viedo below for the full report. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bv5wnJRV_48 2025 Lake Francis Case and Lewis and Clark Fishery Update Nick Harrington with Lip Ripper Fishing (https://midwestliprippers.com/) has been spending time on Lake Francis Case. For the Chamberlain area, he sees a heavy concentration of anglers below the White River, half the time trolling crankbaits and the other half dragging jigs. Some boats are north of town closer to Big Bend Dam. The Kiowa Flats area has hardly any traffic. Further upriver, a small number of boats are targeting the bluffs below Crow Creek. Overall, the angling pressure north of Chamberlain is lower than average. In Chamberlain, shore anglers are fishing along the highway grade. The Platte (https://www.platteareachamber.com/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJqGqxleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHq_n2RvFzvQi_4BP-3MH1m4v5GkTbeXZWu8VNtK6fDLhQ1QuOGpa9mgYU6ra_aem_3d77i7b4s8M77g7OSmLaKw) area is seeing significantly less angling pressure than the Chamberlain area. Anglers are targeting the Snake Creek Recreation Area (https://www.sdmissouririver.com/directory/view/snake-creek-recreation-area/) near Dock 44, cranking and jigging. Overall, the fishing is pretty quiet. Generally speaking, on Lake Francis Case, the bite is tough for overall numbers, but fish caught are high quality. This isn’t a tremendous surprise, especially considering what we discussed in our 2025 Lake Francis Case Status and Forecast (https://midwestliprippers.com/2025/02/22/2025-lake-francis-case-status-and-forecast/) . The theme is fewer fish, but better fish, and so far that trend appears to be holding true! More on the Lower Missouri River https://www.sdmissouririver.com/directory/view/pavels-walleye-camp/ Ed Pavel commented, “As of right now the fishing on Lake Francis Case appears to be on track for a great spring and summer bite.” Ed is the owner of Pavel’s Walleye Camp (https://www.sdmissouririver.com/directory/view/pavels-walleye-camp/)  in Bonesteel South Dakota. https://www.plattecreek.com/ Tom Steinhouser, owner and guide for The Platte Creek Lodge (https://www.plattecreek.com/) , shared, “Ice is off the river and we’re in the boats. There was a large shed die-off and fishing this spring has so far been phenomenal. The die-off was what needed to happened. Fishing looks to be positive with 17-18 inch, a good-sized eater fish.” Pictures of Northpoint Recreation Area and the Fort Randall Dam From Lake Andes, Angela, owner of Lake Andes Inn (https://lakeandesinn.com/) , shared that ice fishing in her neck of the woods was quiet and short. “The Missouri over by Fort Randall Dam didn’t really freeze at all. Around the North Point Recreation Area, there were some beautiful winter scenes. The good news was March came through with some amazing weather, and anglers have already been out enjoying some great fishing days. Looks like spring is ready to make up for what winter didn’t deliver!” 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 Pierre at 402-689-9947 ·         Hutch’s Guide Service at 605-220-2844 ·         South Dakota Walleye Charters at 605-366-1875 Lake Francis Case ·         Allen’s South Dakota Fishing Hunting at 800-435-5591 ·         Platte Creek Lodge at 605-941-1679 ·         Missouri River Lodge in Geddes at 605-680-3877 ·         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://sdgfp.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=79c3f941ae6c4abbbc6ac4b6987a06f5) 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 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. Thanks for reading our Fishing Report! ============================================================ Contact us at SDMRT Office: (888) 386-4617 Mobile: (605) 222-5364 Our mailing address is: P.O. Box 678 Pierre South Dakota, 57501 Want to change how you receive these emails? 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