| | And lots of ‘em at that. This huge Missouri River reservoir originates from the dam near South Dakota’s state capitol of Pierre and continues well into North Dakota running approximately 231 miles, covering 2,250 miles of shoreline and spanning 370,000 acres with a maximum depth of 205 feet. It is the fourth largest reservoir in the U.S. with 51 recreation areas providing excellent facilities and access for 1.5 million people visiting each year.
 As with any reservoir, Oahe experiences fluctuations in water levels and the subsequent effects on the fishery. Fortunate for us that Oahe always proves resilient and cycles back strong. In my humble opinion, we are just entering another upward swing the likes of that have made Oahe one of the most noted fisheries on the entire Continent. Check out http://gfp.sd.gov/fishing-boating/tacklebox/lake-surveys/lake-oahe/2015OaheForecast.pdf for a scientific Lake Oahe forecast. Observations and predictions from guides and hardcore fisherman supports the data and tells of great things to come. Low water years promote terrestrial vegetation which when submerged serves to supercharge the entire eco system. The latest round of rising water started in 08 and 09 and went to extremes in 2011. Combined with poor management practices on the part of the Corp of Engineers (which possesses unyielding control of the Reservoir) the emergency spillway needed to be opened-and with it-a good portion of our all so important smelt were rinsed out.
This left a distinct void in available prey fish and the large numbers of walleye’s present were scrounging to make a meager living the last few years. We are now witnessing a dramatic change in the condition of all fish-with the walleye’s expanding back to the plump “football” shapes that they are well known for. Some of this can be attributed to a proliferation of a number of species of warm water baitfish and the ability of the walleyes to adapt. Further good news is the cold water baitfish situation is improving with smelt numbers on the rise and large numbers of edible sized lake herring found in test nets in 2014. This has served to balance predator/prey relationships and quite frankly…makes me tingle in anticipation of what is to come.
Walleye’s are most obviously the darlings of Lake Oahe, and rightly so. For sheer numbers, quality, and aggressiveness-I would put the Lake and its fast growing strain of walleyes in a class by themselves. That being said, there are a ton of opportunities for other fish that are vastly underutilized. Basically untouched populations of northern pike with specimens up to and even beyond 25lb, smallmouth bass with numbers in the 2 to 4lb range, and dandy crappies that run from 11 to 16 inches. Untold numbers of cooperative eating size channel cats are there for the taking. Silver bass and drum are a blast to tangle with and are coming back as well. Chinook salmon are available and continue to be stocked with an introduction of Atlantic salmon a possibility in the near future.
The walleyes seem to be constantly on the move, so it is not always a perfect science when it comes to predicting or timing the bite on Lake Oahe. Traditionally it starts earlier in the northern reaches as the Grand and Moreau River arms see huge numbers of walleyes arriving in Fall in anticipation of spawning the following Spring. Once this is completed, they slowly start to move out into the main reservoir and slide south in pursuit of smelt heading for deeper water as the weather and water warms. We have been seeing less of this as of late with many fish “hanging up” in the backs of the river arms and large bays feeding on abundant warm water prey including young of the year panfish and minnow species in preference to chasing the till now reduced numbers of cold water baitfish such as smelt or herring. Something to consider and I personally believe there have always been a considerable number of fish that key on this pattern. Savvy anglers have begun to discover and exploit these shallow and easily caught fish.
It is probably best to spend a few minutes doing your homework on the phone and maybe even hiring a Guide to get a feel for things. Oahe is big intimidating water and a starting point can be provided by one of the following knowledgeable folks. Call Brent Kimnitz of MoPro Guide Service (605) 845-3668 or Kerry Konold of Outrageous Adventures (605) 762-3474 for information around Mobridge, SD and the Grand River arm. Moving further south to the town of Akaska and the Swan Creek and Moreau River areas visit with Chad Schilling of Oahe Wings and Walleye at (605) 649-7331. On down the Reservoir, you could inquire with any of the Smith Brothers at Bob’s (605) 765-2500 or Randy Harer over at South Whitlock Resort (605)765-9762 for reports on the central reservoir areas. The beginning of the southern third could best be researched by talking with the Nelson’s at West Prairie Resort (605) 264-5303. To get a good feel for the Cheyenne River arm and the extensive amount of deep structure near the dam, contact Deputy Dan at Carl’s Bait in Ft. Pierre (605) 223-9453.
Spinner harnesses with crawlers presented behind bottom bouncers have long been a staple of the big reservoir and continue to be the most used tactic. A little twist I like to employ are JB Lures Ventilator blades for more water displacement and therefore enhanced attraction. Depending upon time of year, weather, and wind-fish can be commonly found from a couple of feet on down to 50 plus feet. 10 to 30 foot would be the most fished depths on the thousands of points or along bluffs. A word of advice would be to never get hung up on any one depth as these fish are notorious for being mobile.
The latest trend that was developed and perfected here are the Slow Death Hook and half a crawler rigs that were originally made by purposely kinking Aberdeen style hooks so the portion of crawler rolls oh so seductively. This technique works great no matter what the aggression level of the fish may be and many of us have been dressing these rigs up with beads, floats, small propellers, or Smile blades for even more triggering cues. There are now commercial versions available with the most notable being the JB Lures Slow Death Plus rigs I developed for them. There are single and double hook options with the main attraction being two contrasting colored and sized beads ahead of a Mustad slow death hook and followed by a small propeller blade. Another newcomer of note is the Mack’s Lure Spin Drift Walleye rigs. They use a tournament proven Smile blade, float, and VMC’s unique Spin Drift hook that features a built in swivel to further enhance the spinning motion that is so deadly.
As good as the livebait bite can be, hard baits shine as well. Due to the sheer amount of water and the fact that walleye’s can and will scatter over expansive flats or along extended runs where the old river channel sweeps near shorelines, it is a good idea to first scan with your electronics. I personally rely on the detail and clarity of Raymarine units combined with the accuracy of Navionics maps to efficiently graph at up to 30 mph. Once fish are found, run a spread of crankbaits through them to quickly fill your livewell. An added bonus is that trolling lures typically catches larger fish. Most reputable crankbaits will work well here, but experimentation and fine tuning your selection always helps. I prefer hardshaking models such as the original big ReefRunners and on the opposite end of the scale, their newer diminutive 100 series which is often ran off leadcore or heavy snapweights for a totally different and consistently productive look. Tournament fisherman have brought the crankbait bite to the forefront with more recreational anglers now discovering just how good it can be.
Speaking of Tournaments. If you have ever had an itch for a bit of friendly competition, there are several team tournaments held up and down the reservoir. Perusing www.walleyecentral.com will locate some of the more well-known and give you a wealth of information on everything relating to walleye. A particularly well run tournament to consider is the South Dakota Walleye Classic www.sdwalleyeclassic.com/ held out of the cool little fishing town of Akaska. Limited to 60 teams it is just the right size to promote camaraderie amongst the anglers, yet offer darn stiff competition from some sharp sticks. To top it all off, the hospitality you will experience along with all of the festivities held the entire weekend of July 25-27 are great fun and second to none. This event just encapsulates the entire spirit and feel of the lake and the people who enjoy its bounty.
This is big water folks and it can understandably get rough at times on the windswept prairie. Deep V boats are the norm for travelling to the fish and getting safely back to the dock. I wouldn’t recommend anything under 16 foot and personally rely on a 203 Warrior pushed by a 300 horsepower Mercury Verado to comfortably and confidently run to wherever the fish may be biting…no matter what Mother Nature throws at us.
This is not to say you need an expensive boat to enjoy the great fishing Oahe offers as the shorefishing prospects are nearly endless and can be easily had near the numerous access points and extremely nice recreation areas found up and down the reservoir. Honestly, shore-fisherman often do just as well walleye fishing within site of the many boat ramps and cleaning stations as the guys running up and down the lake in their sparkly boats. And in the Spring, soaking deadbaits from shore is generally your best bet for trophy pike. Just another great family opportunity and even more incentive to spend some time on this prairie gem.
About the Author: Dennis Foster is an outdoor writer and outfitter from Mellette, S.D. He welcomes comments and questions through his websites, eyetimepromotions.com or dakotapheasantguide.com.
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