Midwest Eyes

[Tom Hudson]

Hey guys-
I'm starting out fishing eyes outside my state, NE, and wanted to know where you might recommend in SD or Kansas or Iowa. I've heard the MO river in north NE and S SD is pretty good, but wow, where to start??? Any tips on baits, time of year and where would be very helpful...I'm catch and release only (except for a couple 15-18" for the frying pan) so your info is not going to threaten your resource. Many thanks, gentlemen.

[Bucko]

Im from Lincoln NE and I have fished from Yankton SD to the northern part of lake Oahe on the MO river system. I'm headed to Yankton in a couple of weeks and try some jigging with a minnow close to the dam and maybe by the James river inlet. Also, on the lake side of the dam there are some 18"er's being taken by the inlets in 40' of water. I don't know a whole lot, but if you have any questions you can email me.
Good luck,
Bucko

[Tim]

Hi Tom,
I have fished Oahe for around 15 years from below the dam up to Gettysburg. I have found that the
area's of Plum Creek and Okobojo Creek are good in the early june time period, as well as the points
south of the Gettysburg bridge. The northern
and smallmouth fishing can be pretty good then also. In July I like to fish the lower end of the lake by the Dam. I you need any other info
email me.
Tim

[chadk66]

hey Tom,
I'm gonna give you some info I don't normally give out. In June the place you have to be is in the Van Hook arm of lake sakakawea. I have fished there all my life and it is completely unbelievable. last year we limited nearly daily with 3-5#ers, with an occasional 8+. This year we are experiencing an extremely early spring so expect things to move up a week or two. If you are interested, email me at mahlum04@ndak.net, and I can point you in the right direction.

[Jon'eye']

Head up to Lake Sharpe, Pierre, South Dakota. PWT will be held here this year. LOTS OF WALLEYE. If you like camping there's nice campgrounds by the Oahe Dam, plenty of motels, bait shops.

Heck, if a guy (me) can go out on his boat last Saturday for the first time since September of 1999 and catch 11 walleye's, it must be good fishing! They weren't big, 15-16 inchers, still walleye though. I caught them by dragging a small plain white jig and minnow on the bottom, they would bite so lite, it felt like the jig caught some weeds. I also had a lindy rig dragging the bottom while I jigged, and about an hour before I had to head home they started nailing that. I couldn't keep it on the bottom. It was really fun. I kept 2 16" to eat.

During the summer I use spinners and crawlers, usually gold or silver blades. I really like jigging with whistler jigs and minnows too.

If you head up, stop and Carls Bait Shop in Ft. Pierre, they will help you out with anything you need for your fishing trip.

www.carlsbaitshop.com or http://www.fortpierre.com/lake_sharpe.html

Good Fishing!

Jon'eye'

[Paul Kasiska]

Walleye have pretty much spawned here in the lakes in central Kansas. First of May, fish the flats with bottom bouncers with minnows or jigs and if you really want the challenge, use crank baits. Most lake lenght limits are 18 inches which makes a nice fry pan size. Marion lake is about fished out. Cheney Lake has a lot of smaller and a few big ones. Wilson is a mixture of about the same as Cheney Lake. Milford lake is classified as one of the best in Kansas this year. Hope this helps and if you have any questions, just e-mail me. Paul

[Craig MacHardy]

Paul is right I was on Clinton last weekend with all the toys and we caught only Stripers on the Dam face

[Don..SD]

If you fish around the James river, you are fishing in the most polluted river in the country

[JonnyMo]

Good info Chad, but I hope your releasing the 4lb+ Walleyes your referring to. I inferred when you say catching your limit, you meant you were keeping these big ones. If not, I apologize.....let em go!

[ahineman]

Try Milford, Glen Elder, or Kerwin. I have friends that have caught an average of 8 walleye per person (6 people total) in two recent trips to Kerwin. Never fished it myself but my friend is a reliable source ... I hope he can show me the way this weekend!