Pierre, Ft. Thompson, Chamberlain, Platte

[w_huisman]

Thinking about hitting the River this weekend, and wondering where would be the best place to go.

Has anybody been out to, or heard anything about the bite lately?

Thanks!

[zpeters73]

Heard a second-hand report that there is a good bite in 12-15 FOW near the bridges in Pierre. I might give it a try Friday if I can get out of work.

[photoguy]

I have 3- groups of friends that left Tuesday & Weds. for Chamberlain
& will be back Thurs. & Fri. I"ll try to post their info as soon as I can. Photoguy

[Hogslammer]

We're heading up to Pierre this weekend also. Sounds like the best bite is near the bridges. If the Bad River is running muddy, the bite below there will be tough. I'll post a report when we get back.

[Hogslammer]

We're heading up to Pierre this weekend also. Sounds like the best bite is near the bridges. If the Bad River is running muddy, the bite below there will be tough. I'll post a report when we get back.

[w_huisman]

bump...

Any other reports?

I just checked the latest forecast. They're talking 15-30mph winds everywhere on the river this weekend. YUCK.

[zpeters73]

Fished the bridges area in Pierre Saturday. Wind blew hard all day, but not unbearable by any means. The bite was a little less intense than it was earlier in the week, but we caught some nice fish. The fish are there if you work for them, but I wouldn't call it fast and furious.

[Hogslammer]

3 of us just back from Pierre tonight. Sat. wind blew hard and bite was slow for us. We did end up with 4 fish, with one at 20". Sun. was cold and windy and we only fished until 1:30 with 5 fish, 2 of which were 19" and one 20". Today was cold to start with, but was much better with calm winds and sunshine. Caught our limit of 12 fish by 11:30. 2 fish went 19 1/2" and one 20 1/4". Overall was a pretty darn good trip for the first time out this year. Sounds like the bite was better earlier in the week and we heard of a Minnesota guy that caught a 10 pounder. Might go back next week if the weather cooperates. I would guess the spawn is at least 3 to 4 weeks away. Water temperature was 36 degrees.

[zpeters73]

Hogslammer - how was the boat pressure on Sunday and Monday? I think that was part of the problem on Saturday. We fished all day and 3 of us ended up with 10 keepers and 3 or 4 unders, but we had more bites later in the afternoon after the boat crowd thinned a little bit. When you said that this morning was good, I figured that the weekend crowd had tapered off and the fish had turned back on. Nice fish though, huh?

[Hogslammer]

There were a lot of boats Sat. until the high winds thinned them out late morning. We should have hung in near the bridges longer, but decided to pull cranks upriver on the east side of the river. Caught onlu one 17" sauger on a husky jerk with lead core. Sun. the boat traffic was mostly gone by noon, but the cool temps and fog made it not too enjoyable. Mon. we caught 4 on the first drift, then had to methodically pound the river to catch the next 8. We were the only boat out there for the first 1 1/2 hours or so on Mon. It was 27 degrees to start with, but with no wind and the sun shining, it was a great day to be on the river. Rear livewell lid was froze shut until about 9:30, so it was good we had two livewells. All but two fish all 3 days were caught between the two bridges.

[RiverRat220]

Just got back from Ft. Thompson this weekend. Bite was a little slow, they were hitting earlier in the week jigen below the dam. Gotta work em... Stayed below till about noon, then headed above dam and battled the waves the rest of the day. Water still a bit cold....

[johnson_d98]

Was out at Ft Thompson-Croe Creek area yesterday and did real well. Had our limit in an hour but kept throwing our last fish back hoping for a big one. The wind was blowing in the morning and had a good chop out there, then it got calm and the fishing slowed some, but still caught lots of eyes.
PS-Dont forget the suncreen-I did & I hurt today. Didnt expect it to be 83 degrees yesterday. Ahhh that aloe vera feels good :)

[w_huisman]

I need a different job. 8 to 5, M-F makes it tough to fish the river in the middle of the week.

[flagem2]

What was the water temp. in the Fort Thompson area? I would guess the fish will be spawning shortly with these warm temps.

Thanks!

[RiverRat220]

When we were there last weekend we read 37-40. Pretty sure this has changed since then....

[johnson_d98]

Water temps were 41-43. All the fish we caught were males and were milking pretty good. And yes, it is nice to have days off in the middle of the week :) although it can be hard to find people to go with you. Anyone been up on Oahe yet-Cheyanne area?

[Hogslammer]

johnson, I fished Sharpe last week and met a guy at the motel that had been on Oahe fishing for salmon, not walleye. Sounds like they were doing pretty well on those silver carp long-lining along the dam to corp bay.

[at chamberlin now]

Its 1 pm sat, and the jig bite is really slow today.Weather is very nice, and not much wind. More trollers than jiggers on the river this time of the year.

I have been on the water since 7, and have not been bit from Kiowa to White River. I have only seen one fish caught so far, but it was a pretty nice one, judging by the holler from the boat. I'm taking a little break, and going to fish the evening, somewhere, possibly West Bend on Sharpe. The water temp is around 41 at the dam, and 44-46 downstream. The water clarity is terrible, I spose from the wind. You can see the jig only about 3 inches below the surface. I got on the water yesterday about 6 in the evening, and fished at the dam. The fast water was by far the best place in the basin, but the fish are like johnson said, milking males. I caught 12 fish, and kept 3, 15 1/2 inch males before it got dark.

They were doing pretty good from shore along the rocks, with crappie rigs, I would assume.