Fishing report lakes oahe/sharpe pierre area for july 12ththru july 26th 2020

[fishinghutch]

Busy is the word. The lake is just full of fishermen and boats and it doesn't even thin down in mid-week. Full boat ramps and full fish cleaning stations are common. Fortunately we have a lot of water to fish so once you are out of the ramp you can find plenty of places to fish either with other boats or by yourself. I think the reasons for the numbers can be tied to COVID-19 escapes outdoors, the Canada boarder closing. and maybe the arrival of the baby boomer generation. Whatever the reason the bite has been excellent so most angler are going home with plenty of fish. I have been on the water with limits usually every day catching the walleye on Oahe in around 30 fow most days. My bait of choice is still nightcrawler bouncer rigs but just about all methods are working. Hot weather has been prevalent so getting limits early and beating the afternoon heat has been working most days. Keeping some eaters along with the nicer fish enables earlier limits and beating the heat right now is very good. I was on Sharpe one day last week and actually it was a lot harder to limit than I had expected with bait fish everywhere. Most of the fish we caught there were in around 23 fow and we got limits but worked hard. The fish we caught were in the over 15 inch year class. Lots of over 20 inch fish this year on Oahe and also lots of 13 inchers so the future of the lake is looking good for numbers as long as the bait fish hold up. Right now that looks good with both lakes full of baitfish. Water and Gatorade type drinks are essential to every trip.

Hutch