Lake Oahe/Sharpe fishing report Pierre area April 7th thru April 13th 2014

[Hutch]

It looks like most of the ice is off of both Sharpe and Oahe. Most of the boat ramps are now in however if using some of the more remote ramps you might check with GF&Ps first. The wind is still blowing a little ice to shore by the dam etc. but after this week end it should be all gone. Most fish cleaning stations are still closed and probably won't get open till all the frost in the ground is gone. I fished a few days with guide Dave Spaid to see what is going on and we caught limits both at west bend on Sharpe and around downtown Pierre. I then guided a real nice couple Ron and Angie Blank and there Dog Bo to a real nice limit of fish at West Bend on Sharpe. We caught these fish with Jigs or bottom bouncers tipped with minnows in around 20 to 25 fow. We fished around spawning areas keeping male fish with about an 17 inch avg. size. Fishing was excellent and we ended up throwing fish back after we had a nice bunch for eating. We then spent some time fishing around Pierre catching some maybe a little bigger avg. size fish but they were running big current making the bite tougher as the day went on. The weather was great with 60 to 70 degree days and they went back to The Big Pine campground that they own in Custer with a nice possession limit plus a real nice fish meal of fresh walleye while they were here. The spawn is just about ready to go on Sharpe and should be in full swing by next week end. I found some 50 degree water in the back of bays on Sharpe. Lake Oahe water temps are much colder and any fishing there will be for pre spawn fish for a while. I think GF&Ps should have some of the more used fish cleaning stations open soon. Weather is the key for this time of year fishing so keep an eye on forecasts or have a real nice pair of long johns as temps can go either way for a little while longer. I have no Salmon reports yet but there should be some fishing for them going on now as the ice around the dam is mostly gone. They have been catching rainbow trout stockers at the marina below the dam. Smallmouth fishing is spotty. It is great to be back on open water.

Hutch's Guide Service

Hutch