Half Day Pierre SD Walleye and Bass Trip
Private Trip
River Fishing
Morning walleye and bass fishing on Lake Oahe and SharpeFour-hour guided trips with gear and transportation includedProfessional fish cleaning service provided after trip
Get ready to experience some of South Dakota's finest walleye and smallmouth bass fishing on the legendary waters of Lake Oahe and Lake Sharpe. Just 30 miles from Pierre, this morning trip puts you right in the heart of Missouri River country where these fish thrive year-round. Starting at 7:00 AM (though we can adjust to fit your schedule), you'll spend four solid hours working proven spots with an experienced local guide who knows exactly where the fish are holding.
This half-day adventure takes you to some of the most productive fishing waters in central South Dakota. Lake Oahe and Lake Sharpe offer completely different fishing experiences - Oahe's deeper structure holds trophy walleye while Sharpe's rocky shorelines are perfect for aggressive smallmouth. Your guide handles everything from transportation to the launch site to providing top-shelf gear and fresh bait. We keep groups small at just three anglers (with room for a fourth), so you get plenty of personal attention and coaching. Between the complimentary snacks, ice water, and professional fish cleaning service afterward, you can focus entirely on fishing. Just remember to grab your South Dakota fishing license before we meet up.
We run a variety of proven techniques depending on conditions and what the fish are telling us. For walleye, expect to work jigs tipped with crawlers or minnows along drop-offs and structure, or pull spinner rigs when fish are suspended. Smallmouth bass fishing means pitching tube jigs and soft plastics around rocky points and current breaks. All gear is provided - we're talking quality rods, reels, and tackle that can handle anything these waters throw at us. Your guide reads the water constantly, adjusting presentations and locations throughout the morning to stay on active fish. Whether you're a beginner learning to feel that subtle walleye bite or an experienced angler wanting to dial in local patterns, we adapt our approach to match your skill level.
Walleye are the bread and butter of Missouri River fishing, and for good reason. These golden beauties average 14-18 inches with plenty of 20+ inch fish mixed in. Spring through fall, they patrol the river channel edges and main lake points, feeding heavily on baitfish and crawfish. What makes walleye so special is that light bite - you'll learn to detect those subtle taps that separate good anglers from great ones. Plus, there's nothing better on the dinner table than fresh walleye fillets.
Smallmouth bass bring the fight that every angler craves. Lake Sharpe's rocky structure creates perfect smallmouth habitat, and these bronze-backed fighters average 12-16 inches with some real chunks pushing 18+ inches. They're most active during warmer months but can be caught year-round by anglers who know where to look. Smallmouth hit hard, jump high, and never give up - they're pound-for-pound some of the strongest freshwater fish you'll encounter. The rocky points and current seams we fish produce consistent action when conditions are right.
This half-day trip offers the perfect taste of world-class Missouri River fishing without eating up your entire day. Whether you're visiting Pierre for business, passing through on vacation, or you're a local wanting to learn new water, this morning adventure delivers consistent action on two of South Dakota's most popular game fish. With professional guiding, quality gear, and proven techniques, you'll leave with new skills, great memories, and hopefully a cooler full of fillets. Don't wait - the best fishing days fill up fast, and you don't want to miss out on what these legendary waters have to offer.
Our 2022 21-foot Ranger 621 gets you to the hottest walleye and bass spots on Lake Oahe and Lake Sharpe fast. The 350 Mercury Verado pushes this rig smoothly across the Missouri River system, cutting travel time so you spend more minutes with lines in the water. Built for serious anglers, she's loaded with GPS to navigate the lake's structure and a fish finder that marks schools and bottom contours where walleye stack up. The spacious layout comfortably handles three anglers with room to move around while fighting fish. An icebox keeps your drinks cold and your catch fresh during the morning bite. This setup puts you on fish quickly and gets you back to the dock with a cooler full of fillets.
Micropterus DolomieuSmallmouth bass are pure fighters - bronze-colored scrappers that'll test your drag and jump clear out of the water. They average 12-16 inches in our lakes, with plenty of 2-3 pounders mixed in. Look for them around rocky shorelines, boulder piles, and deep points in 10-30 feet of water. Spring and fall are money times when they're active in shallower water, but summer means going deeper where it's cooler. What guests love most is the fight - pound for pound, nothing pulls harder than a smallmouth. They're also great table fare with firm, sweet meat. Pro tip for Lake Oahe: target the wind-blown rocky shores early morning. The wave action stirs up crawfish and minnows, making bass super aggressive.
Sander VitreusWalleye are the bread and butter of Lake Oahe and Lake Sharpe - golden-colored fish with those distinctive glassy eyes that help them hunt in low light. Most run 14-18 inches here, though we see plenty pushing 20+ inches. They love rocky points, weed edges, and drop-offs in 15-25 feet of water. Early morning is prime time since they move shallow to feed at dawn. What makes walleye special is they're scrappy fighters and absolutely world-class eating - firm, flaky white meat with zero fishy taste. My local trick? When jigging structure, always pause your lure on the bottom for a few seconds. Walleye often hit on that dead-still moment when most anglers are already lifting up.
Pierre, SD