Advanced Walleye & Bass Charter with Scott Van Liere
Private Trip
Lakes/Reservoirs/Ponds Fishing
Advanced 8-hour charter targets walleye, catfish, and smallmouth bassProfessional techniques across Lake Oahe, Lake Sharpe, and creek systemsExpert-guided fishing designed specifically for experienced anglers
When you're ready to move beyond the basics and really put your angling skills to the test, Captain Scott Van Liere's full-day advanced charter delivers exactly what serious fishermen are looking for. This isn't your typical guided trip where you sit back and let someone else do the work. You'll be actively learning and applying advanced techniques while targeting Pierre's big three—Walleye, Channel Catfish, and Smallmouth Bass—across some of South Dakota's most productive waters. Lake Oahe and Lake Sharpe hold legendary fishing opportunities, and the Spring Creek-Cow Creek stretches are local secrets that consistently produce trophy-class fish.
This 8-hour charter moves at a different pace than beginner trips. You'll cover serious ground across multiple prime fishing locations, switching techniques and targeting different species as conditions and opportunities present themselves. Captain Scott knows these waters like the back of his hand—every structure, every drop-off, every seasonal pattern that makes the difference between a good day and an outstanding one. The focus is on precision and strategy, so come prepared to pay attention and actively participate. You'll be fine-tuning your jigging technique, learning advanced trolling patterns, and mastering casting approaches that separate weekend anglers from the pros. This trip accommodates just two anglers, which means personalized instruction and plenty of opportunities to work different techniques without waiting your turn.
Captain Scott specializes in the advanced methods that consistently produce results in these Missouri River reservoirs. You'll work with precision jigging techniques that trigger strikes from suspended walleye, learning to read your electronics and interpret what the fish are telling you. The trolling game here involves understanding speed control, lure selection, and reading water temperature breaks that concentrate baitfish and the predators that follow them. For smallmouth bass, you'll master casting techniques around rocky structure and current breaks, using finesse presentations that fool educated fish. The catfish bite requires a completely different approach—understanding channel structure, current flow, and bait presentation that appeals to these bottom-dwelling fighters. All rods, reels, tackle, and bait are provided, but you'll want to bring your South Dakota fishing license, plus your own food and drinks for the full day on the water.
Walleye are the crown jewel of Pierre's fishery, and these Missouri River reservoirs produce some absolute slabs. These fish relate heavily to structure and current, often suspending in the water column during different parts of the day. Spring through fall offers the most consistent action, with fish ranging from solid keepers in the 14-16 inch range up to trophy specimens pushing 8-10 pounds. What makes walleye so appealing to serious anglers is their combination of fighting ability, table fare quality, and the technical skills required to consistently catch them. They're structure-oriented but mobile, requiring you to constantly adapt your approach based on weather, water conditions, and seasonal patterns.
Channel Catfish in these waters grow to impressive sizes and provide some of the strongest fights you'll experience in freshwater. These fish are opportunistic feeders that respond well to various bait presentations, but the big ones require specific techniques and locations that locals guard closely. Summer months produce the most consistent action, with fish ranging from solid 5-8 pounders up to true monsters exceeding 20 pounds. The fight from a big channel cat is something every angler should experience—they use the current to their advantage and make long, powerful runs that test your equipment and skills.
Smallmouth Bass in Lake Oahe and Lake Sharpe are scrappy fighters that pound-for-pound might be the strongest fish in these waters. They love rocky structure, current breaks, and areas where baitfish concentrate. These bronze-backed fighters typically range from 12-18 inches, but the Missouri River system produces smallies in the 4-6 pound range that will absolutely wear you out. What makes them special is their aggressive nature and aerial displays—when a good smallmouth hits your lure, you know it immediately. They're most active during warmer months but can be caught consistently through multiple seasons with the right approach.
If you're tired of fishing the same old spots with mediocre results, this advanced charter with Captain Scott Van Liere represents a serious upgrade to your angling game. You'll gain access to prime locations that most anglers never see, learn techniques that will improve your success rate long after the trip ends, and target three of South Dakota's premier sport fish species in their prime habitat. The combination of expert instruction, top-tier fishing locations, and a full day on the water creates the perfect environment for serious anglers to push their skills to the next level. With space limited to just two anglers, personalized attention is guaranteed, and you'll come away with knowledge and techniques that will pay dividends for years to come. Don't settle for ordinary fishing when extraordinary opportunities are waiting on Lake Oahe and Lake Sharpe.
Your fishing platform for this advanced charter is a 22-foot Skeeter fiberglass boat that'll get you to the hottest walleye and bass spots on Lakes Oahe and Sharpe fast. Built in 2020 with twin Yamaha engines pushing 55 knots, this rig cuts through Pierre's waters with serious speed and handles like a dream when you're working structure for trophy smallmouth or drifting for catfish. The boat's loaded with top-shelf electronics to mark fish and navigate the lake systems, plus plenty of rod storage for all your jigging and trolling setups. Six-angler capacity means room to move when you're fighting fish, and all the USCG safety gear keeps things secure while you're focused on precision casting and working those advanced techniques Captain Scott will be showing you.
Ictalurus PunctatusChannel cats in our Pierre waters typically run 5-15 pounds, though we've seen some real bruisers pushing 30+ pounds come out of Lake Oahe's deeper holes. These whiskered fighters love hanging around rocky ledges and timber structure in 15-25 feet of water. Summer through early fall gives you the best action when water temps warm up. What makes them special? They fight hard, taste great on the table, and those barbels let them hunt by smell even in murky water. Here's a local trick - try cut bait or nightcrawlers right at sunset near creek mouths where Spring Creek meets the main lake. That's when they move shallow to feed and you'll get some serious rod-bending action.
Micropterus DolomieuSmallmouth bass in our Pierre waters typically run 12-16 inches with plenty of 2-4 pound fish around rocky structure and creek channels. They love clear water areas with rock piles, fallen timber, and drop-offs in 8-20 feet deep. Spring and fall fishing is fantastic when they're active in warmer weather, but summer mornings and evenings work great too. What sets them apart? They fight like fish twice their size - pure dynamite on light tackle. Plus they're excellent table fare with firm, flaky meat. Local secret: target the windward side of rocky points early morning with tube jigs or small crankbaits. The wind pushes baitfish against the rocks and smallmouth stack up to ambush them.
Sander VitreusWalleye around Pierre average 15-20 inches with plenty of 3-5 pounders mixed in, plus some real trophies over 8 pounds lurking in our deeper structure. They love rocky points, breaklines, and weed edges in 12-30 feet of water on Oahe and Sharpe. Spring and fall are prime time, but low-light periods year-round produce well thanks to those reflective eyes. Anglers love them because they're challenging to locate, fight well, and are hands-down the best eating fish we target. Pro tip from years on these waters - focus on the transition zones where rock meets sand bottom, especially during that magic hour just before sunset. Jig slowly with a minnow and keep your bait just off bottom.
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