It’s a fishing day

Lake Francis Case (Chamberlain) fishing conditions · South Dakota

Now until 7 pmWalleye

The bite peaks at 94.

Log a trip here
Right now: 90 for walleye, go · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Walleye, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 903 pm
  2. 94
  3. 90
  4. 906 pm
  5. 76
  6. 76
  7. 769 pm
  8. 76
  9. 80
  10. 80Sun
  11. 76
  12. 76
  13. 763 am
  14. 76
  15. 76
  16. 766 am
  17. 80
  18. 76
  19. 769 am
  20. 76
  21. 80
  22. 8012 pm
  23. 76
  24. 76
  25. 763 pm
  26. 76
  27. 80
  28. 766 pm
  29. 76
  30. 76
  31. 769 pm
  32. 76
  33. 76
  34. 80Mon
  35. 80
  36. 76
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
No reading

Walleye range 50–72°

Wind
10 mph

From the west-southwest

Light
Daylight

Sunset 5:20 pm

Sky
Mostly Cloudy

No rain expected

Air
64°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Falling

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
5% lit

Waning crescent

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are South Dakota non-tidal regulations for these waters.

Walleye

Walleye

Sander vitreus

94GoNow until 7 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Walleye bite in 50–72° water, best near 62°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Walleye feeds aggressively in low light. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 10–40 ft down.

Keep

15" minimum · 4 a day (Jan 1–Jun 30, Sep 1–Dec 31); 4 a day (Jul 1–Aug 31)

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 15" minimum except in July and August; 4 walleye a day, only 1 of them 20" or longer.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Lake Sharpe and Lake Francis Case

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–May, Oct–Nov, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on walleye

Yellow Perch

Yellow perch

Perca flavescens

82Worth the tripNow until 7 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Yellow perch bite in 45–70° water, best near 58°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 5–30 ft down.

Keep

15 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. South Dakota: 15 yellow perch a day, 30 in possession.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · South Dakota non-tidal

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Mar–May, Oct–Dec, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on yellow perch

Northern Pike

Northern pike

Esox lucius

82Worth the tripNow until 7 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Northern pike bite in 50–70° water, best near 63°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 4–30 ft down.

Keep

6 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. South Dakota: 6 northern pike a day, 12 in possession, the Missouri River reservoirs included.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · South Dakota non-tidal

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Year-round. More on northern pike

Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth bass

Micropterus dolomieu

47Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. Smallmouth bass bite in 55–78° water, best near 68°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Smallmouth bass is here Apr–Oct. Holds 3–30 ft down.

Keep

5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. South Dakota: 5 largemouth and smallmouth bass a day combined, 10 in possession.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · South Dakota non-tidal

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Oct, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on smallmouth bass

Channel Catfish

Channel catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

47Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. Channel catfish bite in 60–85° water, best near 75°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Channel catfish is here May–Oct. Holds 5–30 ft down.

Keep

10 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. South Dakota: 10 catfish a day combined, only 1 flathead 30" or longer; 20 in possession.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · South Dakota non-tidal

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Oct, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on channel catfish

Common Carp

Common carp

Cyprinus carpio

47Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. Common carp bite in 52–86° water, best near 72°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Common carp is here May–Oct. Holds 1–15 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. South Dakota: rough fish, carp included, have no limit.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · South Dakota non-tidal

Last checked 20 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Oct, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on common carp

The water

  • Water temperatureNo reading
  • Barometer30.02 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today5:20 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow7:22 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 3:50 pm–4:50 pm
  • Major solunarTonight 10:30 pm–12:30 am
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 6:40 am–7:40 am

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. South Dakota GFP publishes a report for the state.

Licenses and rules: South Dakota GFP · fish-consumption advisory

About this spot

A 100-mile Missouri River reservoir behind Fort Randall Dam — a renowned "walleye factory" through the Chamberlain reach. Walleye and sauger blanket the points and flats, with smallmouth bass on the rock, yellow perch, channel catfish, and northern pike. Public ramps cluster around Chamberlain and the dam.

South Dakota: 4 walleye a day (8 in possession), only 1 of them 20" or longer; 15" minimum except in July and August. A premier Missouri-system walleye destination.

Nearby

The closest public spots we cover, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Lake Sharpe (Pierre)65 mi · South DakotaBest now until 6 pm
94Go
Lake Oahe (Oahe Downstream, Pierre)70 mi · South DakotaBest now until 6 pm
94Go
Lewis and Clark Lake113 mi · NebraskaBest now until 7 pm
94Go
West Okoboji Lake211 mi · IowaBest now until 7 pm
59Marginal
Spirit Lake213 mi · IowaBest now until 7 pm
90Go
Lake McConaughy (Ogallala)214 mi · NebraskaBest now until 6 pm
94Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Lake Francis Case (Chamberlain)?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Lake Francis Case (Chamberlain) you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Lake Francis Case (Chamberlain)?

Lake Francis Case (Chamberlain) is listed on this site for 6 commonly-targeted species: Walleye, Smallmouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Channel Catfish, and 2 more. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Lake Francis Case (Chamberlain)?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Lake Francis Case (Chamberlain) against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Lake Francis Case (Chamberlain) have?

Lake Francis Case (Chamberlain) has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. South Dakota: 4 walleye a day (8 in possession), only 1 of them 20" or longer; 15" minimum except in July and August. A premier Missouri-system walleye destination.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Lake Francis Case (Chamberlain)?

state agency regulations apply at Lake Francis Case (Chamberlain). Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Lake Francis Case (Chamberlain) tidal water?

No. Lake Francis Case (Chamberlain) is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.