Lake Oahe (Oahe Downstream, Pierre) fishing conditions · South Dakota

Now until 6 pmWalleye

The bite peaks at 94.

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.

902 pm
94
90
905 pm
76
76
768 pm
76
80
8011 pm
76Sun
76
762 am
76
76
685 am
72
68
768 am
76
80
8011 am
76
76
682 pm
68
80
765 pm
76
76
768 pm
76
76
8011 pm
80Mon
76

Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Water: No reading
Wind: 9 mph
Light: Daylight
Sky: Mostly Cloudy
Air: 62°F
Barometer: Falling
Moon: 5% lit

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

Sander vitreus

94GoNow until 6 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

4 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. South Dakota: 4 walleye a day (8 in possession), only 1 of them 20" or longer. Lake Sharpe and Lake Francis Case add a 15" minimum outside July and August.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · South Dakota non-tidal

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

Smallmouth bass

Micropterus dolomieu

82Worth the tripNow until 6 pm

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

Northern pike

Esox lucius

82Worth the tripNow until 6 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

Chinook salmon

Oncorhynchus tshawytscha

47Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. Chinook salmon bite in 42–58° water, best near 50°.

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. Chinook salmon is here Apr–Oct. Holds 15–150 ft down.

Keep

5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. South Dakota: 5 trout and salmon a day combined, 10 in possession. Lake Oahe is the state's landlocked chinook fishery.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · South Dakota non-tidal

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Oct. More on chinook salmon

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
Barometer29.96 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

Sunset today4:23 pm
Sunrise tomorrow6:28 am
MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
Minor solunarToday 2:50 pm–3:50 pm
Major solunarTonight 9:40 pm–11:40 pm
Minor solunarTomorrow 5:40 am–6:40 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 231-mile Missouri River reservoir stretching from Pierre into North Dakota — the largest of the Missouri mainstem lakes and a destination walleye and chinook-salmon fishery. Walleye blanket the points and flats, smallmouth bass hold on rock, northern pike work the bays, and the landlocked king salmon are the premier Missouri-system salmon run. Public ramps cluster around Pierre and Oahe Dam.

South Dakota: 4 walleye a day (8 in possession), only 1 of them 20" or longer. Lake levels move ramps — check current access.

WaterReservoir
AccessPier, shore and ramp
RulesSouth Dakota non-tidal
WhereHughes County · 44.4500, -100.3900

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Lake Sharpe (Pierre)6 mi · South DakotaBest now until 6 pm

94Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Lake Oahe (Oahe Downstream, Pierre)?

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

What fish are commonly targeted at Lake Oahe (Oahe Downstream, Pierre)?

Lake Oahe (Oahe Downstream, Pierre) is listed on this site for 5 commonly-targeted species: Walleye, Smallmouth Bass, Chinook Salmon, Northern Pike, and 1 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 Oahe (Oahe Downstream, Pierre)?

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 Oahe (Oahe Downstream, Pierre) 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 Oahe (Oahe Downstream, Pierre) have?

Lake Oahe (Oahe Downstream, Pierre) 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. Lake levels move ramps — check current access.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Lake Oahe (Oahe Downstream, Pierre)?

state agency regulations apply at Lake Oahe (Oahe Downstream, Pierre). 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 Oahe (Oahe Downstream, Pierre) tidal water?

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