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Fishing Lake Francis Case: what the data says
102,000-acre reservoir near Chamberlain. The 100-mile Fort Randall reach of the Missouri. A walleye factory with canyon-edge smallmouth and deep winter holes. The lake tops out around 140 ft. The chart is a model: real shoreline, published maximum depth, interpolated in between. A planning tool, never a navigation product. What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
On the chart, Lake Francis Case draws 83,203 acres inside 346.2 miles of shoreline — 3 islands included. With a shoreline index of 8.6, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. 53% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft), per the model — cover, weeds and forage water.
Walleye fishing at Lake Francis Case
When the water first warms, walleye slide up into 4 to 15 ft. Summer is a 15 to 35 ft game here, winter a 20 to 40 ft one. Start at Platte Creek inflow. It's a inflow / creek mouth holding about 8 ft of water and rates prime come spring. The feeding windows run the evening and early morning. Keep a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Platte Creek inflow (8 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Offshore hump (15 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Sharp break (35 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Offshore hump (19 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Sauger fishing at Lake Francis Case
Early season sauger use the shallows, holding in 4 to 18 ft. Summer is a 10 to 30 ft game here, winter a 15 to 45 ft one. The chart's best answer is Platte Creek inflow — inflow / creek mouth, 8 ft, prime for spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a bottom bouncer + crawler or a 3-way rig with stickbait and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Platte Creek inflow (8 ft) | 3/8 oz jig + ringworm, Hair jig + minnow |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Offshore hump (15 ft) | Bottom bouncer + crawler, 3-way rig with stickbait |
| Fall | 12 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Sharp break (35 ft) | Jig + big minnow, Blade bait |
| Winter | 15 to 45 ft | dusk | Sharp break (35 ft) | Heavy jigging spoon, Jig + minnow (vertical) |
Smallmouth Bass fishing at Lake Francis Case
The spring pattern is a shallow one: smallmouth bass in 3 to 12 ft. As the season builds they drop to 10 to 30 ft, wintering in 20 to 45 ft. Top water on the chart: Rock reef, a rock pile in the 6-ft range, prime in spring. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Rock reef (6 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Offshore hump (15 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Shoreline point (7 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 20 to 45 ft | midday | Sharp break (35 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Crappie fishing at Lake Francis Case
The spring pattern is a shallow one: crappie in 2 to 8 ft. As the season builds they drop to 10 to 25 ft, wintering in 15 to 35 ft. Top water on the chart: Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in the 6-ft range, prime in spring. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 10 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Offshore hump (15 ft) | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 8 to 20 ft | dawn | Shallow flat (7 ft) | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday | Offshore hump (15 ft) | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
Northern Pike fishing at Lake Francis Case
The spring pattern is a shallow one: northern pike in 2 to 8 ft. As the season builds they drop to 8 to 20 ft, wintering in 5 to 15 ft. Top water on the chart: Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in the 6-ft range, prime in spring. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow flat (7 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
White Bass fishing at Lake Francis Case
Early season white bass use the shallows, holding in 2 to 12 ft. Summer is a 8 to 25 ft game here, winter a 15 to 40 ft one. The chart's best answer is Platte Creek inflow — inflow / creek mouth, 8 ft, prime for spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a slab spoon or a small topwater (schooling fish) and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Platte Creek inflow (8 ft) | Curly-tail jig (white), Small lipless crank |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Offshore hump (15 ft) | Slab spoon, Small topwater (schooling fish) |
| Fall | 6 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (7 ft) | Jigging spoon, Blade bait |
| Winter | 15 to 40 ft | midday | Offshore hump (15 ft) | Jigging spoon (deep), Blade bait |
Lake Francis Case also holds channel catfish (8 to 25 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 119 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 50 ft
- Deep break: drop-off, around 42 ft
- Shoreline point: point, around 36 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 35 ft
- Secondary point: point, around 35 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 35 ft
- Feeding flat: feeding flat, around 32 ft
- Feeding flat: feeding flat, around 32 ft
- Feeding flat: feeding flat, around 32 ft
- Feeding flat: feeding flat, around 32 ft
- Feeding flat: feeding flat, around 32 ft
- Feeding flat: feeding flat, around 31 ft
- Feeding flat: feeding flat, around 31 ft
Lake Francis Case fishing regulations
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for South Dakota waters are set by the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks — and special regulations can apply to Lake Francis Case specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official South Dakota fishing regulations →
Common questions
How deep is Lake Francis Case?
Lake Francis Case is about 140 ft (43 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
What fish are in Lake Francis Case?
Anglers target smallmouth bass, walleye, white bass, sauger, northern pike, crappie, channel catfish on Lake Francis Case.
Where is the best fishing spot on Lake Francis Case?
Platte Creek inflow is the top-rated area: a inflow / creek mouth in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Lake Francis Case?
For walleye, the summer bite is best in the evening and early morning. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
What are the fishing regulations for Lake Francis Case?
Fishing on Lake Francis Case is regulated by the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks. Check the official South Dakota regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Nearby waters
Platte Lake 13 mi · Red Lake 16 mi · Wilmarth Lake 30 mi · Corsica Lake 37 mi · Roosevelt Lake 39 mi · Byre Lake 49 mi · Mitchell Lake 49 mi · Dimock Lake 55 mi · James River 57 mi · Jones Lake 63 mi · Chapelle Lake 65 mi · Lake Sharpe 66 mi
See how Lake Francis Case stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in South Dakota · best walleye lakes in South Dakota · best white bass lakes in South Dakota · best sauger lakes in South Dakota
Browse all South Dakota fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.