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Fishing Missouri River (Gavins Point): what the data says
Gavins Point Dam past Yankton to Vermillion: the unchannelized National Recreational River. sauger, walleye and big cats. The river tops out around 30 ft. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
Walleye fishing at Missouri River (Gavins Point)
Spring walleye on Missouri River (Gavins Point) hold shallow, usually 4 to 15 ft. By summer they slide out to 9 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 9 to 30 ft. If you only fish one area, make it James River confluence: a inflow / creek mouth around 12 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in the evening and early morning. Tie on a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 9 to 30 ft | dusk & dawn | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 9 to 30 ft | dusk & night | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 9 to 30 ft | dusk & dawn | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Sauger fishing at Missouri River (Gavins Point)
Start shallow in spring: sauger sit in 4 to 18 ft that time of year. By summer they slide out to 10 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 9 to 30 ft. If you only fish one area, make it James River confluence: a inflow / creek mouth around 12 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. A bottom bouncer + crawler or a 3-way rig with stickbait covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | 3/8 oz jig + ringworm, Hair jig + minnow |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Bottom bouncer + crawler, 3-way rig with stickbait |
| Fall | 9 to 30 ft | dusk & dawn | Jig + big minnow, Blade bait |
| Winter | 9 to 30 ft | dusk | Heavy jigging spoon, Jig + minnow (vertical) |
Smallmouth Bass fishing at Missouri River (Gavins Point)
In spring, smallmouth bass run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. They move out to 10 to 30 ft in summer and finish the year down in 9 to 30 ft. Unchannelized sandbars is the standout, a gravel shoal at roughly 6 ft, rated prime for spring smallmouth bass. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 9 to 30 ft | midday | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Channel Catfish fishing at Missouri River (Gavins Point)
Start shallow in spring: channel catfish sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. They move out to 8 to 25 ft in summer and finish the year down in 9 to 30 ft. James River confluence is the standout, a inflow / creek mouth at roughly 12 ft, rated prime for spring channel catfish. Plan around after dark and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 10 to 30 ft | dusk | |
| Winter | 9 to 30 ft | midday |
Flathead Catfish fishing at Missouri River (Gavins Point)
Spring flathead catfish on Missouri River (Gavins Point) hold shallow, usually 5 to 20 ft. By summer they slide out to 8 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 9 to 30 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Slackwater eddy (mile 5.6): a eddy pocket around 17 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | night & dusk | |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 9 to 30 ft | night & dusk | |
| Winter | 9 to 30 ft | midday |
Blue Catfish fishing at Missouri River (Gavins Point)
In spring, blue catfish run shallow here, mostly 5 to 25 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 8 to 30 ft, and winter fish settle into 9 to 30 ft. Gavins Point tailrace is the standout, a creek channel at roughly 25 ft, rated prime for spring blue catfish. Best bite is early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dusk | |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | |
| Fall | 9 to 30 ft | dusk | |
| Winter | 9 to 30 ft | midday |
Missouri River (Gavins Point) also holds white bass (8 to 25 ft in summer), freshwater drum (8 to 30 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Notable structure
- Gavins Point tailrace: creek channel, around 25 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 1.5): creek channel, around 23 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 9.3): creek channel, around 23 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 24.8): creek channel, around 23 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 26.6): creek channel, around 23 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 28.5): creek channel, around 23 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 30.3): creek channel, around 23 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 32.8): creek channel, around 23 ft
- Slackwater eddy (mile 5.6): eddy pocket, around 17 ft
- Current seam (mile 7.4): current seam, around 17 ft
- Current seam (mile 14.9): current seam, around 17 ft
- Current seam (mile 16.7): current seam, around 17 ft
- Current seam (mile 18.6): current seam, around 17 ft
- Current seam (mile 22.9): current seam, around 17 ft
Common questions
How deep is Missouri River (Gavins Point)?
Missouri River (Gavins Point) is about 30 ft 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 Missouri River (Gavins Point)?
Anglers target smallmouth bass, walleye, white bass, sauger, channel catfish, flathead catfish, blue catfish, freshwater drum on Missouri River (Gavins Point).
Where is the best fishing spot on Missouri River (Gavins Point)?
James River confluence is the top-rated area: a inflow / creek mouth in about 12 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 Missouri River (Gavins Point)?
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.
Nearby waters
Marindahl Lake · Beaver Lake · Swan Lake · Henry Lake · McCook Lake · Wall Lake
See how Missouri River (Gavins Point) stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in South Dakota · best walleye lakes in South Dakota · best white bass lakes in South Dakota · best channel catfish lakes in South Dakota
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