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Fishing Missouri River (Oahe Tailrace): what the data says
Oahe Dam through Pierre to West Bend. legendary tailrace walleye water, year-round. The river tops out around 35 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. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Walleye fishing at Missouri River (Oahe Tailrace)
In spring, walleye run shallow here, mostly 4 to 15 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 15 to 35 ft, and winter fish settle into 11 to 35 ft. Bad River confluence (Fort Pierre) is the standout, a inflow / creek mouth at roughly 15 ft, rated prime for spring walleye. Best bite is 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 | 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 11 to 35 ft | dusk & night | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 11 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Smallmouth Bass fishing at Missouri River (Oahe Tailrace)
Spring smallmouth bass on Missouri River (Oahe Tailrace) hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 10 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 11 to 35 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Current seam (mile 6.3): a current seam around 19 ft that scores prime in summer. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig gets it done.
| 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 | 11 to 35 ft | midday | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Northern Pike fishing at Missouri River (Oahe Tailrace)
Spring northern pike on Missouri River (Oahe Tailrace) hold shallow, usually 2 to 8 ft. By summer they slide out to 8 to 20 ft, and by winter most fish are in 5 to 15 ft. The spot to know is Current seam (mile 6.3), a current seam in about 19 ft of water that rates prime for northern pike in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Channel Catfish fishing at Missouri River (Oahe Tailrace)
Spring channel catfish on Missouri River (Oahe Tailrace) hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. They move out to 8 to 25 ft in summer and finish the year down in 11 to 35 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Oahe Dam tailrace: a creek channel around 30 ft that scores prime in fall. Best bite is after dark and the evening.
| 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 | 11 to 35 ft | midday |
White Bass fishing at Missouri River (Oahe Tailrace)
Start shallow in spring: white bass sit in 2 to 12 ft that time of year. By summer they slide out to 8 to 25 ft, and by winter most fish are in 11 to 35 ft. The spot to know is Oahe Dam tailrace, a dam tailrace in about 30 ft of water that rates prime for white bass in winter. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | see map |
| Fall | 6 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | see map |
| Winter | 11 to 35 ft | midday | see map |
Sauger fishing at Missouri River (Oahe Tailrace)
In spring, sauger run shallow here, mostly 4 to 18 ft. They move out to 10 to 30 ft in summer and finish the year down in 11 to 35 ft. Bad River confluence (Fort Pierre) is the standout, a inflow / creek mouth at roughly 15 ft, rated prime for spring sauger. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a bottom bouncer + crawler or a 3-way rig with stickbait gets it done.
| 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 | 12 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Jig + big minnow, Blade bait |
| Winter | 11 to 35 ft | dusk | Heavy jigging spoon, Jig + minnow (vertical) |
Missouri River (Oahe Tailrace) also holds common carp (3 to 15 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Notable structure
- Oahe Dam tailrace: creek channel, around 30 ft
- Oahe Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 30 ft
- Tailout eddy (mile 2.6): eddy pocket, around 19 ft
- Slackwater eddy (mile 4.3): eddy pocket, around 19 ft
- Current seam (mile 6.3): current seam, around 19 ft
- Bad River confluence (Fort Pierre): inflow / creek mouth, around 15 ft
Common questions
How deep is Missouri River (Oahe Tailrace)?
Missouri River (Oahe Tailrace) is about 35 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 (Oahe Tailrace)?
Anglers target smallmouth bass, walleye, white bass, sauger, northern pike, channel catfish, common carp on Missouri River (Oahe Tailrace).
Where is the best fishing spot on Missouri River (Oahe Tailrace)?
Bad River confluence (Fort Pierre) is the top-rated area: a inflow / creek mouth in about 15 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 (Oahe Tailrace)?
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
Sully Lake · Hayes Lake · Hurley Lake · Byre Lake · Chapelle Lake · Eagle Butte Lake
See how Missouri River (Oahe Tailrace) stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in South Dakota · best walleye lakes in South Dakota · best white bass lakes in South Dakota · best northern pike lakes in South Dakota
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