Walleye and Northern Pike Biting on Lake Oahe

Tuesday was nice but a little windy, so we decided to test the pike fishing. We caught a bunch in a little bay along the south side of the Little Bend peninsula. They were between 5 and 12 pounds, all chunky guys. We laid large dead smelt near the bottom in about 12 feet of water, and had action all afternoon.

On Thursday I was able to get up to Joe's Creek and try for some walleye. Not disappointed. I caught 10 in about 25 feet of water on minnows moving very slowly. The largest was 25 inches, the smallest 17 inches. Also caught a couple of very nice smallies. I hope to get out again soon.

Lake Oahe Update, March, 2012

The water level is 1606 feet, which is 14 feet lower than the peak last summer. Lake Oahe is forecast to rise 4 to 5 feet by mid-June. We'll see. The lake is open from the dam to around the corner at Little Bend. North of there the main lake has an ice cap with open water in bays and around the edges. Lake access is good in areas with open water.

Walleye fishing has been very good all winter on open water in the lower parts of Lake Oahe, and continues now up to and into the Cheyenne River. Northern Pike have been taking smelt and herring for at least a couple of weeks now. There seems to be a lot of six to twelve pounders, and we here of occasional reports of 20 pound-class catches.

At the shows we often here the question, "When do the walleyes start biting in your area?" In response I tell them that I am not sure if that will happen this year... first they would have to stop, and we don't see any signs of that.