The Way To Oahe’s Walleye

Aug 3rd, 2010 by OutdoorsFIRST

Modified Aug 3rd, 2010 at 12:00 AM

Water 50 feet higher than at last year’s tournament, and a lake that you’d better be ready to use everything but your tackle box as lures is part of what’s in store for AIM anglers who will soon descend on the tiny town of Akaska, southeast of Mobridge, South Dakota, for the third annual South Dakota Walleye Classic.

Where do you start in a mind-boggling 230-mile-long lake? It’s bound to cause more than a few fits of head-scratching, presentation changeups and close looks at the “new water” awaiting the pros here, says Chad Schilling, AIM pro, and who with his wife Shonda, owns Oahe Wings and Walleye, a six-bedroom fishing and hunting lodge serving as unofficial headquarters for the Aug. 12-14 tournament.

Lead Core? Maybe…Or Will It Be Cranks?

“This has predominantly been a lead core trolling lake for the last few years. But we’re at an all-time high water level that’s 50 feet above the level during last year’s tournament, so with all the new cover, it will bring a lot of things into play,” Schilling says.

The rigging bite is how Mike Gofron (from Antioch, Ill.), won last year and it may play a bigger part this year, Schilling continues. This year-so far-the fish aren’t as deep.

“They’re staying up shallow around points and you might be more effective covering those areas with bait. They are still relating to structure and using live bait has been a lot more effective all year,” Schilling says.

But where to find the right combination that will hold fish? That’s also a key. It’s never-ending structure here, as Schilling says.

“At 230 miles long, on average it’s a mile-plus wide and it’s common to find 115 to 120 feet of water. Normally the fish suspend at this time of year but with the high levels they’ve stayed in those shallower areas than what you’d come to expect. But that’s today.

“That’s the great thing about this lake. Whatever you learn about fishing Oahe, wash it out of your memory and start over because walleye follow the bait, and the bait moves, so it keeps you guessing as to where the fish are,” Schilling says.

Twenty-inch average walleye are the rule on the Missouri system, he says. “There’s always the occasionally big bag but if you put together a 20-inch average over a three-day period, you’ll find yourself right in the hunt,” he adds.

Baits including the new Berkley Flicker Shad has become a strong producer here, as are 600- and 800-series Reef Runners. And, other baits like the Spro MadEye Shad (developed by AIM pro Pat Neu) will do well here, Schilling predicts.

Bouncers? Maybe

But, on the other hand, he relates, the tried-and-true bottom bouncer and spinner also does great. “If you come to Oahe without one, you should probably stay home. A bouncer with a Mustad Slow Death hook (developed by AIM pro Gary Parsons) with a crawler, or spinners often do the trick. Most of the time you fish in 50 feet of water or less but this summer there have been very few fish taken in more than 25.”

One thing is for certain, however. With more forage available such as shad in recent years, it will take more than the 61-plus pounds that it took AIM pro Mike Gofron to win here last year.

“There will be bigger weights, I completely expect that. There’s going to be a very good chance to see some 30-pound bags this year, and for the most part at least mid-20s,”Schilling says.

Gofron, who’ll be looking to pocket another $30,000 first prize, agrees with all of Schilling’s assessments.

“It’s a hard call to make now, but I’ll be looking all over. I won’t be staying with one presentation. We’ve seen 40 to 50 feet of water fluctuation, and that’s like putting a whole other body of water on top of an existing body of water,” said Gofron, who, with other AIM competitors, will begin gathering at Akaska to pre-fish Oahe starting in early August.

“You’re going to have to bring just about everything you’ve got, from lead core to live bait. There’s probably going to be a lot of new vegetation underwater so something like Fin-Tech’s new weedless jig may do the trick, and I’ll be stocking up on those. We may be fishing shallow and maybe 60 feet down, that’s how much it’s going to vary,” Gofron says.

“Years ago the fish were keying on smelt, but when the water was high the smelt were flushed through the system, and since then the forage base is shad. But the smelt are coming back too so there’s a lot of food in the system,” he said. The large grassy prairie areas now under water also will hold a lot of young of the year like small shad, perch and bluegills, perfect meals for walleye, Gofron added.

Another who should know what the lake holds this year is Bill Waeckerle, president of the third annual South Dakota Walleye Classic, which runs Aug. 11-15, and AIM’s tournament and daily virtual weigh-ins are prime draws for that event that brings more than 5,000 people to town.

“I watch the lake on a daily basis and the fish are really hitting in the Akaska area right now. Last year most pros had to run way south, but I watched a lady catch a 22-incher right near here and these are just weekend fishermen, not pros, so the fish are here. Some are even going by the bridge with jigs and leeches and are catching really nice fish in 55 feet of water. Others are going up the Moreau River only 4.5 miles away.”

Where the winning bag comes from will begin to be determined in only a few days. But the prospects, apparently, are endless on Oahe.

Coming to the Classic?

If you’re planning on a visit to the Third Annual South Dakota Walleye Classic, visit www.sdwalleyeclassic.com for all details about the event Aug. 11-15. For details on the tournament, go to www.aimfishing.com. For more to see and do in the great state of South Dakota, come back to this site for a tourism primer next week, or search yourself at www.travelsd.com.

The Way To Oahe’s Walleye

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