Hutch's Guide Service Fishing Reports

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LAKES OAHE/SHARPE PIERRE AREA FISHING REPORT MAY 21 TO THE 27TH 2023

Fast and furious bite on both lakes with the water warming is basically the best way to describe the bite. I have been guiding daily with some of my favorite customers the Rose party and the beck party along with some new customers and we have filled limits and possession limits for all the groups. At first we were catching most of the fish in 5 fow or less but lately they are moving out to around 8 fow to 14 fow with nightcrawler propeller blades or spinner minnow blades equally effective. In Many areas pulling plugs is very good. Sharpe from Pierre all the way down to west bend is great but catching numbers is necessary to get limits of over 15 inch fish. Fortunately most experienced anglers are doing that. Oahe has started to go especially in areas that you can find warmer stained water. The wind has been blowing lately but even with that as a factor we have been catching numbers of fish. Both Lakes are very busy so expect boat ramps that are full and lots of traffic at our great fish cleaning stations. Summer is here so lots of water sunscreen fly repellent are items that make for better trips. Both lakes are putting out very nice fish and it looks like another great year for the fishing around Pierre or for that matter all up and down the system .As usual periodically I will mention that most of us guides that have spent years on the water look at the walleye as great eating fish and fun to catch but the real sport is hunting them down and finding them. The best walleye fishermen I know are very good at that and it takes practice to achieve that part of your fishing. It is not hard to run your boat into a community spot with 20 other boats as boats are much easier to find than fish but catching lots of fish in a spot that you found because you spent the time to learn the art of the hunt is very rewarding. You will also earn the respect of the best fishermen on the Lake and the people in your boat when they realize you are good at finding the fish. That is really true with most species. Watch the weather this time of the year as storms can pop up quick. Thank you to all my recent customers . Some great times.

HUTCH’S GUIDE SERVICE

Hutch

FISHING REPORT LAKES OAHE/SHARPE PIERRE AREA FOR MAY 12TH THRU MAY 18TH 2023

Just got done guiding the Ken McEwen and STEVE TYLER group of repeat customers . Just as great a group of guys that I have. Dave Spaid Scott Van Liere and Mike Kulm helped guide this group from different parts of the country Everyone got full limits of nice walleye with a 27 incher the largest . Everyone went home with full possession limits. Great weather all three days and great fishing. Lake Sharpe is going great. You do have to go thru numbers of 14 inch fish to get limits of over 15 inchers but most experienced anglers are coming in with limits along with lots of small mouth bass. Depts vary with most fish being caught from 5 fow to 10 fow but we caught fish out as deep as 30 feet. Spinner /minnow spinner crawler rigs pitching jigs shallow or even pulling plugs work but there is a lot of floating stuff in the water making plug pulling harder. Oahe is still much harder in the Pierre area due to both colder water and muddy water running in from creeks and rivers like the Cheyenne. We stayed on Sharpe for this trip but did hear of a few nice catches on the big lake with those being mainly smallmouth/northern. Lots of boats/anglers out but s usual community spots concentrate the majority but you might remember that all the fish in the lake aren't under those 30 boats you see following each other. The lake is full of fish so if you do a little looking you can find fish without the boat traffic. We caught 90 per cent of our limits every day without a single boat in sight . Harder to do now days as fishing pressure is much more but if you like finding walleye as the main part of the sport as most of use guides do it is rewarding to know when you find lots of fish away from the crowds. Remember to pull your boat plugs to avoid a hefty fine when leaving the ramps and remember this week end is free fishing week end . Sun Screen and Bug spray along with plenty of water to drink are good things to bring along.

HUTCH'S GUIDE SERVICE

Hutch

FISHING REPORT FOR LAKES OAHE/SHARPE PIERRE AREA MAY 1ST THRU MAY 8TH 2023

Back to work for me. I am glad to be back on the water especially with a great bunch of guys like the group ramrodded by Rich Grable from Rapid that I am guiding. The group (REPEAT CUSTOMERS) are from all over with Brookings SD And Ute Iowa being home for some. For the most part the weather is cooperating and so are the fish. Limits of walleye with some small mouth /northern every day so this group is going home with full possession limits of nice fish. The bite on Sharpe is in full swing with the spawn about half over. Water temps up to 55 degrees can be found. We caught most of our fish on bouncer/minnow rigs but pitching plastic/jigs and pulling plugs all work. Most of the fish are in ten fow or less and relating to the spawning reefs. So are the boats and there are lots of them so you can fish in community spots with lots of company or do some exploring and find fish a way from the crowds. Lake Oahe is much harder with cold water being the main cause. Temps in the 40's in many areas but 50 degree water can be found. If you want to fish mostly by yourself this is the lake but no boats also means not many fish in the bags. Fish are still deeper but warm weather should improve the fishing as the water warms. It is looking like another great year on Sharpe and I think Oahe will be better in many areas. Oahe is a harder lake to find the fish due to many factors. Bait fish that can be deep water species and shallow shad bait spreading the walleye into different water columns but if big fish hunting is your thing Oahe is more likely to produce. I will post periodic reports this summer in the hope the information will help you out with your trips.

HUTCH'S GUIDE SERVICE

Hutch

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Month by Month Guiding Breakdown

April/ May

Both of these month's produce excellent walleye fishing along with great smallmouth/ Northern/ Catfish. Weather is a factor so many times we have to stay off big water because of high winds etc. but this is a great time to go after the big northern and catfish in the back of creeks/bays to beat the weather. Also fishing on Sharpe below Dam keeps you out of wind and produce's nice limits of walleye. Jig fishing when water temps cold along with btm. bouncer presentations as water warms most common .Boat traffic can be much more around the Pierre area.

June

By far the busiest month on both lakes.( School out and just traditionally start of summer season] so book early if possible to get best guides/lodging. The fishing is excellent for all species. Weather can still be a factor. We are usually fishing with Lindy or btm. bouncer's.

July

Best all around month for both fishing and weather especially family trips Walleye fishing at seasonal peak especially in high water periods on Oahe. and Sharpe good two. Btm. Bouncer presentations most common.

August

Same as July but there can be hotter weather. If there is a breeze it is not to bad as big lake water temps keep heat down. Fish can be a little deeper but still great fishing.

September

Very good on the walleye fishing with fall weather great toward end of month. As water cools jig fishing starts to come into play again.

October / November

Fishing is still good but weather coming into play again Jigs work best especially in colder water. Combination Hunting /fishing trips most common. Just a note: You can catch fish in all the months above tolling or casting plugs and we do that often. But I have found that guiding people over the years most prefer live bait hover fishing better so I spend more time with btm/bouncer/crawler/minnow/leeches than the plugs but pulling plugs is always a good alternative and sometimes can be the best.

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Kent Hutcheson
E-mail: fishinghutch@aol.com
Cell Phone: 605-220-2844

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