by Justin Larson

Stretching just over 230 miles in length and covering more than 370,000 acres is a body of water waiting for you to explore. Walleye are the prominent species that anglers come to Lake Oahe for, but the lake also offers great Northern Pike, Small Mouth Bass and Chinook salmon fishing. With the walleye season open year-round it is an attractive body of water for anglers whether it be by boat or ice shack.

Record spawns in past years have set the reservoir up for outstanding fishing for years to come. Anglers targeting walleye on Lake Oahe will be met with new regulations in 2013. In response to large numbers of small walleyes produced during concurrent high water years and forage issues stemming from the 2011 flood, South Dakota’s Game, Fish and Parks Department has opted to provide additional opportunity to anglers while it is available through increased daily and possession limits.

The 2013 walleye regulations include a daily limit of 8 walleye with the following size restrictions: no more than 4 walleye can be 15 inches or greater in length per day and at most 1 walleye can be 20 inches or greater per day. This means anglers are allowed to harvest up to 8 walleye per day under 15 inches or combinations of, as long as only 4 walleye are greater than 15 inches with only 1 walleye greater than 20 inches. The possession limit also increased to allow for higher harvest. The current possession limit is 24 walleye after a minimum of 3 days of fishing with the above per day length restrictions.

Justin Larson is the Outdoor Media and public relations rep for the South Dakota Department of Tourism.