How to use our fishing calendar
Planning your next fishing trip in Yankton, United States ? Today is a average day for fishing. Our comprehensive fishing almanac combines our popular solunar tables, moon times, sunrise and sunset times, and a 7-day fishing calendar so you always know the best fishing times in your area. We analyse major and minor solunar bite times, rate each day on a five-star scale, and pair it with localized weather forecasts so you can quickly tell whether today is a good day to fish without juggling multiple tabs. Be sure to bookmark this page so you never miss a bite. view bite times...
- Check our unique Solunar Clock for precise solunar tables and the best moon phases.
- Use the forecast calendar section to sync bite times with major weather changes.
- Analyze the forecasted weather conditions, such as wind, barometric pressure and rain to plan your fishing session.
- Jump to the 7-Day Fishing Calendar for an extended fishing forecast, then explore nearby fishing spots on the interactive map.
Fishing in Yankton, South Dakota centers around the Missouri River, Lewis & Clark Lake, and Lake Yankton, offering Midwest anglers exceptional multi-species action. From trophy walleyes and hard‑charging smallmouth bass to crappies, catfish, and paddlefish, the Yankton area delivers year‑round opportunities for boat, shore, and kayak anglers. read more...
Sun and Moon Times
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Nautical Twilight begins:Sunrise:
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Sunset:Nautical Twilight ends:
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Moonrise:
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Moonset:
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Moon over:
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Moon under:
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Visibility:36%
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Third Quarter Moon
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Distance to earth:377,524 kmProximity:66.1 %
Moon Phases for Yankton
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average Day
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minor Time:01:07 am - 03:07 am
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major Time:07:30 am - 09:30 am
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minor Time:01:54 pm - 03:54 pm
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major Time:
07:41 pm -
09:41 pm
Current Fishing Weather
Wind Speed and Direction
Wind Direction:
Wind Speed:
Wind Direction and Speed are one of the most important aspects for choosing a fishing spot. An offshore wind can help land-based anglers with longer casting distances, while an onshore wind will make kayak fishing safer. Often fish will also move to certain feeding areas depending on the wind direction. Check out the long term wind forecast at the charts below.
Fishing Barometer
Atmospheric Pressure:
Change since midnight:
Trend for next 6 hours:
Atmospheric or Barometric Pressure affects fish activity. The best fishing can be had on a rising barometer and also the time just before it is falling. A steady barometer in the higher ranges can also mean good fishing. A falling or low barometer reading without much change is usually not a very good time for fishing.
UV Effect on Fishing
As a rule of thumb, the higher the UV index, the deeper fish will move. Shallow water fishing is best done at times with a low UV index. When the UV is high, stick to early mornings, late evenings and shaded areas. The effect is less noticable in deeper water, but often a higher UV index can produce good results in the deep.
7 Day Fishing Weather
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 Waning Crescent |
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 New Moon |
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Fishing Overview Yankton
Yankton, South Dakota sits on one of the most productive stretches of the Missouri River, anchored by Lewis & Clark Lake, Lake Yankton, and the river tailrace below Gavins Point Dam. These waters offer classic reservoir fishing up-lake, riverine current patterns near the dam, and protected backwater and shoreline options for shore-bound anglers.
Seasonal walleye patterns drive much of the local pressure. In early spring, focus on the Gavins Point tailrace and wind-blown rocky banks as prespawn walleyes and saugers push shallow. Vertically jig 1/4–3/8 oz jigs tipped with minnows or plastics in current seams and behind wing dikes, or pitch lighter jigs up onto shallow rock and drag them back. As water warms into late spring, walleyes slide onto submerged points, flooded roadbeds, and mid-depth flats on Lewis & Clark Lake; trolling crankbaits or spinner rigs with nightcrawlers along contour breaks consistently finds fish.
Summer shifts the bite deeper and more structure-oriented. On Lewis & Clark Lake, bottom-bouncer spinner rigs with crawlers or leeches pulled along 12–25 ft breaks, humps, and channel edges are a staple. Look for subtle changes in depth, rock-to-sand transitions, and the edges of flooded timber. Night fishing around riprap, bridge pilings, and the dam area with slip bobbers and leeches can be excellent for both walleyes and channel cats during the warmest months.
Smallmouth bass shine from late spring through fall along the Missouri’s rocky habitat. Target chunk rock shorelines, points, and riprap on the main lake and below the dam. Cast 3–4" tubes, Ned rigs, and small swimbaits in natural shad or goby-style colors. Wind and current concentrate baitfish on windward banks and downstream sides of points—cover water quickly with crankbaits and spinnerbaits until you contact fish, then slow down with plastics. Largemouth bass are more common in protected coves, backwaters, and Lake Yankton; work weedlines, laydowns, and docks with Texas-rigged plastics, jigs, and topwaters early and late in the day.
Panfish opportunities are overlooked but reliable around Yankton. Crappies stage in protected coves and marinas in spring, where 1/32–1/16 oz jigs with small plastics or minnows under slip bobbers take fish. Bluegill and perch hold around weed edges, brush piles, and riprap through summer; use tiny jigs tipped with worms or waxworms, downsizing line to 4–6 lb test for more bites in clear water. These same areas often produce bonus white bass, especially when schools push shad shallow—watch for surface activity and cast spoons or small swimbaits into the frenzy.
Catfish and rough fish provide steady action along the entire Yankton stretch of the Missouri. Channel cats relate to seams below the dam, outside bends, and the downstream ends of wing dikes. Anchor upstream of structure and cast cut bait, stinkbait, or live bait into current breaks. Larger flatheads prefer heavier cover—submerged timber, deep holes, and rock piles—especially at night. Carp and drum roam shallow flats and shorelines; simple bottom rigs with corn or nightcrawlers keep rods bending when gamefish are finicky.
In fall, baitfish push shallower and predator species follow. Work medium-diving crankbaits and swimbaits along rocky points and breaks for walleye and smallmouth, and vertically jig deeper structure as water cools further. Winter ice conditions on Lake Yankton and sheltered bays of Lewis & Clark Lake can provide panfish, walleye, and pike opportunities; concentrate on mid-depth flats near drop-offs with small spoons and jigs. Across all seasons, success in Yankton comes from reading current, targeting rock and subtle structure changes, and staying mobile until you intersect active fish.
Interactive Fishing Map for the greater Yankton area
We found a total of 40 potential fishing spots nearby Yankton. Below you can find them organized on a map. Points, Headlands, Reefs, Islands, Channels, etc can all be productive fishing spots. As these are user submitted spots, there might be some errors in the exact location. You also need to cross check local fishing regulations. Some of the spots might be in or around marine reserves or other locations that cannot be fished. If you click on a location marker it will bring up some details and a quick link to google search, satellite maps and fishing times. Tip: Click/Tap on a new area to load more fishing spots.
Green Island (historical) - 1.08623768162km , Beaver Creek - 1.37859549501km , Marne Creek - 1.50315668321km , Rush Island - 3.83121397453km , Gavins Point Dam - 7.26776794127km , James River - 8.71616868766km , Sego Island (historical) - 12.11831298239km , Bartz Dam - 12.24949320302km , Steffan Dam - 13.93730753105km , Smoky Run - 15.31013905323km , Weigand Creek - 15.3987767703km , Beaver Dam - 15.826882965km , Sand Island (historical) - 18.07167964059km , Clay Creek - 18.30843758648km , Zart Dam - 18.8416694153km , Turkey Creek - 19.38582855961km , Saint Helena Island - 20.1545717409km , Lake Fargo (historical) - 20.66002734982km , Second Bow Creek - 20.97020554216km , West Bow Creek - 21.74884314812km , Marindahl Dam - 21.75133436864km , The Chute - 23.89679237772km , Bow Creek - 24.15099088343km , Hruska Lake - 24.21165503826km , Devils Nest Creek - 24.84253148412km , Birdsell Creek - 25.79218347414km , Charley Creek - 27.29156580325km , Lake Wakonda - 27.74929669412km , Kubal Lake - 28.40255546812km , Lake Montogomery - 28.46376005371km , Goat Island - 29.10585865326km , Kloucek Lake - 29.41714250468km , East Bow Creek - 29.56066302196km , Pechous Lake - 30.13736669324km , Norwegian Bow Creek - 30.47804946187km , Dead Creek - 30.52761683092km , Sand Islands - 31.38758860493km , Guthmiller Lake - 32.2613875292km , Pearl Creek - 32.94293497065km , Snatch Creek - 33.15470269594km
Harbours and
Marinas
Beaches
Bays
Wharfs
Points,Reefs,etc
Latest Catches
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