How to use our fishing calendar
Planning your next fishing trip in Pierre, United States ? Today is a excellent 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 Pierre, South Dakota centers on the Missouri River system, Lake Oahe, and Lake Sharpe, offering exceptional walleye, smallmouth bass, and trophy catfish opportunities. Anglers here tap into expansive reservoirs, current-swept river channels, and prairie-driven weather patterns to find consistent action from shore, boat, and ice. Pierre’s mix of big-water structure and easy access makes it one of the Midwest’s most reliable multi-species fishing destinations. read more...
Sun and Moon Times
-
Nautical Twilight begins:Sunrise:
-
Sunset:Nautical Twilight ends:
-
Moonrise:
-
Moonset:
-
Moon over:
-
Moon under:
-
Visibility:1%
-
New Moon
-
Distance to earth:363,765 kmProximity:98.4 %
Moon Phases for Pierre
-
excellent Day
-
major Time:12:44 am - 02:44 am
-
minor Time:
04:59 am -
06:59 am
-
major Time:01:23 pm - 03:23 pm
-
minor Time:09:47 pm - 11:47 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
| Date | Major Bite Times | Minor Bite Times | Sun | Moon | Moonphase |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
-
-
|
-
-
|
R: S: |
R: S: |
New Moon |
|
|
-
-
|
-
-
|
R: S: |
R: S: |
New Moon |
|
|
-
-
|
-
-
|
R: S: |
R: S: |
 Waxing Crescent |
|
|
-
-
|
-
-
|
R: S: |
R: S: |
Waxing Crescent |
|
|
-
-
|
-
-
|
R: S: |
R: S: |
Waxing Crescent |
|
|
-
-
|
-
-
|
R: S: |
R: S: |
Waxing Crescent |
|
|
-
-
|
-
-
|
R: S: |
R: S: |
 First Quarter Moon |
|
|
-
-
|
-
-
|
R: S: |
R: S: |
First Quarter Moon |
Fishing Overview Pierre
Pierre, South Dakota fishing revolves around the Missouri River and two powerhouse reservoirs: Lake Sharpe directly in town and Lake Oahe just upstream. This stretch is nationally known for walleye, smallmouth bass, and heavyweight catfish, but it also produces quality crappie, pike, and panfish if you know where and when to look. Understanding current, wind, and reservoir water levels is far more important here than fancy tackle.
Seasonal patterns are dominated by water temperature and flow. In early spring, as ice pulls back on Oahe and Sharpe, walleye slide shallow onto wind-blown points, riprap, and flooded gravel banks. Slow presentations excel: vertical jigging with minnows, dragging jigs and plastics upstream of Pierre, or pulling bottom bouncers with live bait at 0.6–1.0 mph. As water warms into late spring and early summer, fish spread onto mid-depth flats and first breaks in 8–20 feet; trolling crankbaits along channel edges and contour lines becomes a top producer.
Summer on Lake Sharpe often means following current seams and deeper holes where cooler water and bait concentrate. Look for walleye and sauger on main-river bends, submerged roadbeds, and humps where current scours out pockets. On Oahe, smallmouth bass become a prime target over rocky points, shoreline bluffs, and submerged boulder fields. Tubes, Ned rigs, and small crankbaits worked along the rocks are go-to options. Night fishing with slip bobbers and leeches or casting cranks along riprap can be deadly during the hottest months when daytime boat traffic is high.
Fall brings some of the most consistent action around Pierre. Baitfish push back into coves and up tributary arms, and predator fish stack on sharp breaks and wind-facing structure. Trolling larger crankbaits at varied depths helps you cover water quickly on the expansive flats of Oahe, while slowly dragging jigs and live bait along the channel edge remains reliable on Sharpe. Panfish and crappie concentrate on brush piles, marina basins, and steep drops; small jigs tipped with minnows or plastics under a slip float will pick off slabs when you locate the right school.
Ice fishing around Pierre, especially on protected arms of Lake Oahe and sections of Sharpe that safely freeze, can be excellent in stable winters. Anglers target walleye, perch, and crappie over submerged points and basin edges. Tactical success comes from staying mobile: drill grids of holes, use electronics to quickly identify active fish, and rotate between spoons, deadsticks, and small jigs until you dial in the bite window at dawn and dusk.
Key habitat types and techniques include:
- Main river channel and bends: Focus on 15–35 feet for walleye and catfish with bottom bouncers, live-bait rigs, and heavy jigs. Current breaks, inside turns, and sand transitions are prime targets.
- Rocky points and bluffs (especially on Oahe): Classic smallmouth territory; cast crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and soft plastics tight to rock in 5–20 feet, working down-slope until you contact fish.
- Flooded timber and coves: Crappie and pike use wood and submerged brush. Vertical jigging or pitching small jigs to visible cover is efficient once you locate the right depth band.
- Riprap near bridges, dams, and causeways: High-percentage structure in spring and fall. Work parallel to the rocks with jigs, swimbaits, or suspending crankbaits.
Tactical tips for Pierre include watching wind direction to identify active, wind-blown banks; using electronics to track bait clouds and subtle breaks instead of just visible shoreline; and carrying a range of weights to adapt to changing flows. Long, fluorocarbon leaders often draw more bites in the ultra-clear water of Oahe, while slightly heavier line is acceptable in Sharpe’s more stained current. By matching your presentations to season, current, and structure, the Pierre stretch of the Missouri can produce consistent multi-species action and truly memorable fish.
Interactive Fishing Map for the greater Pierre area
We found a total of 40 potential fishing spots nearby Pierre. 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.
La Framboise Island - 1.74316128584km , Marion Island (historical) - 1.75312904999km , Bad River - 2.05081944368km , Willow Island (historical) - 2.87872157636km , Louis Caldwell Dam - 5.38584310918km , Joe Schomer 1 Dam - 6.75224574758km , Arikara Dam - 7.00524880242km , Gray Blanket Creek - 7.58766271688km , Farm Island - 8.59957512084km , Hipple Lake - 8.71492348588km , Red Plum Dam - 9.00485960289km , Haskins Number 1 Dam - 9.14705287019km , Joe Schomer 2 Dam - 9.56639465108km , Oahe Dam - 10.0671691759km , Wood Island (historical) - 11.00785741532km , Mush Creek - 11.60360351438km , Powell Creek - 12.88885382023km , Frank Hayes Dam - 14.44333242599km , Yellow Shoulder Creek - 14.79672396094km , Norman Nystrou Dam - 14.81856792407km , Normane State Dam - 15.30673322005km , Antelope Island - 15.43071495043km , Stranger Creek - 16.47366062184km , Duwayne Slaathaug 1 Dam - 17.22243253303km , Allien Stirling Number 2 Dam - 17.76077330966km , Carl Hansen Dam - 17.90397733266km , Goodman Number 1 Dam - 17.97245611559km , Al Reddin Dam - 18.0216407854km , War Creek - 18.8851792596km , Williams Number 3 Dam - 20.71273057228km , Harold Stirling Dam - 20.79202588972km , Taylor Brothers Dam - 20.88912791363km , West Branch War Creek - 21.20101632678km , East Branch War Creek - 21.2301781181km , Robert Calkingsor Dam - 21.5509537753km , Sonnenschein Number 3 Dam - 22.14911846715km , Broken Neck Creek - 22.26755580114km , Echo Island (historical) - 22.5533190602km , Medicine Knoll Creek - 22.68031882408km , Cow Creek - 22.93510443846km
Harbours and
Marinas
Beaches
Bays
Wharfs
Points,Reefs,etc
Latest Catches
uploaded by: benoit johnson_1
uploaded by: Jessica Anderson
uploaded by: Jessica Anderson
uploaded by: Charlie Pifer
uploaded by: Charlie Pifer
uploaded by: Bobby_1
uploaded by: doug simmons
uploaded by: Rick Rush Tree Man
uploaded by: Rick Rush Tree Man
uploaded by: Peter Clark
Comments