Your fishing day starts approximately 7:30 - 8 am through 4:30 - 5 pm, or earlier if requested and your limit is full. Of course, before our first outing, I'll inquire about your amount of experience and knowledge in fishing, along with safety, to get an idea for myself how to best assist you out on the water.

Lake Thompson

Lake Thompson is located 40 miles west of Brookings SD. It is the second largest non-manmade lake in South Dakota, originally starting out as a slough after many years turning into a lake. There is very little stocking of walleye fry on Lake Thompson and it is self-sufficient in reproduction.

Lake Thompson has 3 inlets and one outlet. It has submerged stock dams, road, humps, sandbars, trees and all sorts of structure. It is one of my favorite lakes and always has been.

De Smet, a small town just to the north of Lake Thompson approximately 6 miles, is the home of the Laura Ingalls Wilder pageant. Lodging can be found in either De Smet or Lake Preston, which is just 10 miles east on Highway 14.

Lake Oahe

Lake Oahe, above the dam, is currently holding great classes of walleye. 2-5+ pounders with plenty of trophies to be caught. While fishing for walleye, I always run into other species such as small-mouth bass, catfish, white bass and pike. If I fill my client's daily limit of 'eyes by noon or so, the day isn't over. I will go back into a bay and catch channel and blue cats which are excellent eating out of this clean, clear lake. 2-10 pounders are common.

Lake Sharpe

I generally fish Lake Sharpe spring and fall. The spawn takes place earlier on Sharpe than Oahe, typically in April with a good pre-spawn bite in March and an excellent post-spawn bite going until the end of May. About the 2nd or 3rd week of May though, I typically start fishing Oahe as the post-spawn bite starts at Whittlock's or the Cheyenne river.

My Approach

As an avid fisherman and guide, I'm always wondering at the end of a day of fishing about the next day's bite. Will the weather cooperate or will a front move in? Are the fish going to be in the same location, or will I have to take time and locate them? Crawlers again? Or is it going to be leeches, minnows or an artificial bait? And, of course, I don't even assume or answer myself until I'm in my boat the next morning on the water. Clear skies or overcast, calm or windy and how windy, temperature of the air and water, and alot of my own instincts tossed into the mix will tell me what I believe the "fish behavior" will be and where I might look first at the beginning of each day. I love chasing fish!

Locating and Graphing Fish

There are a number of reasons why fish may relocate. Here are a few: weather change, fishing pressure, forage has relocated, start of migration due to season change, time of day, or my favorite, a big game fish (like a northern pike) has just moved in on the school of fish that you've been successfully hooking for the last 20 minutes. I love the sport and the camaraderie that goes with it!

With that being said, I hope to book a date with you soon and display your catch on my fishing reports pages. Early bookings are encouraged to assure any lodging facilities before they are booked.

I operate a 2004 Lund 1800 Fisherman (18 foot boat) powered by a 2004 Yamaha 150 4 stroke, and a MinnKota bow electric (71lb thrust/60 inch shaft). I also use state of the art Lowrance GPS electronics and offer use of excellent tackle and provide all end tackle.

Until then,
Your guide, André Adams