This is an update of the current river conditions along the Missouri River along the South Dakota and Nebraska Border as well as an updated fishing report. As many of you know the Missouri River is wreaking havoc on many of the communities along her shores. The river is closed to boat traffic in many areas and recently the Department of Transportation closed a section of Interstate 80 near Omaha, Nebraska due to the flood conditions. For myself and my fellow anglers in this region the flooding has not only impacted residential areas but it has made navigation and angling on some of the local waters dangerous and impossible in some areas.
For those of you who are considering a fishing trip to Lewis and Clark Lake near Yankton, South Dakota be sure to check ahead. As of this weekend the lake is full of debris including huge trees and floating islands. The lake is as muddy as I have ever seen it which has had a negative effect on fishing. I have heard of some people catching walleye, and we were catching walleye on the lake two weeks ago, but a lot has changed in the last two weeks. As of this week the release at Gavins Pint Dam is at 130,000 cfs and it is expected to increase to 150,000 cfs by mid-June. While much of the water below the dam is closed to boat traffic the lake is open but I am not recommending navigation on the lake until the debris settles. Check with the local authorities, and use caution and common sense if you are thinking of spending time on Lewis and Clark this summer.
If there is any good news it is that there are still opportunities for recreational anglers to enjoy fishing along the Missouri River. Francis Case is a good choice if your looking for smallmouth bass, walleye, or just about any game fish that swims in fresh water. Given the conditions at my home lake of Lewis and Clark I decided to head to Francis Case with my father-in-law, Tim Zoucha this weekend. The lake is high but absent of any debris or mud from flooding. Mother nature decided to be kind to us for a couple of days and the weather and the walleye put smiles on our faces.
Tim and I spent Friday running bottom bouncers and crawlers near rocky and gravel point in the lower third of Francis Case. Our rate was about one keeper walleye every 30 minutes. Speed appeared to be a factor with a slow presentation being preferred, about .4 mph on the Lowrance GPS. We didn’t catch any piggies but that wasn’t the main goal as our job was to catch fish for dinner back at the cabin. The largest ‘eye was 20 inches. We tried again on Saturday but only had a few hours to search for fish and to put it bluntly, we got our backsides kicked. As fish do, the school had moved on and we were left trying to find active fish on a dead calm, bluebird sky day. We didn’t. But there are no complaints here. Right now we’re happy to live high on a hill and we will have a dry house when we return home. I want to extend my thoughts and prayers to those families who are directly impacted by the flooding and I hope that everyone can find a way to stay safe and perhaps even find enjoyment during this challenging time along the Missouri River. Please keep my father and others impacted by the flooding in your prayers this summer. Good luck and good fishing, everyone.
Here is some recent video of the tail waters at Gavins Point Dam. This is at 110,000 cfs. It will be up to 150,000 cfs Tuesday.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=im3k9xwvDYc
Generally, it looks more like this.
Update on River Closings:
*The U.S. Coast Guard has closed portions of the Missouri and Big Sioux Rivers to recreational boating traffic. Effective immediately, the Missouri River is closed from Sioux City to Gavins Point Dam. The Big Sioux River is closed from the confluence of the Missouri River to Military Road in the North Sioux City area.
As of this weekend, most ramps/accesses and parks along the river in SD are open. Here’s the update from SDGFP:
For those more interested in the story of the flooding, here is a good recap of how this happened and what we might expect.
Army Corps of Engineers defends handling of Missouri River
And here’s a good article from Yankton that explains the Sedimentation problem on the river and in the reservoirs.
Flooding May Worsen Sediment Problems
I know this may all seem like information overload but I know there are a lot of people who are anxious about the flooding, the impact on our homes and property, and the impact on angling and recreation along the river. This is a fishing report but obviously the flooding has a huge impact on recreation along the river. I plan to try to keep IDO members and viewers updated throughout the summer.
This site has some aerial photos of the flooding in SD.
Disaster Recovery SD
Here is a recent photo of Hamilton Boulevard and I-29 in Sioux City. This was taken last Tuesday (June 7).
nice report Wade, got some cell phone pictures on Friday and they were snapp’n then. Most of those guys were just north or south of the Platte Creek mouth. I have always had the best luck with a pounded blue spinner when we move to crawlers. That last photo is a good one, the upper side of that photo is South Sioux City NE, they sit a bit lower than the IA side, but nobody is in the clear yet. Saw an outhouse come down the river last Sunday.
Good info and reports Wade. Keep up the great work!
Great to see you having fun in the outdoors Wade….
To much work makes Wade a dull boy !!!
Have fun up on Mille Lacs with Boy Blue !!!
Thanks, Dave! I don’t expect I’ll have much of a choice but to have a good time on Mille Lacs with ol’ Blue!
This is the perfect year to head to Mille Lacs again. Too many of our walleye are stuck in traffic! He’s a recent photo of the now closed section of I29 between Omaha and Sioux City. I’m not sure if the interchange holds more smallies or walleyes! 