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Missouri Fishing Spot #1: The lower Missouri where the Niobrara and Big Sioux tributaries meet.
Where to fish: The Missouri River outside of Yankton, South Dakota.
How to get there: Drive west from Yankton on Route 52, following the Missouri River out of town. Follow signs to Gavins Point Dam. Once at the dam, follow the road that drops below the dam but stays on the South Dakota side of the river. Follow this road to the recreational area a mile below the dam. A good fishing access point exists here where Lake Yankton drains into the Missouri.
What to fish for: In the Missouri River, fish for walleye, catfish and carp. Lake Yankton offers some of the best largemouth bass fishing along the Trail. Bass of 3-7 pounds are common.
What to use: Baits, lures and jigs work best here. Poppers are always fun for bass.
Other resources: South Dakota maintains a decent fishing report at http://www.state.sd.us/gfp/fishing
Missouri Fishing Spot #2: The wild-running "old" Missouri in north-central South Dakota.
So much of the Missouri River has disappeared underneath the massive reservoirs of North and South Dakota it is easy to think that the old river is entirely gone. Yet, scattered through the Dakotas, hidden between dams and reservoirs, run isolated sections of the wild-running Missouri. Hidden from roads and towns, these sections offer the traveling angler an opportunity to experience the Missouri of old.
Catfish and carp dominate the fishing, but paddlefish, bass and walleye also live in these waters, and the fishing can be active. Here the Mighty Missouri winds in massive curves between high bluffs and forested banks. Most fish can be found in deep holes in the river, normally caused by downed trees, eroded banks or blown-out wing-dykes.
Access to these hidden nuggets of river can be difficult. Most roads stay away from the river bottom, which adds to the antebellum charm of these waterways. The best way to explore these sections is with a boat. By putting a boat in below dams or from one of the many fishing access sites along the river, an angler can access anything.
This is not to say shore anglers don't do well. Many locals prefer fishing from a beach chair, with a baited rod propped in a forked stick and a bobber out on the water. Without moving, an angler can catch half-a-dozen different types of fish from the same spot.
Where to fish: The Missouri River at Pierre, South Dakota
For shore-bound anglers, South Dakota's capital city, Pierre, is a great place to fish. The city itself is built upon the Missouri and offers numerous excellent fishing locations right in town. Here is an opportunity to throw worms or artificial lures at schooling walleye and solitary pike. As with the rest of the Missouri River, look for deep holes caused by erosion. The biggest catfish live in these deep holes.
For anglers searching for more isolation and a chance to disappear into willows and cottonwoods, take Route 34 East from Pierre for ten miles to a fishing access site. Here, the shoreline offers a good opportunity to walk up or down the river. Again, look for deep holes or long runs.
Another good fishing spot near Pierre is the Bad River. Catfish and carp overpopulate this Missouri River tributary, and large fish can be caught very close to the road. Or, park near the mouth of the River off of Route 83 and follow the river upstream. Local anglers like to hunt the carp in the shallow water with bow and arrow from a canoe.
What to fish for: Walleye, catfish, pike, carp and white bass
What to use: Baitfish and worms work best and can be bought nearly anywhere in South Dakota. Artificial lures work best for predatory fish.
Other resources: South Dakota maintains a good fishing report at http://www.state.sd.us/gfp/fishing
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