This report is not really an ice report and not really an open water report. But I will fill you in the fishing oppurtunites on the lake right now.
There is open water at the culverts and bridges. Ice has pulled away from the shore by 50 feet or so in several places. Northern fishing activity is outstanding. Casting spoons and dead baiting herring is working very very well. If you have a cartopper you can pull it over the rocks and get some boat fishing in. There are walleyes mixed in.
I still expect to see ice for at least a week or 10 days. It is black and ugly but the temps are not to be much over 30 for a few days this weekend. It will return to the high 40’s during the week and we may hit 50. Then it should start to break up quickly.
I loved this time of year on Oahe, the water would get diry from the run off and warm up a lot quicker back in the bays. Casting the 5 of diamonds while watching the big bobber with a smelt haning off it. You gotta love spring!!!
The water isn’t dirty, the ice Was black from the rotting.
Now the surface has turned white and the ice has rotted completly. It is slush now and need to melt. Kinda like a big slurpy. It is getting piled along shore in a couple of spots as the wind moves it about. There still is a week to go before iceout.
I hear you on your Oahe Lake fishing.
I fished for 9 years out of Mobridge and Jeds Landing. I loved it but the fishing went to hell.
Moving to Minnewaukan and fishing Devils Lake evberyday has been even better than my Missouri River System experience. I also lived on Sakakawea too.