Next Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Circuit event to take place May 1-4
PIERRE, S.D. – RCL anglers are hoping for some stable weather conditions when they compete at the upcoming Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Circuit tournament on Lake Sharpe near Pierre, S.D. After dealing with the wind, rain, snow and all-around cruddy conditions at the previous RCL event in Detroit, stability will be welcome. With most walleye in some stage of the spawn, anglers will find plenty of fish cruising the shallows waiting for them to drop a jig or troll a plug in front of them.
“Unlike the Detroit River, anglers fishing the RCL event on Lake Sharpe are not going to see many huge walleye,” said Lund Boats Pro Mark Martin from Twin Lake, Mich. “If you catch two walleye that weigh between 4 and 5 pounds per fish on the two qualifying days, plus the other four slot fish, you have a real good chance of making the first and final cuts. My goal is to land four slot fish measuring between 17 and 18 inches long plus two bigger fish. If I can do this with one of the elusive 4- or 5-pounders, I feel I will do well.”
Martin knows what he is talking about when it comes to tournament fishing in South Dakota. Last year he won a major tournament held during a similar time of the year on Lake Francis Case.
In most RCL tournaments, anglers attempt to bag a limit of the biggest fish they can catch. That is not so in South Dakota. Here, anglers will be tested by local law and tournament rules, as well as by their professional fishing skills. During the tournament, a boat can keep a total of six walleye, with four allowed in the 15-18 inch size range and two allowed to measure 18 inches or larger.
“Lake Sharpe, like Lake Francis Case, is one of the Missouri River reservoirs,” said Martin. “I think both of the lakes will fish somewhat the same. I look for pitching jigs in the shallows to be a major factor in catching a limit of walleye plus two kicker fish. A jig tipped with a fathead minnow fished in the lower portion of the reservoir is real productive here. If the water is high, you can move well up into the creeks and fish in only a few feet of water like the bass anglers do in the spring.”
Local anglers are using jigs ranging from 1/16 to 3/8 of an ounce tipped with a minnow. Anglers have also been dressing their jigs with twister tails ranging from 2 to 4 inches. Favorite colors for this time of year seem to be chartreuse, orange and pearl. Most fishermen are pitching the jigs toward the shoreline while some are drifting jig and minnow combos in slightly deeper water.
Odds are good that some anglers will take their fish pulling plugs.
“Other options for taking walleye this time of the year are trolling crankbaits on a three-way rig or behind lead-core,” said Martin. “This is a productive method for fishing on this type of a reservoir when the fish are holding in slightly deeper water.”
According to various local reports, the walleye are active from the tail-race below the dam down to the bluffs near the Bad River, Marion Gardens, the car bridge and Stillin Basin. Limits of walleye are common at this time of year and anglers weighing more than 12 pounds per day have a very good chance of qualifying for the final two rounds of RCL competition.
“I think if you can catch anywhere from 12 to 14 pounds of fish, you are probably going to be in the final round,” said Martin. “It will probably take less weight than that per day to make the first cut.”
Anglers will be competing for part of a $346,000 purse. The first place prize for the pro-anglers is $50,000 cash and a fully rigged Ranger, Crestliner or Lund boat. The first place prize for the co-anglers is $15,000 cash.
Long-range forecasts predict cloudy, and possibly rainy weather, with temperatures in the 50s on days one and two. Day three and four forecasts peg the air temperatures in the lower 70s with mostly sunny skies.
Weigh-ins for day one and two will be at Downs Marina located at 800 South Washington, Pierre, S.D. Weigh-ins for days three and four will be held at the Wal-Mart located at 1600 North Harrison Avenue Pierre, S.D.
Tournament housing will be located at the Best Western Ramkota Inn (605) 224-6877 920 West Sioux Pierre, S.D. Anglers or fans needing more information about Downs Marina should call (605) 224-5533.