It all depends on how early the ice comes off, and soon as it does the walleye bite is on. Some years we have fished year around. It usually begins below the dam at Fort Thompson, as their is boat ramp on the south side that stays open because of the warm water and current coming out of the dam. Many years I have fished next to the ice up towards the spillway, at the same time ice fisherman are less than 100 feet away. As the ice thaws, we just follow it downstream, catching walleye on the channel edges and in deep pockets on the shallower flats. We use the basic spring river technique, a jig with a lively minnow. The size of jig will depend on the weather and the amount of current the dam is generating. On days that the don't produce much electricity the bite is tougher.

I have a favorite spot called the white stake area which is between the dam and the Crow Creek area(it is not a secret because the river isn't very big, and if another boat goes by they stop). The Crow Creek area is no secret either, but because it is a big area, their is always spots to fish, and usually produces good catches. Here again I fish the channel breaks anywhere from 18-20 feet up to 9 feet, depending on how much water is in the reservoir at that time. I use a Quick Change Systems short bite jig tipped with a minnow, or I troll Storm Thundersticks on lead core line, letting out just enough lead core to assure the lure is covering the bottom. When there is much wind or current, it works best to troll upstream. Moving on down the river just south of Crow Creek, their is a sand bar area which is also a very popular community hot spot in the spring. In this area, crankbaits are again effective, as is the jig and minnow combination. This is also a good area to anchor and cast jigs or crankbaits.

Here again, depending on water depth, it is an idea spot to drift between the bars, or on the edges. If there is too much current or wind you may have to go to a heavier jig, or do as my team partner Bob Propst Sr. and I do. We use a Slow Poke Sea anchor to slow the drift down, he runs the 15 Hp Mercury kicker motor while I help control the boat with my Motorguide Beast bowmount. This is also good time to use a split shot about a foot above a light wire #2 hook with a minnow, on a long light action rod. The next stop is the channel edges on the west end of the Kiowa flats. This is also a very popular area through out the whole summer. There is an area of trees that produce nice limits. Chamberlain can be seen around the next bend heading south, but that area is another whole story in itself. This whole reservoir river system is home to many Minnesota, Iowa and South Dakota anglers in the spring.

A few years ago the Department of Fish and Game imposed a 14 inch 4 fish limit on Lake Francis Case, and the last couple of years the results have really shown success. It used to be that you caught lots of small fish, but now their is many limits of 17 inch, fat and healthy walleye being caught. However, the fishery cannot survive with the amount of fishing pressure that it receives, and this year they have new limit laws, three fish between 15 and 18 inches, and one fish over 18 inches. There has been a lot of grumbling about the slot limits, but if gets the same results that they got with the other regulations, the system will make many anglers happy for many more spring outings.

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