Lake Francis Case
A long Missouri River reservoir behind Fort Randall Dam, known for walleye, sauger and smallmouth bass.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Walleye
Points, flats and reefs at low light. Jigs and live bait early, crankbaits and crawler harnesses in summer.
Sauger
River current and deep holes. Jigs and minnows in cold water.
Smallmouth Bass
Rock, gravel and points. Tubes, jerkbaits and drop-shots.
Channel Catfish
Cut bait and nightcrawlers on flats and creek mouths in the evening.
When they bite
Month-by-month activity for each target species.
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walleye | ||||||||||||
| Sauger | ||||||||||||
| Smallmouth Bass | ||||||||||||
| Channel Catfish |
Boat launches
1 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- More public accessPublicSee the SD GFP or lake website for all ramps and feesDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Special rules for this lake, confirmed from official state regulations. Minimum size and daily limit.
| Species | Min size | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye 15 in minimum except no minimum in July and August; max 1 fish 20 in or longer | 15 in | 4 / day |
| Sauger Counts in combined walleye limit | See South Dakota rules book ↗ | 4 / day combined |
Other species in this lake: look up the limits at South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks ↗
Bait & tackle nearby
Closest shops to the lake and its boat launches. Call ahead for live bait and hours.
- Fort Randall Bait & TackleNearby112 W US Highway 18, Pickstown, SD 57367(605) 487-6116Directions ↗
- Quirk's Sporting GoodsNearby206 W Clemmer Ave, Chamberlain, SD 57325(605) 234-1356Directions ↗
- BomgaarsNearby1700 E King St, Chamberlain, SD 57325(605) 234-5019Directions ↗
Local tips
- Levels drop in winter for flood storage.
- The Chamberlain area is a popular base.
- Big water. Watch the wind.
Angler reports
Water temp, what's biting, and anything else other anglers should know about Lake Francis Case.
View on interactive map
Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches; blue pins are bait shops nearby.