Best Midwest Lakes for Walleye Fishing ….Techniques, Tips, and Top Spots
If you love chasing walleye across the Midwest, you know every lake fishes a little different. As a professional walleye guide and tournament angler with Tom Tom’s Guide Service, I’ve spent years exploring some of the best walleye waters in the region — from Lake Oahe to Lake Sharpe and everything in between.
Here’s a breakdown of the top Midwest walleye fishing lakes, what makes each one special, and the best techniques to help you catch more fish.
Lake Oahe – South Dakota
If you’re searching for guided walleye fishing trips in South Dakota, Lake Oahe should be on your list. It’s one of the best walleye lakes in the entire Midwest — stretching for miles with incredible structure, clear water, and big-fish potential.
Best techniques:
• Spring: Jig-and-minnow combos along rocky points and gravel.
• Summer: Bottom bouncers or slow-death rigs with nightcrawlers across main-lake flats (12–25 ft).
• Fall: Pitch plastics or troll Berkley Flicker Minnows on leadcore.
• Pro tip: Forward-facing sonar like Garmin LiveScope helps locate suspended fish chasing smelt.
If you’re planning a Lake Oahe walleye trip, this is where local knowledge really pays off.
Lake Sharpe – Pierre, South Dakota
Another South Dakota gem and a local favorite for consistent walleye action. Current, structure, and clean water make this lake a perfect place for anglers of all skill levels.
Techniques:
• Spring: Jig and minnow in 5–15 ft along current seams.
• Summer: Slow-death rigs or spinner harnesses pulled upstream.
• Fall: Crankbait trolling near the dam or gravel bars.
Many clients who book a guided walleye trip on Lake Sharpe stay nearby in Pierre for easy access to some of the best fishing South Dakota has to offer.
Bitter Lake – Webster, South Dakota
Bitter Lake is well known in the Glacial Lakes region for strong natural reproduction and plenty of eater-sized walleyes.
Techniques:
• Spring/Fall: Pitch jigs or plastics into shallow weeds and sand flats.
• Summer: Slip bobbers with leeches or trolling small crankbaits in 6–10 ft.
• Electronics tip: Use LiveScope to find roaming pods of walleye on weed edges.
Many anglers book guided ice fishing trips in Webster, South Dakota to experience Bitter Lake during the hard-water season.
Final Thoughts
Every body of water teaches you something different ….whether it’s boat control on Lake Oahe, reading current on Lake Sharpe, or using forward-facing sonar to track fish in clear water.
The best part of guiding and tournament fishing across the Midwest is watching how each lake reacts to changing seasons, wind, and bait movement.
If you’re ready to experience world-class walleye fishing in South Dakota or Nebraska, I’d love to have you in the boat.
👉 Book your next guided walleye trip today at www.TomTomsGuideService.com
and let’s go chase some Midwest gold.
