Lake Francis Case Smallmouth Bass

Lake Francis Case Smallmouth Bass Regulations: Daily limit of 5 fish and possession limit of 10.  There are no length restrictions for smallmouth bass on Lake Francis Case.

Smallmouth bass are found throughout Lake Francis Case with the best fishing usually found in the middle and lower portions of the reservoir. However, good shore fishing opportunities exist in the upper reservoir in May and June. Boat anglers often focus on rip-rap areas below Big Bend Dam or near Chamberlain; rocky areas and bays around Snake, Platte, and Pease Creeks; numerous bays around the North Point area; and the face of Ft. Randall Dam.

Smallmouth bass spawn in May and early June in Lake Francis Case.  Males build nests in shallow water and attract females to the nests.  Males will guard nests and newly hatched fry for sometime after hatching.  After spawning, smallmouth bass will disperse from the shallows and occupy mud flats in search of food during summer months.

Keeping white bass, channel catfish and other species INSTEAD OF WALLEYE will help maintain our walleye population during periods of low reproduction and recruitment.

Lake Francis Case White Bass

Lake Francis Case White Bass Regulations: Daily limit of 25 and possession limit of 50.  There are no size restrictions for white bass on Lake Francis Case.

White Bass: White bass are common throughout the reservoir.  Fishing for white bass in the upper third of the reservoir in May and June has proven very productive.  Anglers often target the tailrace area for white bass.  Good numbers of adult white bass in the 2009 population stems from good white bass production in 2004 and 2005.  A large year-class of white bass was also produced during 2008.  Trophy sized white bass from the 2001 year class are still lurking around Lake Francis Case waiting for a lucky angler’s bait.  Look for white bass on wind-blown shorelines.  White bass feed effectively by working together to trap schools of prey fish against underwater structure (typically the shoreline) or the water’s surface.  During calm evenings, schools of white bass can often be seen chasing baitfish on the water’s surface. White bass are excellent to eat if served fresh with the red meat trimmed from the fillets.

Keeping white bass, channel catfish and other species INSTEAD OF WALLEYE will help maintain our walleye population during periods of low reproduction and recruitment.