2008 Spearfishing Tournament

Dive Charters/Spearfishing

Steamboat’s is your exclusive contact when diving in central South Dakota. Steamboat’s Skin & Scuba is here to serve you, our friendly staff and knowledgeable guides enjoy helping others enjoy our area of the world. We are extremely lucky with the resources we have and we want to share them with you!

While spearfishing is our primary focus, don’t think we don’t know how to have fun without a speargun. We offer a kick ass drift dive, that you will want to do over and over again. Also, we run charters to the dive park, and we will help you get those underwater pictures you’ve been looking for.

The guides at Steamboat are constantly finding new points and sunken islands to hunt walleye so we don’t deplete the resource. As the reservoir’s water level fluctuates and winds change, so do the hot spots. We are known well throughout the community as a top notch charter service, which leads to our customers returning year after year.

If you have a large group of 8 to 28, our pontoon fleet will enhance your diving adventure. Smaller groups of 2 to 6 enjoy our 18’ center counsel jon boat, which will get you to the remote areas in a flash. There is a minimum person requirement of two people. Group rates are available for groups of eight or more.

Please call Steamboat’s to inquire for group rates and availability. A regular fishing license is required for spearfishing in South Dakota. For all rules and regulations pertaining to fishing in South Dakota see the South Dakota Fishing Handbook .

Spearfishing rates are based on the dates between June 15 and September 15, a minimum of two people, and allow up to two tanks per person. Please call for rates if wanting more than two tank dives. Rates do not include gear rental. All dive and spearing equipment is available for rental if needed.

Boat Rental/Charge	$195 + tax
2 tanks	$110 + tax ($55 per person)
Groups of 8 or more…	Rates vary depending on time of year, please call.

· Walleye numbers increase and average size decreases as you move up the reservoir.

· Salmon fishing has the potential to be good in 2008 with several years of stocking supporting the fishery.

· Rainbow smelt and gizzard shad have increased in number and are in good balance with the number of predator fish.

· Rainbow smelt seining has potential to be good during mid-to-late April throughout the reservoir.

· Good channel catfish fishing opportunities exist, especially in the backs of bays during spring.

· Anglers may see walleye shorter than 15 inches due to good natural production of walleyes in 2005 and 2006.

· The 2005 year class of walleye should begin to pass the 15 inch minimum length during 2008.

· Smallmouth bass fishing has the potential to be good in the lower half of each reservoir from early May through October.

· White bass fishing has the potential to be good in Lake Francis Case due to good production in 2004 and 2005. The number of white bass in Lake Sharpe is currently low due to a die-off in 2005.

· During late March to early April, catchable (9-11 inch) rainbow trout will be stocked in Oahe Marina (below Oahe Dam) and the LaFramboise Causeway (in the City of Pierre), and catchable brown trout will be stocked below Fort Randall Dam.

Spearfishers are subject to license revocation upon conviction of violating a law or rule pertaining to spearfishing or bowfishing. The spearing/archery seasons allow licensed fishers to take fish with spear, speargun, or bow. A crossbow may be used to take rough fish only in South Dakota inland waters.

· Speargun: A muscle-loaded device propelling a spear attached to a lanyard no more than 20 feet long.

· Bow and Arrow: Bows must be hand drawn. Arrows may have only one point, which must be barbed and attached to the bow by a line.

· Limits: The daily and possession limits are the same as, and in combination with, hook and line limits unless excepted below.

· Game Fish Possession: People spearfishing/bowfishing may not possess speared game fish in areas not open to the spearing of game fish.

· Diver-down Flag: Divers must display a diverdown flag firmly attached to a securely anchored float, tube or buoy while diving. The flag must be at least 8 inches by 10 inches and must be red with a white diagonal strip running from the upper left corner to the lower right corner. Divers must also stay within 75 feet of the flag.

1. Underwater spearfishing is not permitted within 100 yards of designated swimming or waterskiing areas, boat docks, power intake tubes or spillways.

2. Underwater diving is not permitted where placement of the diver-down flag would restrict boat access at public access ramps.

3. Boats may not be operated using internal combustion engines within 75 feet of a diver down flag.

Game fish may be taken with legal spear guns and spears in the following areas with the restrictions listed.

Catfish Limits: 5 channel catfish daily and 10 in possession, 5 flathead catfish daily and 10 in possession, and 1 blue catfish daily and in possession. May be taken for noncommercial purposes only.

Harvest limits: There are lake-specific harvest limits, make sure you know exactly where you are and what the specific limits are for that area!

· Walleye/Sauger/Saugeye (in any combination) – 4 daily, 8 possession; only one in daily limit may be 20" or longer.

· Largemouth/Smallmouth Bass (in any combination) – 5 daily, 10 possession.

· Bluegill/Sunfish (Green, Pumpkinseed and Orangespotted in any combination) - 25 daily, 50 possession.

· Trout/Salmon/Splake/Whitefish/Lake Herring (any combination) – 5 daily, 10 possession.

1 Lake Oahe – WALLEYE/SAUGER OR HYBRID: Daily limit may include no more than one 20" or longer year-round.

2 Lake Sharpe – WALLEYE/SAUGER OR HYBRID: Minimum length limit 15" year-round, except July and August when there is no minimum restriction. Daily limit may include no more than 1 walleye/sauger 20" or longer year-round.

SMALLMOUTH BASS: Only those less than 14", or 18" and longer may be taken. Of those no more than one may be 18" or longer.

Lay the fish on its side, with the mouth closed and the tail lobes pressed together. Measure the length from the tip of the snout to the end of the tail.

Stanley County: No boating zone on Lake Sharpe south of the Lake Oahe Powerhouse from the “T-Dike” south to a signed point 2,100’ downstream inside the buoys; the waters inside Oahe Marina are a no wake zone; the waters from the mouth of the Bad River upstream to the pedestrian footbridge are a no wake zone.

Potter County: The waters fronting both the north and south East Whitlocks boat ramps are no wake zones.