New all-seasons fish cleaning station provides Chamberlain-Oacoma with year-round access

Sam Fosness, The Daily Republic, Mitchell, S.D.
·2 min read

Dec. 20—CHAMBERLAIN-OACOMA — South Dakota's premier walleye fishing hub just got a lot better.

The city of Chamberlain and South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks teamed up to bring the first all-seasons fish cleaning station that was ushered in by the community on Monday during a ribbon cutting ceremony.

Already regarded as one of the most popular walleye fishing destinations in the Upper Midwest, Mike Lauritsen, the executive director of Lake Francis Case Development Corporation, said the addition of the all-seasons fish cleaning station solidifies the Chamberlain-Oacoma area as the "capital of walleye fishing."

The fish cleaning station, located at 406 N. Main St. in Chamberlain, is equipped with a high-capacity grinder and heated floors, said Lauritsen, who emphasized the new station's ability to provide ice fishing enthusiasts a place to clean their fish along the shores of Lake Francis Case.

"As soon as it gets cold out, we would have to disconnect our non-enclosed station. For half of the year, anglers don't have a fish cleaning station. Now, we can appeal to them all year round," Lauritsen said.

Early spring anglers will also benefit from the all-seasons fish cleaning station. And Lauritsen said the prime walleye fishing in early spring attracts many anglers to the Chamberlain-Oacoma each year.

The ADA accessible cleaning station is located between the public boat ramps at American Creek Campground and American Creek Marina, where many anglers exit the Missouri River after a day of fishing.

Lauritsen said a pair of Chamberlain city employees were instrumental in bringing the city of Chamberlain and GF&P together to build the fish cleaning station. The roughly $160,000 project was funded by the city and an $80,000 matching grant from the GF&P.

"Within a few weeks, we had a joint powers agreement with the GF&P and the city of Chamberlain. It was very smooth and quick," he said.

Chamberlain-Oacoma is coming off back-to-back years of hosting the Cabela's and Bass Pro Shops National Walleye Tour, which brought hundreds of professional anglers to compete in the spring.

Lauritsen said the national exposure has brought a steady flow of anglers since, and the new all seasons cleaning station is a move to accommodate the growing number of anglers hitting the waters of Lake Francis Case.