A guided walleye trip on Lake Oahe runs $550 for two anglers, $625 for three, and $700 for four for a full day. Prices are per trip, not per person. There’s no deposit, fish cleaning is included, and lodging at the Lazy A Ranch is $225 a night for up to 5 guests, $325 a night for 6 or more.
If you’re planning a walleye trip to Lake Oahe, the first question is usually a simple one: what does a guide cost? Here’s the honest, straightforward breakdown — the prices, what’s included, what’s not, and whether hiring a guide is worth it.
Pricing is by the boat, not by the head, so a bigger group actually splits the cost further. Here’s the full rate card at Wade’s Lake Oahe Adventures:
| Full day — 2 anglers | $550 |
| Full day — 3 anglers | $625 |
| Full day — 4 anglers (max) | $700 |
| Follow boat (bring your own) | +$100 |
| Lazy A Ranch lodging — up to 5 guests | $225 / night |
| Lazy A Ranch lodging — 6 or more guests | $325 / night |
For four anglers, a full day works out to $175 each — a reasonable price for a full day on the water with the boat, gear, and guiding all handled. See the current rates & booking details for the latest.
Quite a lot, actually. A guided trip covers the boat (a Lund 219 Pro-V with full electronics, including live sonar), all the bait and tackle, and Wade’s coaching through the day. Your fish are cleaned, bagged, and Cryovac-packed for the trip home at no extra charge. On multi-day stays at the ranch, one evening usually includes a fish fry. In short, you bring a smile and some snacks, and the rest is handled.
A few things sit outside the trip price: your South Dakota fishing license (easy to get online or at Runnings in Mobridge), lodging if you choose to stay at the Lazy A Ranch, and a gratuity for your guide, which is customary in the guiding world but always up to you.
Per trip. The rates above are for the whole boat, so splitting with a group of three or four brings the per-person cost down considerably. Up to four anglers fish per boat.
No. There’s no deposit to reserve your dates — you show up and go fishing. And if the weather is too rough to be out there safely, the trip doesn’t run and you aren’t charged.
If you already know Lake Oahe well, maybe not. But this is big, seasonal water — about 140 miles of it — and the fish move all year. A guide who knows where they are, how to present to them, and where the dangerous stumps hide is the difference between a long day and a full cooler. You’re also paying to skip the guesswork: no launching, no rigging, no cleaning. For most visiting anglers, that’s money well spent. More on that in why Lake Oahe rewards local knowledge.
$550 for two anglers, $625 for three, and $700 for four — priced per trip, not per person.
Yes. Every fish is cleaned, bagged, and Cryovac-packed for travel at no extra cost.
No deposit is required. You show up and go fishing, and there’s no charge if the weather cancels the trip.
Ready to book a day on Lake Oahe?
Call or text Wade — 605-848-0809Keep planning: see the full rates & booking page, what a day looks like on the guide service, and who you’ll be fishing with.