Navigation Home - AA-Fishing Lakes Fish

Best Fishing Lakes In South Dakota

Pick A LakePick A SpeciesPick A State

Guide to the top places to fish for bass, catfish, crappie and more in SD.

By AA-Fishing Staff Writers

  • Big Stone Lake
  • Lake Oahe
  • Lake Poinsett
  • Lake Sharpe
  • Lewis And Clark Lake

Top Fishing Lakes In South Dakota

Big Stone Lake, Lake Oahe, Lake Poinsett, Lake Sharpe, Lake Thompson and Lewis And Clark Lake are the most popular places for fishing in South Dakota, offering anglers the chance to pursue a variety of fish species. In winter, once the ice is safe, many of these lakes afford the opportunity to go ice fishing.

South Dakota is blessed with numerous fishing lakes, providing a wide range of opportunities for anglers to pursue different species in both warm water and cold water environments. The purpose of this page is to share basic information about the best fishing lakes in the state, and the species found in each lake.

Among the warm water lakes, Lake Sharpe and Lake Francis Case are popular destinations for anglers seeking walleye, black crappie, white crappie, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, and channel catfish. These lakes are part of the Missouri River system and offer excellent fishing experiences throughout the year.

For those looking for cold water lakes, Lake Pactola and Sheridan Lake are great choices. These lakes are nestled in the scenic Black Hills and are known for their trout populations, including rainbow trout and brown trout. These cold water lakes provide picturesque settings for anglers to enjoy their fishing trips.

Lake Oahe, a massive reservoir along the Missouri River, offers both warm and cold water fishing opportunities. Anglers can find walleye, smallmouth bass, white bass, northern pike, bluegill, and yellow perch in its waters, making it one of the most diverse fishing lakes in South Dakota.

In addition to the larger lakes, South Dakota is dotted with numerous smaller ponds and lakes that offer various species, including crappie, bluegill, sunfish, perch, and more. Many of these smaller water bodies provide great fishing experiences for families and beginners.

Whether you prefer the tranquility of cold water fishing in the Black Hills or the thrill of reeling in walleye on the Missouri River, South Dakota's fishing lakes cater to all preferences and skill levels, making it an angler's paradise in the heart of the Midwest.

Fishing Boats For Rent In South Dakota


Bass Fishing Lakes

Largemouth Bass
Largemouth Bass

Smallmouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass

Angostura Reservoir, Big Stone Lake, Lake Kampeska, Lake Oahe, Lake Poinsett, Lake Sharpe, Lewis And Clark Lake, Shadehill Reservoir and Waubay Lake are considered the best options for largemouth and smallmouth bass. More...


Catfish Fishing Lakes

Channel Catfish
Channel Catfish

Flathead Catfish
Flathead Catfish

Blue Catfish
Blue Catfish

Lake Oahe, Lake Poinsett, Lake Sharpe and Lewis And Clark Lake are favorite options for channel, blue, white and flathead catfish. More...


Crappie Fishing Lakes

Black Crappie
Black Crappie

White Crappie
White Crappie

Big Stone Lake, Lake Poinsett, Lake Sharpe, Lake Thompson and Lewis And Clark Lake are the most popular for black and white crappie. More...


Sunfish & Panfish Fishing Lakes

Bluegill
Bluegill

Green Sunfish
Green Sunfish

Pumpkinseed Sunfish
Pumpkinseed Sunfish

Rock Bass
Rock Bass

Spotted Sunfish
Spotted Sunfish

White Bass
White Bass

Yellow Perch
Yellow Perch

Big Stone Lake, Lake Poinsett, Lake Sharpe, Lake Thompson and Lewis And Clark Lake are popular spots to fish for bluegill, bream, perch and other sunfish. More...


Walleye Fishing Lakes

Walleye
Walleye

Angostura Reservoir, Big Stone Lake, Lake Francis Case, Lake Kampeska, Lake Oahe, Lake Poinsett, Lake Sharpe, Lake Thompson, Lewis And Clark Lake, Shadehill Reservoir and Waubay Lake are considered the top locations for walleye fishing. More...


Trout Fishing Lakes

Rainbow trout
Rainbow trout

Brown trout
Brown trout

Lake trout
Lake trout

Cutthroat trout
Cutthroat trout

Brook trout
Brook trout

Lake Oahe is the favorite, major lake for lake trout. Shadehill Reservoir, Deerfield Lake and Canyon lake also provide trout fishing options. More...


Salmon Fishing Lakes

Chinook Salmon
Chinook Salmon

Lake Oahe, Lake Poinsett and Lake Sharpe are the most popular for chinook salmon fishing. More...


Visit the South Dakota fishing page for links to information covering a wide variety of fish species and destinations in the state. Visit the South Dakota map to identify your best route to these top fishing locations.

 

Best Destinations By State.

AL Fishing Lakes AR Fishing Lakes AZ Fishing Lakes CA Fishing Lakes CO Fishing Lakes CT Fishing Lakes DC Fishing Lakes DE Fishing Lakes FL Fishing Lakes GA Fishing Lakes HI Fishing Lakes IA Fishing Lakes ID Fishing Lakes
IL Fishing Lakes IN Fishing Lakes KS Fishing Lakes KY Fishing Lakes LA Fishing Lakes MA Fishing Lakes MD Fishing Lakes ME Fishing Lakes MI Fishing Lakes MN Fishing Lakes MO Fishing Lakes MS Fishing Lakes MT Fishing Lakes
NC Fishing Lakes ND Fishing Lakes NE Fishing Lakes NH Fishing Lakes NJ Fishing Lakes NM Fishing Lakes NV Fishing Lakes NY Fishing Lakes OH Fishing Lakes OK Fishing Lakes OR Fishing Lakes PA Fishing Lakes
RI Fishing Lakes SC Fishing Lakes SD Fishing Lakes TN Fishing Lakes TX Fishing Lakes UT Fishing Lakes VA Fishing Lakes VT Fishing Lakes WA Fishing Lakes WI Fishing Lakes WV Fishing Lakes WY Fishing Lakes

032124