South Dakota features outstanding fishing on the Missouri River reservoirs and natural glacial lakes. Lake Oahe is world-famous for walleye, smallmouth bass, and Chinook salmon. The Black Hills offer excellent trout fishing in mountain streams and lakes, and the Glacial Lakes region in the northeast is a premier walleye and northern pike destination. The Missouri River below Fort Pierre provides exceptional walleye fishing.
Fishing Regulations
- Fisheries Area Exceptions apply - check the specific fisheries area for limits that differ from statewide.
- Border water sections for Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska have separate limits.
- All sturgeon season closed (except Big Stone Lake lake sturgeon catch-and-release Jun 16 - Apr 14).
- Fish management areas may have additional restrictions.
13 species limits are shown per spot in the CatchTales app.
Pick a region below to explore its fishing spots.
Black Hills & West
Pactola Lake, Sheridan Lake, Rapid Creek, Angostura Reservoir
40 spots
Glacial Lakes & Northeast
Big Stone Lake, Lake Kampeska, Waubay Lake, Abraham Lake
94 spots
Lake Francis Case & Central
Lake Francis Case, Fort Randall, Beaver Lake, Buffalo Lake
40 spots
Lake Oahe & Missouri River
Lake Oahe, Missouri River, Pierre area, Capitol Lake
40 spots
Southeast & Missouri Bottoms
Lewis and Clark Lake, Vermillion River, Yankton area, Lake Albert
40 spots
Get CatchTales
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