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Fishing in South Dakota

Click a region to explore top fishing spots, species, and local tips.

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.

Topographic map — click to view full size

Lake Oahe & Missouri River

Lake Oahe, Missouri River, Pierre area -- Walleye, Smallmouth Bass, Chinook Salmon, Northern Pike, Sauger

Glacial Lakes & Northeast

Big Stone Lake, Lake Kampeska, Waubay Lake -- Walleye, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, Crappie, Bluegill

Black Hills & West

Pactola Lake, Sheridan Lake, Rapid Creek -- Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Brook Trout, Lake Trout, Kokanee

Lake Francis Case & Central

Lake Francis Case, Fort Randall -- Walleye, Smallmouth Bass, White Bass, Channel Catfish, Crappie

Southeast & Missouri Bottoms

Lewis and Clark Lake, Vermillion River, Yankton area -- Walleye, Sauger, Smallmouth Bass, Blue Catfish, Channel Catfish