Southeastern South Dakota has more than 175 fishing lakes ranging in size up to 29,000 acres. Three major rivers course through the region: the Big Sioux River, James River and Missouri River, which includes Lewis and Clark Lake, a 30-mile-long Missouri River reservoir.
This region is prepared to host fishermen year-round with open seasons on most species of fish.
You'll find fishing license, bait and all the fishing gear you'll need at most local gas stations and bait & tackle shops.
Walleye and bass compete for top honors in this region. Lewis and Clark Lake reservoir above Gavins Point Dam draws anglers from across the nation with its alluring combination of largemouth and smallmouth bass.
Accessible fishing piers have been installed in a number of state parks. These piers feature low railings, accessible ramps, sidewalks and nearby parking. These fishing piers are found at Lake Herman, Walker's Point, Lake Vermillion, Lake Alvin, Lewis & Clark and Springfield Recreation Areas.
South Dakota fishing waters, excluding tribal trust land, are open to anyone during the weekend prior to Memorial Day weekend to fish without a license.
Anglers interested in paddlefishing have two options: a summer archery season or a fall snagging season. Both seasons occur in the Missouri River downstream from Gavins Point Dam, near Yankton, the only area where they can be taken legally in South Dakota. Anglers must apply for a limited number of paddlefish tags.
South Dakota's fishing season never closes so your annual license is good year-round. For the true sportsman with a warm disposition and a good down parka, ice fishing can be a great relief to cabin fever.
Fishing Waters, Species & Facilities
LAKES & RESERVOIRS
Armour
(kids pond) 2 acres. Largemouth bass, bluegill.
Beaver Lake
300 acres, near Hartford. Bullhead, crappie, walleye.
Facilities: boat ramp.
Beaver Lake
72 acres, near Utica. Bullhead.
Brant Lake
943 acres, near Chester. Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, bluegill, bullhead, catfish, crappie, northern pike, perch and walleye.
Facilities: toilet, boat ramp, dock, handicap access.
Burbank Lake
100 acres, near Burbank. Largemouth bass, bluegill, bullhead, crappie.
Clear Lake
472 acres, near Colton. Bullhead, northern pike, perch.
Facilities: boat ramp.
Corsica Lake
110 acres, near Corsica. Largemouth bass, bullhead, northern pike, perch.
Facilities: camping, toilet, boat ramp.
Covell Lake
15 acres, Sioux Falls. Bluegill, bullhead, crappie, northern pike.
Dell Rapids Dam
5 acres, near Dell Rapids. Smallmouth bass, catfish, crappie, northern pike, perch and walleye.
Diamond Lake
256 acres, near Franklin. Bullhead, northern pike, perch and walleye.
Dimock Lake
75 acres, near Dimock. Largemouth bass, bullhead, catfish, perch and rainbow trout.
Facilities: boat ramp, dock.
Ethan Dam
27 acres, near Ethan. Largemouth bass, bluegill, bullhead, catfish.
Facilities: boat ramp.
Forsch Lake
160 acres, near Salem. Bullhead, northern pike, perch and walleye.
Fulton Lake
18 acres, near Fulton. Bullhead, northern pike, perch.
Grass Lake
340 acres, near Humboldt. Bullhead, northern pike.
Gross Lake
100 acres, near Spencer. Bullhead, northern pike, perch.
Island Lake
250 acres, near Franklin. Bullhead, northern pike, perch and walleye.
Facilities: boat ramp.
Jansen Lake
4 acres, near Emery. Largemouth bass, bullhead.
Lake Alvin
90 acres, near Harrisburg. Largemouth bass, bluegill, bullhead, crappie, northern pike, perch and walleye.
Facilities: camping, toilet, boat ramp, dock, handicap access.
Lake Badus
230 acres, near Ramona. Bullhead.
Lake Carthage
203 acres, near Carthage. Largemouth bass, bluegill, bullhead, northern pike, perch and walleye.
Facilities: camping, boat ramp.
Lake Hanson
55 acres, near Alexandria. Largemouth bass, bluegill, bullhead, perch.
Facilities: boat ramp.
Lake Henry
46 acres. Largemouth bass, bluegill, bullhead, crappie.
Facilities: toilet, boat ramp.
Lake Herman
1,350 acres, near Madison. Bluegill, bullhead, crappie, northern pike, perch, saugeye and walleye.
Facilities: toilet, boat ramp, dock, handicap access.
Lake Lakota
90 acres, near Canton. Largemouth bass, bluegill, bullhead, catfish. Cold water species: rainbow trout.
Facilities: toilet, boat ramp.
Lake Madison
2,800 acres, near Madison. Largemouth bass, bluegill, bullhead, crappie, northern pike, perch and walleye.
Facilities: toilet, boat ramp, dock.
Lake Mitchell
670 acres, Mitchell. Largemouth bass, bluegill, bullhead, crappie, muskie, northern pike, walleye.
Facilities: camping, toilet, boat ramp, dock.
Lake Yankton
250 acres, near Yankton. Largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, walleye.
Facilities: camping, toilet, boat ramp.
Lewis & Clark Lake
29,000 acres, near Yankton. Largemouth bass, white bass, catfish, crappie, muskie, northern pike, sauger, and walleye, brown trout.
Facilities: camping, picnic areas, toilet, boat ramp, dock, handicap access.
Long Lake
257 acres, near Franklin. Bullhead, northern pike, perch.
Loss Lake
82 acres, near Humboldt. Bullhead, northern pike, perch.
Facilities: boat ramp.
Lyons Lake
159 acres, near Emery. Bullhead.
Marindahl Lake
139 acres, near Volin. Largemouth bass, bluegill, bullhead, catfish, crappie, walleye, rainbow trout.
Facilities: toilet, boat ramp.
Marion
(kids pond) 1 acre. Bullhead, perch.
Facilities: camping.
McCook Lake
274 acres, near North Sioux City. Largemouth bass, bluegill, bullhead, catfish, crappie, walleye.
Facilities: boat ramp.
Scott Lake
80 acres, near Hartford. Bullhead, perch, walleye.
Silver Lake
431 acres, near Dolton. Bullhead, northern pike, perch.
Facilities: boat ramp.
Swan Lake
182 acres, near Hurley. Bullhead, crappie, northern pike, perch, walleye.
Facilities: boat ramp.
Tripp Lake
12 acres, near Tripp. Largemouth bass, bluegill, catfish.
Facilities: boat ramp.
Tyndall
(Kids pond) 2 acres. Bullhead, northern pike.
Vermillion Lake
550 acres, near Canistota. Largemouth bass, bullhead, crappie, northern pike, perch and walleye.
Facilities: camping, toilet, boat ramp, handicap access.
Wall Lake
207 acres, near Hartford. Bluegill, bullhead, northern pike, perch and walleye.
Facilities: toilet, boat ramp.
Westside Park
(Kids pond) 1 acre, Yankton. Bullhead, northern pike.
RIVERS AND STREAMS
Big Sioux River
390 total miles. Smallmouth bass, bullhead, catfish, crappie, northern pike, sauger, and walleye.
Facilities: camping, boat ramp.
James River
307 total miles. Smallmouth bass, bullhead, catfish, crappie, northern pike, perch, sauger, and walleye.
Facilities: camping, toilet, boat ramp.
Missouri River
75 total miles. Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, white bass, catfish, crappie, sauger, sturgeon, and walleye.
Facilities: camping, toilet, boat ramp.
Split Rock Creek
Smallmouth bass, bullhead, catfish, crappie, northern pike, perch, and walleye.
Vermillion River
131 total miles. Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, bullhead, catfish, crappie, northern pike, and walleye.
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