Best fishing lakes in South Dakota: 12 lakes and what bites

The lakes at a glance

1. Lake Oahe

Lake Oahe covers 370,000 acres. Walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass and catfish are the draw. It goes down to about 205 ft. Its bed shows two sheltered coves and two point drop-offs worth a first look.

Lake Oahe today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

2. Lake Sharpe

At 56,900 acres, Lake Sharpe is a huge piece of water. It lies right by Fort Pierre. Big Bend Dam holds it on the Missouri River. The fish here are walleye, smallmouth bass, catfish and northern pike. It goes down to about 78 ft. Lake Sharpe is a Missouri River reservoir behind Big Bend Dam, with walleye as its primary gamefish.

Lake Sharpe today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

3. Waubay Lake

At some 15,500 acres, Waubay Lake is a big lake. It lies near Webster. The fish here are northern pike, walleye, smallmouth bass and yellow perch. The deepest water is around 31 ft. Waubay Lake is a natural glacial lake in northeastern South Dakota managed predominantly as a walleye and yellow perch fishery.

Waubay Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

4. Lake Kampeska

Lake Kampeska covers 5,250 acres of water. You will find it about 3.5 miles east of Watertown. Expect walleye, smallmouth bass, crappie and bluegill. It goes down to about 16 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and an upper arm to work. Lake Kampeska is a glacial lake near Watertown managed primarily as a walleye and smallmouth bass fishery.

Lake Kampeska today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

5. Lewis and Clark Lake

At some 31,400 acres, Lewis and Clark Lake is a big lake. It lies about 3.7 miles west of Springfield. It is the Missouri River behind Gavins Point Dam. The fish here are walleye, northern pike, yellow perch and catfish. At about 45 ft at its deepest, it warms quickly in spring. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and a steep ledge to work. Lewis and Clark Lake, formed by Gavins Point Dam on the Missouri River, straddles the South Dakota-Nebraska border and is known for fall paddlefish snagging.

Lewis and Clark Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

6. Shadehill Reservoir

Shadehill Reservoir is a reservoir of 4,690 acres of water. It lies near Lemmon. Shadehill Dam holds it on the Grand River. It holds walleye, smallmouth bass, catfish and yellow perch. The deepest water is around 62 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. Shadehill Reservoir was built in 1951 by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation on the Grand River in Perkins County.

Shadehill Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

7. Belle Fourche Reservoir

Belle Fourche Reservoir covers 8,000 acres of water. It lies near Belle Fourche. Belle Fourche Dam (Orman Dam) holds it on the Owl Creek. Expect walleye, catfish and white bass. It goes down to about 60 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. Belle Fourche Reservoir, held back by the Belle Fourche (Orman) Dam, stores irrigation water for the Belle Fourche Irrigation District.

Belle Fourche Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

8. Enemy Swim Lake

At about 1,960 acres, Enemy Swim Lake is small enough to learn in a few trips. The lake is about 13 miles southwest of Webster. The fish here are walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass and crappie. At about 27 ft at its deepest, it warms quickly in spring. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and an upper arm worth a first look. Enemy Swim Lake is a glacial lake in Day County where shallow vegetated zones hold bass and bluegill while deeper water holds walleye and pike.

Enemy Swim Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

9. Lake Thompson

At some 16,200 acres, Lake Thompson is a big lake. It lies about 56 miles southeast of Sioux Falls. Expect walleye, northern pike and yellow perch. At about 26 ft at its deepest, it warms quickly in spring. The lake bed gives you four steep ledges to work. Lake Thompson, one of South Dakota's largest natural lakes, dried up completely during the 1930s drought before refilling.

Lake Thompson today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

10. Angostura Reservoir

Angostura Reservoir is a reservoir of some 4,410 acres. You will find it near Hot Springs. Expect walleye, northern pike and smallmouth bass. At about 75 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. Angostura Reservoir impounds the Cheyenne River in the southern Black Hills of Fall River County.

Angostura Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

11. Lake Whitewood

Lake Whitewood covers about 4,850 acres. You will find it about 59 miles southeast of Sioux Falls. Like most lakes its size in South Dakota, it should hold walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass and yellow perch. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. Lake Whitewood is a natural lake in Kingsbury County named for white timber once found along its shore.

Lake Whitewood today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

12. Columbia Road Reservoir

At about 3,780 acres, Columbia Road Reservoir is a good-sized lake. You will find it about 19 miles southwest of Aberdeen. The usual South Dakota mix applies: walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass and yellow perch.

Columbia Road Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

Pick by species

A lake appears under a fish when it holds it, by the record or by the type of lake.

• Bass: Lake Oahe, Lake Sharpe, Waubay Lake and Lake Kampeska
• Walleye: Lake Oahe, Lake Sharpe, Waubay Lake and Lake Kampeska
• Trout: Lake Sharpe
• Crappie: Lake Sharpe, Waubay Lake, Lake Kampeska and Enemy Swim Lake
• Pike and muskie: Lake Oahe, Lake Sharpe, Waubay Lake and Lake Kampeska
• Catfish: Lake Oahe, Lake Sharpe, Lake Kampeska and Lewis and Clark Lake

The fishing year

• Spring: walleye are usually at their best. Prime range. Low light is best, on reefs and weed edges.
• Summer: walleye are usually fair. Warm surface. They go deep in the day; try evenings.
• Fall: walleye are usually at their best. Prime range. Low light is best, on reefs and weed edges.
• Winter: walleye are usually fair. Cold. Slow jigs on deep structure.

Before you go

A South Dakota fishing licence covers every lake here; the state fish and wildlife agency publishes the limits and any special rules lake by lake. Each lake page on LakeScope shows today's water temperature, the wind, the best bite times and a 3-D view of the bed, so check it the morning you go.