Biggest lakes in South Dakota: the top 10 by size

The ten largest lakes in South Dakota, biggest first.

The list

Sizes are the published surface area where one exists; the others are our own measure of the water's outline and read "about". Reservoirs shrink and grow with their level, so a dry year shows less water.

#	Lake	Size	Shoreline
1	Lake Oahe	370,000 acres	about 2250 mi
2	Lake Sharpe	56,900 acres	about 198 mi
3	Lewis and Clark Lake	31,400 acres	about 46 mi
4	Lake Thompson	16,200 acres	about 35 mi
5	Waubay Lake	15,500 acres	about 56 mi
6	Belle Fourche Reservoir	8,000 acres	about 32 mi
7	Lake Poinsett	about 7,560 acres	about 14.6 mi
8	Bitter Lake	about 6,040 acres	about 17.3 mi
9	Lake Kampeska	5,250 acres	about 13.5 mi
10	Lake Whitewood	about 4,850 acres	about 26 mi

1. Lake Oahe

Lake Oahe spreads over some 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

Lake Sharpe spreads over some 56,900 acres. The lake is right by Fort Pierre. It is the Missouri River behind Big Bend Dam. Expect 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. Lewis and Clark Lake

Lewis and Clark Lake is a reservoir of some 31,400 acres. It lies near Springfield. Gavins Point Dam holds it on the Missouri River. 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

4. Lake Thompson

Lake Thompson covers 16,200 acres of water. The lake is within an easy drive of Sioux Falls (about 56 miles). Expect walleye, northern pike and yellow perch. The deepest water is around 26 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has four steep ledges: good places to start. 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

5. Waubay Lake

At some 15,500 acres, Waubay Lake is a big lake. The lake is about 2.6 miles southwest of Webster. The fish here are northern pike, walleye, smallmouth bass and yellow perch. The deepest water is around 31 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. 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

6. Belle Fourche Reservoir

Belle Fourche Reservoir spreads over 8,000 acres of water. It lies about 47 miles southeast of Rapid City. Belle Fourche Dam (Orman Dam) holds it on the Owl Creek. The fish here are walleye, catfish and white bass. It goes down to about 60 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. 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

7. Lake Poinsett

Lake Poinsett is a natural lake of about 7,560 acres. It lies within an easy drive of Sioux Falls (about 70 miles). 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 an upper arm to work.

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

8. Bitter Lake

Bitter Lake spreads over about 6,040 acres. It lies about 8.9 miles west of Webster. The usual South Dakota mix applies: walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass and yellow perch. The lake bed gives you three steep ledges and an upper arm to work. Bitter Lake in Day County gets its name from its naturally bitter-tasting, mineral-rich water.

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

9. Lake Kampeska

Lake Kampeska spreads over 5,250 acres. It lies near Watertown. It holds walleye, smallmouth bass, crappie and bluegill. It goes down to about 16 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and an upper arm: good places to start. 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

10. Lake Whitewood

At about 4,850 acres, Lake Whitewood is a good-sized lake. It lies within an easy drive of Sioux Falls (about 59 miles). The usual South Dakota mix applies: walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass and yellow perch. 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

Big water, big days

Large lakes make their own weather: a breeze that is nothing on a pond builds real waves over miles of open water. Check the wind on the lake page before you launch and keep to the lee shore when it picks up.