South Dakota

Great Faces, Great Places — Walleye & Smallmouth

Fishing in South Dakota

South Dakota offers excellent walleye fishing on the Missouri River reservoirs (Oahe, Sharpe, Francis Case) and quality smallmouth bass fishing. The state is an underrated fishing destination.

Tournament Scene

Active walleye tournament scene on Missouri River reservoirs.

Local Tips

Lake Oahe for walleye and smallmouth. Lake Sharpe for walleye. Lake Francis Case for walleye. Black Hills streams for trout.

Major Trails

NWT

Local Circuits

South Dakota Walleye TrailMissouri River Bass Trail

Public Access

Good access on Missouri River reservoirs.

Species in South Dakota

What you can target and when

Walleye

Walleye

excellent
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Best Waters

Lake Oahe · Lake Sharpe · Lake Francis Case

Jig and minnowCrankbaitSpinner rigBlade bait
Northern Pike

Northern Pike

good
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Best Waters

Lake Oahe · Lake Sharpe · Lake Thompson

Large spoonSpinnerbaitJerkbait

Top Waters in South Dakota

Lakes, rivers, bays, and coastal fisheries

Lake Oahe

lakePublic AccessBoat RampsKayak

231,000-acre Missouri River reservoir with excellent walleye.

Top Species

WalleyeNorthern PikeSmallmouth Bass

Best: Summer/Fall

Upcoming Tournaments in South Dakota

47 tournaments found

Salmon
Saltwater

Giant Angostura Salmon Showtime

Angostura, South Dakota
Apr 6, 2026 – Apr 7, 2026
Salmon
$1500Details
Salmon
Fly Fishing

Ultimate Sioux Falls Salmon Rumble

Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Apr 6, 2026 – Apr 9, 2026
Salmon
$125Details
Walleye
Charity Featured
2 weeks

Governor's Cup Chamberlain Walleye Jubilee

Chamberlain, South Dakota
Apr 22, 2026 – Apr 25, 2026
Walleye
$100Details
Smallmouth Bass
Freshwater

Grand Big Stone Bass Tournament

Big Stone, South Dakota
May 23, 2026 – May 26, 2026
Smallmouth Bass
$250Details
Northern Pike
Freshwater

Osprey Angostura Pike Knockout

Angostura, South Dakota
May 23, 2026 – May 24, 2026
Northern Pike
$100Details
Muskellunge
Freshwater

Legends Mobridge Muskellunge Bonanza

Mobridge, South Dakota
May 24, 2026 – May 27, 2026
Muskellunge
$750Details

Fishing Licenses & Regulations

Resident License

Annual Resident: $28.

Non-Resident License

Annual Non-Resident: $79. 3-Day: $42. 1-Day: $16.

Short-Term License

1-Day and 3-Day licenses available.

Youth & Senior

Free for residents under 16. Reduced for seniors.

Boat Registration

Required for motorized vessels.

Tournament Permit

Permits required for organized events.

Regulations Overview

4 walleye daily limit on Missouri River. 5 bass daily limit.

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