13 public waters in the James River Valley region — 8 lakes/reservoirs and 5 rivers. Every one is public water fishable on a South Dakota licence.
See every public fishing venue in South Dakota on the map, with boat ramps, camping, parking and full rules for each one.
McCook County, South Dakota — East Vermillion Lake is a 569-acre lake, managed by Public boat ramp (GFP): A GFP-managed public lake or state recreation area lake — Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Northern Pike, Crappie, Channel Catfish and often a stocked Walleye fishery.
Island Lake (449 acres) sits in Marshall, McCook and Minnehaha Counties, South Dakota, managed by Public boat ramp (GFP). A natural lake in South Dakota's Glacial Lakes region (Kampeska, Poinsett, Madison, Herman, Cochrane, Enemy Swim, Waubay, Bitter, Pickerel, Big Stone, Traverse, Thompson, Byron) — Walleye and Yellow Perch headline, plus Northern Pike, Bluegill, Crappie, White Bass and Carp. Shallow, fertile, glacially-formed lakes across the northeast corner of the state, many with a state park or GFP recreation area on the shore.
Lake Vermillion (202 acres) sits in McCook County, South-Dakota, managed by South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks. Lakes and reservoirs across this region typically hold walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, largemouth and smallmouth bass, and panfish such as bluegill, crappie and pumpkinseed, with muskellunge present in some larger lakes -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
In McCook County, South-Dakota, Lehrman Slough is a 178-acre lake, managed by South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks. Lakes and reservoirs across this region typically hold walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, largemouth and smallmouth bass, and panfish such as bluegill, crappie and pumpkinseed, with muskellunge present in some larger lakes -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
In Hanson and McCook Counties, South Dakota, Lake Eli is a 102-acre lake, managed by Public boat ramp (GFP). A GFP-managed public lake or state recreation area lake — Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Northern Pike, Crappie, Channel Catfish and often a stocked Walleye fishery.
In McCook County, South Dakota, Gross Lake is a 80-acre lake, managed by Public boat ramp (GFP). A GFP-managed public lake or state recreation area lake — Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Northern Pike, Crappie, Channel Catfish and often a stocked Walleye fishery.
Forsch Lake (72 acres) sits in McCook County, South-Dakota, managed by South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks. Lakes and reservoirs across this region typically hold walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, largemouth and smallmouth bass, and panfish such as bluegill, crappie and pumpkinseed, with muskellunge present in some larger lakes -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Lions Lake, a 38-acre lake in McCook County, South Dakota, managed by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: A GFP-managed public lake or state recreation area lake — Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Northern Pike, Crappie, Channel Catfish and often a stocked Walleye fishery.
McCook, Lake, Turner and 1 more county in South Dakota — East Fork Vermillion River is a 90 km stream: The Big Sioux or Vermillion River in eastern South Dakota — Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Walleye, Northern Pike and Carp in clearer, faster water than the James or Missouri tributaries.
West Fork Vermillion River runs 89 km through Miner, McCook, Turner and 1 more county in South Dakota: The Big Sioux or Vermillion River in eastern South Dakota — Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Walleye, Northern Pike and Carp in clearer, faster water than the James or Missouri tributaries.
In McCook and Miner Counties, South Dakota, Little Vermillion River is a 51 km river or creek. The Big Sioux or Vermillion River in eastern South Dakota — Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Walleye, Northern Pike and Carp in clearer, faster water than the James or Missouri tributaries.
Elce Creek (29 km) flows through Turner, Minnehaha and McCook Counties, South Dakota. A South Dakota river or large creek — largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Northern Pike and Carp. Wade or paddle; access at bridge crossings, GFP access sites and public parks.
McCook County, South Dakota — Battle Creek is a 8 km stream: A Black Hills Trout stream (Rapid Creek, Spearfish Creek, French Creek, Castle Creek) — GFP's BeneficialUseWaters layer classifies these 'Coldwater' fish-life-propagation waters. Wild and stocked brown, rainbow and Brook Trout in clear, spring-fed mountain water, a real (if small) Trout fishery for the Plains.
Across its mapped waters, McCook County holds 16 species on PiscaMaps, including Northern Pike, Walleye, Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Smallmouth Bass, Black Crappie and Common Carp.
Ramps, put-ins and species for every water — plus the carp layer no other US app has.
Open the South Dakota map Join PiscaMapsOne South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks fishing licence covers every public water in the state, the Missouri River reservoirs and GFP recreation areas included — the resident annual is about $28, the non-resident annual about $73, with non-resident 1-day and 3-day options. No separate trout stamp is required — the standard licence covers the Black Hills trout streams and lakes. South Dakota residents 65 and older can buy a discounted senior combination licence, and anyone under 16 fishes free with a licensed adult. Buy at gfp.sd.gov.