17 public waters in the James River Valley region — 9 lakes/reservoirs and 8 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.
Kingsbury and Miner Counties, South Dakota — Lake Thompson is a 13,888-acre lake, managed by South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks: A GFP-managed public lake or state recreation area lake — Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Northern Pike, Crappie, Channel Catfish and often a stocked Walleye fishery.
Bitter Lake, a 8,068-acre lake in Day and Miner Counties, South Dakota, managed by South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks: 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.
Twin Lakes (1,957 acres) sits in Spink, Kingsbury, Miner and 3 more counties in South Dakota, managed by South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks. A GFP-managed public lake or state recreation area lake — Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Northern Pike, Crappie, Channel Catfish and often a stocked Walleye fishery.
Hutchinson, Brule, Bennett and 3 more counties in South Dakota — Silver Lake is a 816-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.
Ness Chain Lake, a 247-acre lake in Miner County, South Dakota, managed by State Fish and Wildlife: A GFP-managed public lake or state recreation area lake — Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Northern Pike, Crappie, Channel Catfish and often a stocked Walleye fishery.
Miner and Kingsbury Counties, South Dakota — Lake Carthage is a 199-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.
Sanborn and Miner Counties, South Dakota — School Section Lakes is a 177-acre lake, managed by State Fish and Wildlife: 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 Miner County, South Dakota, Glee Lake is a 63-acre lake, 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.
In Miner County, South Dakota, Morris Lake is a 58-acre lake, managed by State Fish and Wildlife. A GFP-managed public lake or state recreation area lake — Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Northern Pike, Crappie, Channel Catfish and often a stocked Walleye fishery.
Redstone Creek (95 km) flows through Kingsbury, Sanborn, Miner and 1 more county in 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.
In Miner, Hanson and Kingsbury Counties, South Dakota, Rock Creek is a 101 km river or creek. 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, 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.
Jim Creek runs 42 km through Miner and Sanborn Counties, South Dakota: 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.
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.
In Kingsbury, Sanborn and Miner Counties, South Dakota, West Redstone Creek is a 41 km river or creek. 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.
Miner County, South Dakota — Pooley Creek is a 25 km stream: 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.
Across its mapped waters, Miner County holds 13 species on PiscaMaps, including Northern Pike, Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Bluegill, Black Crappie, Smallmouth Bass 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.