See every public fishing venue in South Dakota on the map, with boat ramps, camping, parking and full rules for each one.
James River is a public river in Brown County, Spink County, Yankton County, Beadle County, Hutchinson County and Sanborn County, South Dakota, managed by State of South Dakota (public / navigable water). You can fish it on a South Dakota fishing licence; bank access is at bridge crossings, GFP access points and public parks. South Dakota riverbeds are private property up to the ordinary high-water mark except on a few federally-declared-navigable reaches, so wading or bank fishing away from a public access point needs the landowner's permission. Public access confirmed via marquee water.
The James River — the longest unchannelised river in North America, running the length of central South Dakota. Channel and flathead catfish, walleye, northern pike, carp and drum in slow, muddy, meandering water.
It runs roughly 501 miles through the James River Valley region. Anglers here mostly fish for channel catfish, flathead catfish, walleye, northern pike; common carp, freshwater drum are also on record. Live flow and gauge height come from the James River Near Scotland, Sd USGS station shown below. The nearest other mapped waters on PiscaMaps are Lake Byron and Connors Lake.
Species from PiscaMaps water-type profiles, GFP trout designations and hand research.
Night fishing: No statewide night-fishing closure in South Dakota. Snagging, gigging, bowfishing and setlines for carp, gar, buffalo and catfish are legal on most waters with their own seasons and gear rules; the four Missouri River reservoirs have specific paddlefish-snagging seasons.
Boats: The Missouri River reservoirs (Oahe, Sharpe, Francis Case, Lewis and Clark) have no horsepower limit and take full-size boats; many Black Hills and Glacial Lakes lakes are smaller with posted no-wake zones near shore. South Dakota requires boater education for operators born after 1 Jan 1993.
Bank & bivvy camping: Camp at the Corps recreation areas around the Missouri River reservoirs, GFP state recreation areas at the Black Hills and Glacial Lakes, and Custer/Black Hills National Forest campgrounds. A separate GFP park entrance licence applies at state recreation areas.
Tackle: Statewide walleye/sauger limit is usually 4 in combination (some Missouri River reservoirs carry a slot limit); smallmouth/largemouth bass 5; northern pike 4; trout (Black Hills) 5; catfish and panfish generous. Check the current GFP fishing handbook for this water.
Boat ramps: 1 mapped — Boat ramp.
Camping: 3 sites mapped nearby — Fisher Grove State Park, Memorial Park County Park Campground, Hecla Day Use Area.
Source: OpenStreetMap contributors.
Loading live flow & gauge height…
Live from USGS gauge 06478500 — James River Near Scotland, Sd. Full gauge data →
Anyone 16 or older needs a South Dakota fishing licence — the resident annual is about $28, the non-resident annual about $73, with non-resident 1-day (~$16) and 3-day licences also sold. No separate trout stamp is required — the standard licence covers Black Hills trout water. South Dakota residents 65 and older can buy a discounted senior combination licence, and anyone under 16 fishes free with a licensed adult. Buy from GFP at gfp.sd.gov. A South Dakota fishing licence covers this river where it is public. The Missouri River mainstem is fished on a South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa or North Dakota licence in the bordering reaches; check current reciprocity before crossing.
Every water carries species, bank & boat access, current regulations and live water conditions — and members get Swim Mapper, Catch Logger and Trip Planner. It's the only US map with a dedicated carp-water layer.
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