South Dakota Fly Fishing Guides

Fly Fishing In South Dakota

South Dakota is a large rugged state, and most of it is sparsely populated. Great fly fishing can be found here, from the Black Hills to the Badlands to the huge lakes and reservoirs. The state has several major rivers, including the James, the Big Sioux, the Cheyenne, the White, and the Missouri, which cuts the state in half.

The most popular fish species for fly anglers are trout, bass, walleye, salmon, crappie, and a range of panfish. You’ll also find numerous fly fishing guides in South Dakota to help you in your pursuit.

Fly Fishing For Trout In South Dakota

Trout species that call South Dakota home include the rainbow, the brook, the brown, the cutthroat, and the lake trout. The record ‘bow landed in the state weighed 19 pounds, 4 ounces and was caught in the tailwaters of Lake Oahe. The record brookie came from Deerfield Lake and weighed 8 pounds, 4 ounces. The largest brown weighed in at 24 pounds, 8 ounces and was pulled from Canyon Lake. The cutthroat trout that holds the title weighed 6 pounds, 5 ounces and came from Rapid Creek, while the record lake trout was pulled from Pactola Reservoir. Small tiger trout are also found in the state.

Fly Fishing In South Dakota

South Dakota trout lakes, in addition to the ones already mentioned, include Lakota Lake, Bismark Lake, Center Lake, Legion Lake, Sylvan Lake, Coldbrook Reservoir, Dakotah Lake, Dalton Lake, and Iron Creek Lake. Trout streams include the Redwater River, Beaver Creek, Battle Creek, Englewood Creek, Iron Creek, French Creek, Elk Creek, Cascade Creek, Gary Creek, Hot Brook Creek, Castle Creek, and the Fall River. To land trout in wild, natural settings, enlist the aid of South Dakota fly fishing guides.

Fly Fishing For Bass In South Dakota

To be such a chilly state, South Dakota provides some great bass fishing for both smallmouth and largemouth. The state record smallie weighed 6 pounds, 2 ounces and was caught in the Missouri River, while the record largemouth tipped the scales at 9 pounds, 3 ounces and was pulled from a gravel pit.

Some of the best locales for landing a smallie on the fly include Lewis and Clark Lake, Lake Francis Case, Lake Sharpe, Shadehill Reservoir, Clear Lake, Lake Poinsett, Angostura Reservoir, Pickerel Lake, Blue Dog Lake, Enemy Swim Lake, Amsden Lake, Stockade Lake, Lake Kampeska, Belle Fourche Reservoir, Richmond Lake, Lake Oahe, and the Oahe tailwaters.

For largemouth bass action, try Pigors Lake, Elm Lake, Richmond Lake, Pierpont Lake, Blue Dog Lake, Stockade Lake, Newell Lake, Lake Oliver, Mina Lake, Rosette Lake, Lake Faulkton, Cresbard Lake, Leola Lake, Eureka Lakes, South Buffalo Lake, Clear Lake, Roy Lake, and Punished Womans Lake.

South Dakota fly fishing guides who specialize in bass are available.

Fly Fishing For Salmon In South Dakota

Another popular fish with the fly anglers of South Dakota is the salmon, and these anglers have access to Chinook, coho, and kokanee salmon. Some of the best sites to angle for salmon in the state include Lake Oahe, the Pactola Reservoir, Lewis and Clark Lake, and the Oahe tailwaters.