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Best bluegill lakes in South Dakota

84 South Dakota waters hold bluegill, 3 mapped with real state-agency depth surveys. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality — open any water to see exactly where to fish it: depth contours, scored spots with plain-English reasons, seasonal windows and bait picks. The classic panfish. Shallow cover in summer, deeper weed edges otherwise.

1. Big Stone Lake — 15 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Northern PikeWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 8 public access sites
2. Traverse — 10 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White BassWhy #2: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 4 public access sites
3. Waubay Lake — 31 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White BassWhy #3: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 2 public access sites
4. Thompson Lake — 26 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White BassWhy #4: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 5 public access sites
5. Bitter Lake — 32 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White BassWhy #5: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 3 public access sites
6. Whitewood Lake — 7 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Northern PikeWhy #6: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 2 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
7. Hendricks — 8 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Northern PikeWhy #7: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
8. Poinsett Lake — 22 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White BassWhy #8: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 6 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
9. Red Lake — 10 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Northern PikeWhy #9: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 1 public access site, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
10. Kampeska Lake — 16 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Northern PikeWhy #10: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 8 public access sites, 2 carry-in or shore-oriented
11. Richmond Lake — 23 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #11: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 3 public access sites
12. Albert Lake — 13 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Northern PikeWhy #12: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 1 public access site
13. Roy Lake — 21 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White BassWhy #13: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 5 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
14. Opitz Lake — 23 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #14: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 1 public access site
15. Mitchell Lake — 29 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #15: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 2 public access sites
16. Swan Lake — 17 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #16: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 2 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
17. Dry Lake — 14 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #17: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 1 public access site
18. Pelican Lake — 8 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Northern PikeWhy #18: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 5 public access sites, 2 carry-in or shore-oriented
19. Henry Lake — 8 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Northern PikeWhy #19: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 1 public access site
20. Enemy Swim Lake — 26 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White BassWhy #20: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 2 public access sites
21. Grass Lake — 9 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Northern PikeWhy #21: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 1 public access site
22. Pocasse Lake — 17 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #22: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 1 public access site
23. Byron Lake — 10 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #23: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 3 public access sites
24. Campbell Lake — 8 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #24: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 1 public access site
25. Long Lake — 23 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White BassWhy #25: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 2 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented

…plus 59 more South Dakota waters holding bluegill.

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When to fish bluegill in South Dakota

• Spring 1–6 ft — Bedding colonies on sandy shallow flats — sight-fish the light spots.
• Summer 4–15 ft — Weed edges and dock shade; bigger 'gills hold slightly deeper.
• Fall 6–18 ft — Schools tighten on remaining green weeds and first drops.
• Winter 10–25 ft — Soft-bottom basins with invertebrates; finesse presentations.

Also in South Dakota: best largemouth bass lakes · best smallmouth bass lakes · best walleye lakes · best white bass lakes · best sauger lakes · best northern pike lakes · best crappie lakes · best channel catfish lakes · best yellow perch lakes · best freshwater drum lakes · best common carp lakes · best brown bullhead lakes

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