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Best bluegill lakes in South Dakota

85 South Dakota waters list bluegill (official records or labelled estimates), 18 mapped with survey or official-chart depth data. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality, leading with the waters in our reviewed search catalog — 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 · real survey depth contours · 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 · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White BassWhy #2: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 4 public access sites
3. Angostura Reservoir — 68 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #3: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 9 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
4. Hendricks — 8 ft max · real survey depth contours · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Northern PikeWhy #4: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
5. Albert Lake — 13 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Northern PikeWhy #5: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
6. Enemy Swim Lake — 26 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White BassWhy #6: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
7. Pickerel Lake — 41 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #7: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites, 2 carry-in or shore-oriented
8. Herman Lake — 13 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #8: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 4 public access sites, 2 carry-in or shore-oriented
9. Brant Lake — 14 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #9: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
10. Reid Lake — 25 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #10: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
11. Cottonwood Lake — 9 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #11: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 3 public access sites
12. Cochrane Lake — 24 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #12: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites
13. Marindahl Lake — 29.2 ft max · real survey depth contours · Walleye, Northern Pike, Crappie, BluegillWhy #13: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
14. Alvin Lake — 20 ft max · real survey depth contours · Walleye, Northern Pike, Crappie, BluegillWhy #14: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
15. Louise Lake — 27 ft max · real survey depth contours · Walleye, Northern Pike, Crappie, BluegillWhy #15: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
16. Swan Lake — 6.2 ft max · real survey depth contours · Walleye, Northern Pike, Crappie, BluegillWhy #16: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
17. Wall Lake — 22.8 ft max · real survey depth contours · Walleye, Northern Pike, Crappie, BluegillWhy #17: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
18. Henry Lake — 37.2 ft max · real survey depth contours · Walleye, Northern Pike, Crappie, BluegillWhy #18: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site

…plus 67 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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