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Best northern pike lakes in South Dakota

87 South Dakota waters hold northern pike, 4 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. Aggressive ambush predator that patrols weed edges and cool water.

1. Lake Oahe — 205 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Northern PikeWhy #1: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
2. Lake Francis Case — 140 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, SaugerWhy #2: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
3. Lake Sharpe — 78 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, SaugerWhy #3: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
4. Big Stone Lake — 15 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Northern PikeWhy #4: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 8 public access sites
5. Traverse — 10 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White BassWhy #5: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 4 public access sites
6. Angostura Reservoir — 68 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #6: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 9 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
7. Waubay Lake — 31 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White BassWhy #7: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 2 public access sites
8. Thompson Lake — 26 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White BassWhy #8: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 5 public access sites
9. Bitter Lake — 32 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White BassWhy #9: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 3 public access sites
10. Whitewood Lake — 7 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Northern PikeWhy #10: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 2 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
11. James River — 10 ft max · Walleye, White Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #11: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 3 public access sites, 2 carry-in or shore-oriented
12. Hendricks — 8 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Northern PikeWhy #12: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
13. Poinsett Lake — 22 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White BassWhy #13: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 6 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
14. Red Lake — 10 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Northern PikeWhy #14: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 1 public access site, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
15. Kampeska Lake — 16 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Northern PikeWhy #15: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 8 public access sites, 2 carry-in or shore-oriented
16. Richmond Lake — 23 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #16: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 3 public access sites
17. Albert Lake — 13 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Northern PikeWhy #17: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 1 public access site
18. Big Sioux River — 10 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Channel CatfishWhy #18: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 4 public access sites, 4 carry-in or shore-oriented
19. Roy Lake — 21 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White BassWhy #19: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 5 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
20. Opitz Lake — 23 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #20: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 1 public access site
21. Mitchell Lake — 29 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #21: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 2 public access sites
22. Swan Lake — 17 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #22: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 2 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
23. Dry Lake — 14 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #23: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 1 public access site
24. Pelican Lake — 8 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Northern PikeWhy #24: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 5 public access sites, 2 carry-in or shore-oriented
25. Henry Lake — 8 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Northern PikeWhy #25: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 1 public access site

…plus 62 more South Dakota waters holding northern pike.

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When to fish northern pike in South Dakota

• Spring 2–8 ft — Shallow, dark-bottomed bays that warm first; pike spawn in flooded vegetation.
• Summer 8–20 ft — Deep weedlines and cool water; the biggest fish slide deeper than most anglers fish.
• Fall 6–18 ft — Trophy time: big baits near the last green weeds and steep breaks.
• Winter 5–15 ft — Weedy flats near drop-offs; pike remain active all winter.

Also in South Dakota: best largemouth bass lakes · best smallmouth bass lakes · best walleye lakes · best white bass lakes · best sauger lakes · best crappie lakes · best bluegill 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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