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8,000-acre reservoir near Belle Fourche. The lake tops out around 61 ft. The depth chart is built from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the humps, channels and drop-offs you see are measured, not guessed. What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:
On the chart, Belle Fourche Reservoir draws 7,314 acres inside 38.2 miles of shoreline, with 2 islands in the mix. An index of 3.2 puts the bank firmly in maze territory: point after pocket after cove, every one a casting target. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 30% of this chart. Call it 7.6 mi long by 4 mi wide at the broadest reach. You'll find it in Butte County. The nearest mapped water is East Iron Creek Reservoir, 57 mi to the southwest.
Spring walleye on Belle Fourche Reservoir hold shallow, usually 4 to 15 ft. By summer they slide out to 15 to 35 ft, and by winter most fish are in 20 to 40 ft. The chart's best answer is Sharp break — drop-off, 21 ft, prime for fall. Prime time lands in the evening and early morning. The summer box starts with a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled).
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Rock reef (10 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Sharp break (21 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Sharp break (21 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Sharp break (21 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Spring puts channel catfish in skinny water — 3 to 12 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 8 to 25 ft; cold water stacks them in 20 to 40 ft. Sharp break is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 21 ft, rated prime for fall channel catfish. Plan around after dark and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Shallow feeding flat (9 ft) | |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | night & dusk | Shallow feeding flat (9 ft) | |
| Fall | 10 to 30 ft | dusk | Sharp break (21 ft) | |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | midday | Sharp break (21 ft) |
Early season yellow perch use the shallows, holding in 3 to 12 ft. Summer is a 10 to 30 ft game here, winter a 15 to 35 ft one. The chart's best answer is Shallow bay flat — weed flat, 6 ft, prime for spring. Best bite is early morning. Tie on a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Sharp break (21 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 12 to 35 ft | midday | Sharp break (21 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Sharp break (21 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
13 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deep basin, around 60 ft, is the deepest of them.
Access data: South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks — Boat Ramps. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for South Dakota waters are set by the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks — and special regulations can apply to Belle Fourche Reservoir specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official South Dakota fishing regulations →
Belle Fourche Reservoir is about 61 ft (19 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the contours reflect measured depths.
Anglers target walleye, channel catfish, yellow perch on Belle Fourche Reservoir.
Sharp break is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 21 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in fall. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
For walleye, the summer bite is best in the evening and early morning. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Belle Fourche Reservoir is regulated by the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks. Check the official South Dakota regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
East Iron Creek Reservoir 57 mi, WY · Keyhole Reservoir 61 mi, WY · Black Hills Power and Light Reservoir 63 mi, WY · Upton Centennial 2 64 mi, WY · Lak Reservoir 66 mi, WY · Bowman-Haley Dam 89 mi, ND · Angostura Reservoir 100 mi · Gascoyne Lake 101 mi, ND · Mirror Lake 102 mi, ND · Cedar Lake 114 mi, ND · South Sandstone Reservoir 116 mi, MT · Indian Creek Dam 122 mi, ND
See how Belle Fourche Reservoir stacks up: best walleye lakes in South Dakota · best channel catfish lakes in South Dakota · best yellow perch lakes in South Dakota
Browse all South Dakota fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.