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Fishing Big Sioux River: what the data says
Dell Rapids through Sioux Falls: channel cats and walleye below the falls and low-head dams. The river tops out around 10 ft. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
Channel Catfish fishing at Big Sioux River
Start shallow in spring: channel catfish sit in 3 to 10 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 3 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 10 ft. The spot to know is Skunk Creek confluence (Sioux Falls), a inflow / creek mouth in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for channel catfish in spring. Plan around after dark and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 10 ft | dusk | |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | dusk | |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday |
Walleye fishing at Big Sioux River
Start shallow in spring: walleye sit in 3 to 10 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 3 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 10 ft. The spot to know is Skunk Creek confluence (Sioux Falls), a inflow / creek mouth in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in the evening and early morning. Tie on a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 10 ft | dusk & dawn | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dusk & dawn | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | dusk & night | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | dusk & dawn | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Smallmouth Bass fishing at Big Sioux River
Start shallow in spring: smallmouth bass sit in 3 to 10 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 3 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 10 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Riffle & run (mile 11.8): a rock pile around 4 ft that scores prime in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Northern Pike fishing at Big Sioux River
In spring, northern pike run shallow here, mostly 2 to 8 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 3 to 10 ft, and winter fish settle into 3 to 10 ft. The spot to know is Skunk Creek confluence (Sioux Falls), a inflow / creek mouth in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for northern pike in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Freshwater Drum fishing at Big Sioux River
Start shallow in spring: freshwater drum sit in 3 to 10 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 3 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 10 ft. The spot to know is Falls of the Big Sioux, a creek channel in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for freshwater drum in summer. Plan around the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a jig + crawler combo or a small crankbait (slow) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Jig + curly tail (bounced), Small blade bait |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dusk | Jig + crawler combo, Small crankbait (slow) |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Blade bait (vertical), Jigging spoon |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Jigging spoon (slow) |
Common Carp fishing at Big Sioux River
In spring, common carp run shallow here, mostly 2 to 10 ft. Summer fish stay in 2 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 10 ft. Skunk Creek confluence (Sioux Falls) is the standout, a inflow / creek mouth at roughly 6 ft, rated prime for spring common carp. Best bite is early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | |
| Summer | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | midday | |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday |
Notable structure
- Lowhead weir tailrace: dam tailrace, around 9 ft
- Lowhead weir tailrace: dam tailrace, around 9 ft
- Sioux Falls Diversion Dam and Weir tailrace: dam tailrace, around 9 ft
- Sioux Falls Diversion tailrace: dam tailrace, around 9 ft
- Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 9 ft
- Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 9 ft
- Lowhead weir tailrace: dam tailrace, around 9 ft
- Falls of the Big Sioux: creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 4.0): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 14.3): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 18.6): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 20.5): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 24.8): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 32.0): creek channel, around 8 ft
Common questions
How deep is Big Sioux River?
Big Sioux River is about 10 ft at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
What fish are in Big Sioux River?
Anglers target smallmouth bass, walleye, northern pike, channel catfish, freshwater drum, common carp on Big Sioux River.
Where is the best fishing spot on Big Sioux River?
Skunk Creek confluence (Sioux Falls) is the top-rated area: a inflow / creek mouth in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for channel catfish in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Big Sioux River?
For channel catfish, the summer bite is best in after dark and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Nearby waters
Alvin Lake · Wall Lake · Brant Lake · Long Lake · Campbell Lake · Herman Lake
See how Big Sioux River stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in South Dakota · best walleye lakes in South Dakota · best northern pike lakes in South Dakota · best channel catfish lakes in South Dakota
Browse all South Dakota fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.