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Fishing James River: what the data says
Huron to Mitchell. slow prairie river stacked with walleye, pike and channel cats. 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. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Walleye fishing at James River
Spring walleye on James River hold shallow, usually 3 to 10 ft. Summer fish stay in 3 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 10 ft. The spot to know is Third Street Dam tailrace, a dam tailrace in about 9 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in the evening and early morning. Summer baits: a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) gets it done.
| 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 |
Northern Pike fishing at James River
Start shallow in spring: northern pike sit in 2 to 8 ft that time of year. By summer they slide out to 3 to 10 ft, and by winter most fish are in 3 to 10 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Current seam (mile 32.9): a current seam around 6 ft that scores prime in fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. 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 |
Channel Catfish fishing at James River
In spring, channel catfish run shallow here, mostly 3 to 10 ft. Summer fish stay in 3 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 10 ft. Outside-bend hole (mile 6.5) is the standout, a creek channel at roughly 8 ft, rated prime for summer channel catfish. Best bite is after dark and the evening.
| 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 |
White Bass fishing at James River
Start shallow in spring: white bass sit in 2 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 Third Street Dam tailrace: a dam tailrace around 9 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | see map |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | see map |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday | see map |
Crappie fishing at James River
Start shallow in spring: crappie sit in 2 to 8 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 3 to 10 ft, and winter fish settle into 3 to 10 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Prairie snag reach: a standing timber / brush around 6 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | dawn | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
Common Carp fishing at James River
Start shallow in spring: common carp sit in 2 to 10 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 2 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 10 ft. The spot to know is Tailout eddy (mile 0.6), a eddy pocket in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for common carp in winter. In summer the feeding windows fall in 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 |
James River also holds freshwater drum (3 to 10 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Notable structure
- Third Street Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 9 ft
- Ravine Park Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 9 ft
- Stoney Run Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 9 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 6.5): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 8.7): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 11.2): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 13.3): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 15.2): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 17.4): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 19.9): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 22.3): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 25.5): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 27.9): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 30.4): creek channel, around 8 ft
Common questions
How deep is James River?
James 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 James River?
Anglers target walleye, white bass, northern pike, crappie, channel catfish, freshwater drum, common carp on James River.
Where is the best fishing spot on James River?
Outside-bend hole (mile 6.5) is the top-rated area: a creek channel in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for channel catfish in summer. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish James River?
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.
Nearby waters
Mitchell Lake · Cavour Lake · Byron Lake · Wilmarth Lake · Dimock Lake · Corsica Lake
See how James River stacks up: best walleye lakes in South Dakota · best white bass lakes in South Dakota · best northern pike lakes in South Dakota · best crappie 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.