Walleye Stocked · 12 plants · last June 8, 2024 Best: dawn, dusk, night Big Stone Lake fishing
Big Stone Lake fishing is stocked with Bluegill, Walleye, and Lake Sturgeon on a natural lake. Also recorded: Yellow Perch, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, Northern Pike, White Bass, Freshwater Drum, and 4 more. It is stocked about 1.8 times a year since 2012, most often in May and September. Species guides list dawn, day, and dusk for Bluegill, Yellow Perch, and Northern Pike, dawn, dusk, and night for Walleye, Black Crappie, and White Bass, and dawn and dusk for Largemouth Bass and Common Carp.
- Last stocked
- September 12, 2024
- · Lake Sturgeon
- Plants on record
- 24
- Since 2012
- Species stocked
- 3 (+10 also recorded)
- Surface acres
- 12,610
- Elevation
- 968 ft
Fish at Big Stone Lake
Walleye Stocked · 12 plants · last June 8, 2024 Best: dawn, dusk, night 
Lake Sturgeon Stocked · 11 plants · last September 12, 2024 Last stocked September 12, 2024 · 11 plants
Lake Sturgeon species guide
Bluegill Stocked · 1 plant · last May 9, 2012 Best: dawn, day, dusk 
Yellow Perch Confirmed present Best: dawn, day, dusk Best: dawn, day, dusk
Yellow Perch species guide
Largemouth Bass Confirmed present Best: dawn, dusk Best: dawn, dusk
Largemouth Bass species guide
Black Crappie Confirmed present Best: dawn, dusk, night Best: dawn, dusk, night
Black Crappie species guide
Northern Pike Confirmed present Best: dawn, day, dusk Best: dawn, day, dusk
Northern Pike species guide
White Bass Confirmed present Best: dawn, dusk, night Best: dawn, dusk, night
White Bass species guide Freshwater Drum Confirmed present
Channel Catfish Confirmed present Best: dusk, night Best: dusk, night
Channel Catfish species guide
Black Bullhead Confirmed present Best: dusk, night Best: dusk, night
Black Bullhead species guide
Brown Bullhead Confirmed present Best: dusk, night Best: dusk, night
Brown Bullhead species guide
Common Carp Confirmed present Best: dawn, dusk Best: dawn, dusk
Common Carp species guideHow Big Stone Lake is stocked
No plants recorded in 2013 and 2020.
Fish stocked in 2012
400
Fish stocked in 2014
6,006,500
Fish stocked in 2015
7,570
Fish stocked in 2016
6,003,036
Fish stocked in 2017
4,068
Fish stocked in 2018
6,000,000
Fish stocked in 2019
4,256
Fish stocked in 2021
6,004,030
Fish stocked in 2022
3,348
Fish stocked in 2023
6,004,005
Fish stocked in 2024
842,733
Stocking history
| Date | Species | Quantity | Avg. length | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 12, 2024 | Lake Sturgeon | 2,936 | – | report |
| June 8, 2024 | Walleye | 136,530 | – | report |
| June 8, 2024 | Walleye | 272,550 | – | report |
| June 8, 2024 | Walleye | 222,630 | – | report |
| June 8, 2024 | Walleye | 208,087 | – | report |
| September 12, 2023 | Lake Sturgeon | 4,005 | – | report |
| May 16, 2023 | Walleye | 6,000,000 | – | report |
| September 20, 2022 | Lake Sturgeon | 3,348 | – | report |
| September 21, 2021 | Lake Sturgeon | 4,030 | – | report |
| May 11, 2021 | Walleye | 6,000,000 | – | report |
| September 26, 2019 | Lake Sturgeon | 4,256 | – | report |
| May 14, 2018 | Walleye | 3,000,000 | – | report |
| May 12, 2018 | Walleye | 3,000,000 | – | report |
| September 12, 2017 | Lake Sturgeon | 4,068 | – | report |
| September 1, 2016 | Lake Sturgeon | 3,036 | – | report |
| May 11, 2016 | Walleye | 3,000,000 | – | report |
| May 9, 2016 | Walleye | 3,000,000 | – | report |
| September 15, 2015 | Lake Sturgeon | 4,545 | – | report |
| July 28, 2015 | Lake Sturgeon | 3,025 | – | report |
| September 30, 2014 | Lake Sturgeon | 2,500 | – | report |
| September 18, 2014 | Lake Sturgeon | 4,000 | – | report |
| May 12, 2014 | Walleye | 3,000,000 | – | report |
| May 12, 2014 | Walleye | 3,000,000 | – | report |
| May 9, 2012 | Bluegill | 400 | – | report |
Access and facts
- Water type
- natural lake
- Nearest town
- Corona
- Facilities
- restrooms, camping, cleaning station
Hartford Beach State Park, on rock-strewn bluffs 15 miles north of Milbank, has a boat ramp, boater's beach and fish cleaning station. Minnesota DNR lists 14 ramps and accesses around the lake, five run by SDGFP on the South Dakota shore from Big Stone City north to Hiawatha Beach. Entrance fee.
Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.
Advisories, closures, regulations and water conditions change. Check the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) before you go.
About Big Stone Lake
Nearest lakes
Common questions
What fish are at Big Stone Lake?
Fishing Big Stone Lake usually means Walleye: Walleye accounts for 12 of 24 plants on record, ahead of Lake Sturgeon and one more. Walleye was last stocked June 8, 2024. Lake Sturgeon was last stocked September 12, 2024. Bluegill was last stocked May 9, 2012. Yellow Perch, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, and Northern Pike, plus 6 more are recorded here outside the stocking reports.
When is Big Stone Lake stocked?
Last stocked September 12, 2024. It is stocked about 1.8 times a year since 2012, most often in May and September. No plants recorded in 2013 and 2020.
How do you get on Big Stone Lake?
The nearest town is Corona. Facilities include restrooms, camping, and cleaning station. Hartford Beach State Park, on rock-strewn bluffs 15 miles north of Milbank, has a boat ramp, boater's beach and fish cleaning station. Minnesota DNR lists 14 ramps and accesses around the lake, five run by SDGFP on the South Dakota shore from Big Stone City north to Hiawatha Beach. Entrance fee.
Which lakes near Big Stone Lake were stocked more recently?
Enemy Swim Lake (31.5 mi), Pickerel Lake (33.1 mi), Waubay Lake (38 mi), and Lake Kampeska (43.7 mi) were stocked more recently. Enemy Swim Lake is also stocked with Walleye, Pickerel Lake is also stocked with Walleye, Waubay Lake is also stocked with Walleye, and Lake Kampeska is also stocked with Walleye.