Lake Henry fishing

Fishing at Lake Henry is on a natural lake, stocked with Walleye. It is stocked about 0.7 times a year since 2012, most often in May and June. Species guides list dawn, dusk, and night as the active times.

Last stocked

June 10, 2024

Plants on record

9

Since 2012

Species recorded

1

Elevation

1,650 ft

Access and facts

Water type
natural lake
Nearest town
De Smet

One of the Twin Lakes from Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House on the Prairie novels, alongside nearby Lake Thompson. Named for early settler George Henry, it is now a popular fishing destination near De Smet.

Sources: water_type , shore_notes , nearest_town

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How Lake Henry is stocked

The first plant of the year usually falls in the third week of May. In 2024 it was June 10, 2024, later than usual.

No plants recorded in 2016, 2017, 2020, and 2022.

Pelican Lake (21.3 mi), Lake Louise (25.8 mi), Lake Kampeska (25.8 mi), Lake Cochrane (31.4 mi), and Lake Herman (39.9 mi) were stocked more recently. Pelican Lake is also stocked with Walleye, Lake Louise is also stocked with Walleye, Lake Kampeska is also stocked with Walleye, Lake Cochrane is also stocked with Walleye, and Lake Herman is also stocked with Walleye.

Fish at Lake Henry

Fishing Lake Henry is most likely to be for Walleye. All 9 plants on record are Walleye.

Walleye 9 plants
Plants
9 of 9
Last stocked
June 10, 2024

Seasons and rigs are on the Walleye guide.

Fish stocked per year

  • 1,200,0002012
  • 1,161,0002013
  • 1,160,0002014
  • 1,200,0002015
  • 1,200,0002018
  • 1,200,0002019
  • 1,200,0002021
  • 1,200,0002023
  • 107,6612024

Stocking history

Source: South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP).
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
June 10, 2024 Walleye 107,661 – report
May 22, 2023 Walleye 1,200,000 – report
May 17, 2021 Walleye 1,200,000 – report
May 15, 2019 Walleye 1,200,000 – report
May 8, 2018 Walleye 1,200,000 – report
May 13, 2015 Walleye 1,200,000 – report
May 14, 2014 Walleye 1,160,000 – report
May 24, 2013 Walleye 1,161,000 – report
May 16, 2012 Walleye 1,200,000 – report

Species stocked here

Depth-by-season, top lures, and bait notes for each species stocked here are on its own species guide, linked above.

Nearest lakes