Lake Sharpe fishing

Lake Sharpe fishing is stocked with Rainbow Trout and Paddlefish on a reservoir. Also recorded: Walleye, Smallmouth Bass, White Bass, Channel Catfish, Sauger, Yellow Perch, and 7 more. It is stocked about 3.7 times a year since 2012, most often in April and September. Species guides list dawn and dusk for Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass, and Common Carp, dawn, dusk, and night for Walleye, White Bass, and Black Crappie, and dusk and night for Channel Catfish.

Lake Sharpe
Photo: Harry Weddington, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Public domain
Last stocked
August 28, 2025
· Paddlefish
Plants on record
52
Since 2012
Species stocked
2 (+13 also recorded)
Average size
11.3 in
Surface acres
58,660
Elevation
1,444 ft

Fish at Lake Sharpe

2 stocked · 13 confirmed present

Rainbow Trout Stocked · 29 plants · last March 27, 2018 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked March 27, 2018 · avg 11.3 in · 29 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Rainbow Trout species guide
Paddlefish Stocked · 23 plants · last August 28, 2025

Last stocked August 28, 2025 · 23 plants

Paddlefish species guide
Sauger Confirmed present Best: dawn, day, dusk, night

Best: dawn, day, dusk, night

Sauger species guide

How Lake Sharpe is stocked

Source: South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP).

Lake Francis Case (81.8 mi) and Lake Mina (102.2 mi) were stocked more recently. Lake Francis Case is also stocked with Paddlefish.

Fish stocked in 2012

20,000

Fish stocked in 2013

21,730

Fish stocked in 2014

9,600

Fish stocked in 2015

23,438

Fish stocked in 2016

54,862

Fish stocked in 2017

18,158

Fish stocked in 2018

6,378

Fish stocked in 2019

10,066

Fish stocked in 2020

18,210

Fish stocked in 2021

12,954

Fish stocked in 2022

3,841

Fish stocked in 2023

11,286

Fish stocked in 2024

22,493

Fish stocked in 2025

23,128

Stocking history

Source: South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP).
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
August 28, 2025Paddlefish11,798–report
August 26, 2025Paddlefish11,330–report
August 29, 2024Paddlefish3,646–report
August 29, 2024Paddlefish6,696–report
August 27, 2024Paddlefish8,296–report
August 27, 2024Paddlefish3,855–report
August 31, 2023Paddlefish4,246–report
August 31, 2023Paddlefish7,040–report
August 30, 2022Paddlefish3,841–report
September 2, 2021Paddlefish12,954–report
September 11, 2020Paddlefish10,713–report
September 9, 2020Paddlefish4,793–report
September 9, 2020Paddlefish2,704–report
September 12, 2019Paddlefish4,066–report
September 10, 2019Paddlefish6,000–report
September 7, 2018Paddlefish5,178–report
March 27, 2018Rainbow Trout1,20011.4 inreport
September 12, 2017Rainbow Trout1,44015 inreport
September 6, 2017Rainbow Trout1,28015 inreport
September 1, 2017Paddlefish10,000–report
April 5, 2017Rainbow Trout2,77411 inreport
March 23, 2017Rainbow Trout2,66411.4 inreport
September 8, 2016Rainbow Trout1,28011 inreport
May 31, 2016Paddlefish50,372–report
May 9, 2016Paddlefish10–report
March 22, 2016Rainbow Trout3,20011 inreport
September 16, 2015Rainbow Trout45111 inreport
September 16, 2015Rainbow Trout1,18411 inreport
September 10, 2015Rainbow Trout1,53911 inreport
September 9, 2015Paddlefish15–report
September 9, 2015Paddlefish5,604–report
August 13, 2015Paddlefish7,500–report
May 13, 2015Paddlefish13–report
April 8, 2015Rainbow Trout3,45711 inreport
April 1, 2015Rainbow Trout3,67511 inreport
April 25, 2014Rainbow Trout2,40011 inreport
April 15, 2014Rainbow Trout2,40011 inreport
April 11, 2014Rainbow Trout2,40011 inreport
April 4, 2014Rainbow Trout2,40011 inreport
September 16, 2013Rainbow Trout78011 inreport
September 16, 2013Rainbow Trout2,20011 inreport
April 26, 2013Rainbow Trout3,75011 inreport
April 26, 2013Rainbow Trout1,25011 inreport
April 15, 2013Rainbow Trout1,25011 inreport
April 15, 2013Rainbow Trout3,75011 inreport
April 15, 2013Rainbow Trout3,75011 inreport
April 5, 2013Rainbow Trout1,25011 inreport
April 5, 2013Rainbow Trout3,75011 inreport
April 25, 2012Rainbow Trout5,00011 inreport
April 20, 2012Rainbow Trout5,00011 inreport
April 11, 2012Rainbow Trout5,00011 inreport
April 4, 2012Rainbow Trout5,00011 inreport

Access and facts

Water type
reservoir
Nearest town
Fort Thompson
Facilities
restrooms, camping, cleaning station

Farm Island Recreation Area, 4 miles east of Pierre off SD Hwy 34, has a boat ramp, ADA fishing pier, fish cleaning station and shore fishing. GFP counts 25 boat ramps on the 80-mile reservoir; shore access is best on the upper third, around Pierre and Fort Pierre.

Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.

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Advisories, closures, regulations and water conditions change. Check the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) before you go.

About Lake Sharpe

Photo of Lake Sharpe
Harry Weddington, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Public domain
Photo of Lake Sharpe
USACE, via Recreation.gov, Public domain (US federal government work, 17 U.S.C. 105)
Photo of Lake Sharpe
James McClain, CC BY-SA 3.0

Nearest lakes

Lake Louise 42.4 mi last stocked June 11, 2025 Lake Francis Case 81.8 mi last stocked September 4, 2025 Lake Henry 99.3 mi last stocked June 10, 2024 Lake Mina 102.2 mi last stocked June 7, 2026 Richmond Lake 111.8 mi last stocked May 12, 2024

Common questions

What fish are at Lake Sharpe?

Fishing Lake Sharpe usually means Rainbow Trout: Rainbow Trout accounts for 29 of 52 plants on record, ahead of Paddlefish. Rainbow Trout was last stocked March 27, 2018, averaging 11.3 in. Paddlefish was last stocked August 28, 2025. Walleye, Smallmouth Bass, White Bass, and Channel Catfish, plus 9 more are recorded here outside the stocking reports.

When is Lake Sharpe stocked?

Last stocked August 28, 2025. It is stocked about 3.7 times a year since 2012, most often in April and September.

How big are the fish stocked at Lake Sharpe?

Rainbow Trout stocked at Lake Sharpe average 11.3 in.

How do you get on Lake Sharpe?

The nearest town is Fort Thompson. Facilities include restrooms, camping, and cleaning station. Farm Island Recreation Area, 4 miles east of Pierre off SD Hwy 34, has a boat ramp, ADA fishing pier, fish cleaning station and shore fishing. GFP counts 25 boat ramps on the 80-mile reservoir; shore access is best on the upper third, around Pierre and Fort Pierre.

Which lakes near Lake Sharpe were stocked more recently?

Lake Francis Case (81.8 mi) and Lake Mina (102.2 mi) were stocked more recently. Lake Francis Case is also stocked with Paddlefish.

Sources (5) +