Pactola Reservoir

Pactola Reservoir fishing

Fishing at Pactola Reservoir is on a reservoir, stocked with Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Lake Trout, and Kokanee Salmon. It is stocked about 17 times a year since 2012, most often in April and September. Species guides list dawn and dusk for Rainbow Trout and Kokanee Salmon, dawn, day, and dusk for Brown Trout, and dawn for Lake Trout.

Last stocked

September 9, 2026

Plants on record

249

Since 2012

Species recorded

4

Average size

15.5 in

Surface acres

825

Elevation

4,655 ft

Access and facts

Water type
reservoir
Nearest town
Silver City
Boat ramp
Yes
Facilities
dock

The US Forest Service's Pactola Visitor Center overlooks this 1,232-acre reservoir with 16 miles of shoreline. Pactola Pines Marina on the south shore rents fishing boats, canoes and paddleboards and holds up to 200 boats. Rapid Creek below the dam is noted fly water.

Sources: water_type , access.boat_ramp , shore_notes , nearest_town , facilities , photos , fishing_notes

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How Pactola Reservoir is stocked

The first plant of the year usually falls in the fourth week of March. In 2026 it was March 9, 2026, earlier than usual.

About 1,292 reported fish per acre, 2nd most of 3 lakes in Pennington County with both a fish count and a surface area.

Sylvan Lake (16.1 mi) was stocked more recently. Sylvan Lake is also stocked with Rainbow Trout.

Fish at Pactola Reservoir

Fishing Pactola Reservoir is most likely to be for Rainbow Trout. Rainbow Trout accounts for 228 of 249 plants on record, ahead of Brown Trout and 2 more.

Rainbow Trout 228 plants
Plants
228 of 249
Last stocked
September 9, 2026
Average length
15.5 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Rainbow Trout guide.

Brown Trout 14 plants
Plants
14 of 249
Last stocked
May 5, 2025
Average length
13.8 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Brown Trout guide.

Kokanee Salmon 5 plants
Plants
5 of 249
Last stocked
May 5, 2025

Seasons and rigs are on the Kokanee Salmon guide.

Lake Trout 2 plants
Plants
2 of 249
Last stocked
November 10, 2015
Average length
23.5 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Lake Trout guide.

Fishing Pactola Reservoir

Pactola Lake is known for its large lake trout. This reservoir, at over 1,200 acres, is the largest and deepest body of water in the Black Hills. Brown trout are also found in Rapid Creek both upstream and downstream of the dam.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Fish stocked per year

  • 28,9342012
  • 29,8532013
  • 30,2522014
  • 49,6222015
  • 30,3772016
  • 31,7522017
  • 57,7112018
  • 170,5342019
  • 31,4292020
  • 57,0692021
  • 69,3722022
  • 219,4502023
  • 161,0472024
  • 88,6642025
  • 10,1522026

Stocking history

Showing 15 of 249 plants Showing 249 plants

Source: South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP).
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
September 9, 2026 Rainbow Trout 472 19.5 in report
September 8, 2026 Rainbow Trout 472 19.5 in report
September 4, 2026 Rainbow Trout 944 19.5 in report
September 3, 2026 Rainbow Trout 472 19.5 in report
September 2, 2026 Rainbow Trout 880 23.5 in report
September 1, 2026 Rainbow Trout 880 23.5 in report
August 31, 2026 Rainbow Trout 440 23.5 in report
August 31, 2026 Rainbow Trout 440 23.5 in report
April 21, 2026 Rainbow Trout 440 23.5 in report
April 14, 2026 Rainbow Trout 520 19.5 in report
April 9, 2026 Rainbow Trout 500 19.5 in report
April 7, 2026 Rainbow Trout 440 23.5 in report
April 2, 2026 Rainbow Trout 496 19.5 in report
March 9, 2026 Rainbow Trout 1,730 18.5 in report
March 9, 2026 Rainbow Trout 1,026 19.5 in report
October 6, 2025 Rainbow Trout 480 19.5 in report
September 30, 2025 Rainbow Trout 480 19.5 in report
September 29, 2025 Rainbow Trout 464 19.5 in report
September 18, 2025 Rainbow Trout 464 19.5 in report
September 12, 2025 Rainbow Trout 546 18.5 in report
September 10, 2025 Rainbow Trout 464 19.5 in report
September 10, 2025 Rainbow Trout 728 18.5 in report
September 9, 2025 Rainbow Trout 712 18.5 in report
September 8, 2025 Rainbow Trout 1,424 18.5 in report
May 5, 2025 Brown Trout 21,000 – report
May 5, 2025 Kokanee Salmon 57,000 – report
March 28, 2025 Rainbow Trout 936 17 in report
March 26, 2025 Rainbow Trout 696 18.5 in report
March 24, 2025 Rainbow Trout 1,398 18.5 in report
March 21, 2025 Rainbow Trout 624 18.5 in report
March 20, 2025 Rainbow Trout 1,248 18.5 in report
November 8, 2024 Brown Trout 66 23.5 in report
November 8, 2024 Rainbow Trout 32 23.5 in report
September 5, 2024 Rainbow Trout 1,288 15.2 in report
September 4, 2024 Rainbow Trout 592 19.5 in report
September 3, 2024 Rainbow Trout 1,184 19.5 in report
September 2, 2024 Rainbow Trout 592 19.5 in report
September 2, 2024 Rainbow Trout 1,184 19.5 in report
August 29, 2024 Rainbow Trout 2,730 12.2 in report
August 29, 2024 Rainbow Trout 370 12.4 in report
July 18, 2024 Rainbow Trout 1,596 10.8 in report
July 18, 2024 Rainbow Trout 2,020 9.8 in report
July 9, 2024 Rainbow Trout 3,650 10.2 in report
April 10, 2024 Rainbow Trout 62,601 – report
April 10, 2024 Kokanee Salmon 72,686 – report
April 10, 2024 Brown Trout 5,000 – report
March 28, 2024 Rainbow Trout 640 18.5 in report
March 27, 2024 Rainbow Trout 640 18.5 in report
March 21, 2024 Rainbow Trout 776 18.5 in report
March 21, 2024 Rainbow Trout 776 18.5 in report
March 20, 2024 Rainbow Trout 656 18.5 in report
March 20, 2024 Rainbow Trout 656 18.5 in report
March 20, 2024 Rainbow Trout 656 18.5 in report
March 19, 2024 Rainbow Trout 656 18.5 in report
December 4, 2023 Rainbow Trout 145,126 – report
November 16, 2023 Brown Trout 5,000 – report
September 19, 2023 Rainbow Trout 488 19.5 in report
September 18, 2023 Rainbow Trout 488 19.5 in report
September 11, 2023 Rainbow Trout 688 14.5 in report
September 11, 2023 Rainbow Trout 500 15.5 in report
September 7, 2023 Rainbow Trout 586 14.5 in report
September 7, 2023 Rainbow Trout 488 19.5 in report
September 6, 2023 Rainbow Trout 425 15.5 in report
September 6, 2023 Rainbow Trout 488 19.5 in report
August 31, 2023 Rainbow Trout 488 19.5 in report
August 30, 2023 Rainbow Trout 488 19.5 in report
August 30, 2023 Rainbow Trout 680 14 in report
August 29, 2023 Rainbow Trout 488 19.5 in report
August 29, 2023 Rainbow Trout 680 14 in report
August 28, 2023 Rainbow Trout 680 14 in report
August 28, 2023 Rainbow Trout 488 19.5 in report
August 21, 2023 Rainbow Trout 488 19.5 in report
August 21, 2023 Rainbow Trout 680 14 in report
June 27, 2023 Kokanee Salmon 50,522 – report
April 28, 2023 Rainbow Trout 817 17 in report
April 20, 2023 Rainbow Trout 1,744 17 in report
April 19, 2023 Rainbow Trout 1,530 18.5 in report
April 18, 2023 Rainbow Trout 2,040 18.5 in report
April 17, 2023 Rainbow Trout 2,160 18.5 in report
April 14, 2023 Rainbow Trout 600 19.5 in report
April 14, 2023 Rainbow Trout 600 19.5 in report
November 14, 2022 Kokanee Salmon 10,171 – report
October 5, 2022 Rainbow Trout 656 18.5 in report
October 4, 2022 Rainbow Trout 1,394 18.5 in report
September 27, 2022 Rainbow Trout 656 18.5 in report
September 20, 2022 Rainbow Trout 739 12.4 in report
September 16, 2022 Rainbow Trout 888 17 in report
September 15, 2022 Rainbow Trout 888 17 in report
September 14, 2022 Rainbow Trout 888 17 in report
September 14, 2022 Rainbow Trout 888 17 in report
September 13, 2022 Rainbow Trout 1,776 17 in report
September 12, 2022 Rainbow Trout 1,265 17 in report
September 12, 2022 Rainbow Trout 1,265 17 in report
July 11, 2022 Rainbow Trout 4,166 – report
July 11, 2022 Kokanee Salmon 15,732 – report
May 16, 2022 Rainbow Trout 9,000 – report
May 13, 2022 Rainbow Trout 567 14.5 in report
April 28, 2022 Rainbow Trout 6,912 – report
April 20, 2022 Rainbow Trout 1,607 15.5 in report
April 19, 2022 Rainbow Trout 1,789 15.2 in report
April 11, 2022 Rainbow Trout 578 14.5 in report
April 11, 2022 Rainbow Trout 1,128 15.5 in report
March 25, 2022 Rainbow Trout 639 14 in report
March 24, 2022 Rainbow Trout 2,223 14 in report
March 23, 2022 Rainbow Trout 2,188 14 in report
March 22, 2022 Rainbow Trout 700 14 in report
March 21, 2022 Rainbow Trout 669 14 in report
November 23, 2021 Rainbow Trout 8,987 – report
November 23, 2021 Rainbow Trout 9,069 – report
November 22, 2021 Rainbow Trout 2,929 – report
November 10, 2021 Rainbow Trout 2,657 12.8 in report
September 29, 2021 Rainbow Trout 8,832 – report
September 28, 2021 Rainbow Trout 5,431 – report
September 10, 2021 Rainbow Trout 1,208 17 in report
September 3, 2021 Rainbow Trout 1,208 17 in report
September 2, 2021 Rainbow Trout 1,208 17 in report
September 1, 2021 Rainbow Trout 1,197 17 in report
August 31, 2021 Rainbow Trout 1,197 17 in report
August 30, 2021 Rainbow Trout 1,197 17 in report
May 5, 2021 Rainbow Trout 1,442 15.5 in report
May 4, 2021 Rainbow Trout 1,356 17 in report
April 29, 2021 Rainbow Trout 1,436 15.5 in report
April 27, 2021 Rainbow Trout 1,504 15.5 in report
April 27, 2021 Rainbow Trout 1,504 15.5 in report
April 26, 2021 Rainbow Trout 1,504 15.5 in report
April 23, 2021 Rainbow Trout 1,699 15.2 in report
April 22, 2021 Rainbow Trout 1,504 15.5 in report
November 9, 2020 Rainbow Trout 748 13 in report
November 6, 2020 Rainbow Trout 1,760 13 in report
November 5, 2020 Rainbow Trout 748 13 in report
November 4, 2020 Rainbow Trout 3,066 12.6 in report
September 14, 2020 Rainbow Trout 2,400 17 in report
September 11, 2020 Rainbow Trout 1,140 17 in report
September 10, 2020 Rainbow Trout 2,400 17 in report
September 9, 2020 Rainbow Trout 1,140 17 in report
September 9, 2020 Rainbow Trout 1,436 15.5 in report
September 9, 2020 Rainbow Trout 1,140 17 in report
September 9, 2020 Rainbow Trout 1,436 15.5 in report
September 4, 2020 Rainbow Trout 1,008 15.5 in report
September 3, 2020 Rainbow Trout 1,008 15.5 in report
April 28, 2020 Rainbow Trout 1,414 11 in report
April 28, 2020 Rainbow Trout 557 15 in report
April 27, 2020 Rainbow Trout 1,115 15 in report
April 24, 2020 Rainbow Trout 1,428 15 in report
April 23, 2020 Rainbow Trout 1,768 15 in report
April 22, 2020 Rainbow Trout 1,768 15 in report
April 21, 2020 Rainbow Trout 1,768 15 in report
April 20, 2020 Rainbow Trout 1,501 15 in report
April 10, 2020 Rainbow Trout 680 15 in report
September 12, 2019 Rainbow Trout 206 15 in report
September 11, 2019 Rainbow Trout 1,648 15 in report
September 10, 2019 Rainbow Trout 2,348 15 in report
September 5, 2019 Rainbow Trout 1,174 15 in report
September 3, 2019 Rainbow Trout 1,174 15 in report
August 28, 2019 Rainbow Trout 1,174 15 in report
July 29, 2019 Brown Trout 8,760 – report
July 29, 2019 Brown Trout 2,184 12.4 in report
May 17, 2019 Rainbow Trout 62,165 – report
May 15, 2019 Rainbow Trout 2,337 15 in report
May 14, 2019 Rainbow Trout 1,640 15 in report
May 13, 2019 Rainbow Trout 1,640 15 in report
April 25, 2019 Brown Trout 221 15.5 in report
April 25, 2019 Rainbow Trout 265 15 in report
April 25, 2019 Rainbow Trout 1,600 11 in report
April 23, 2019 Rainbow Trout 889 15 in report
April 18, 2019 Rainbow Trout 2,611 15 in report
April 2, 2019 Brown Trout 16,960 – report
April 2, 2019 Brown Trout 1,628 9.6 in report
January 16, 2019 Rainbow Trout 59,910 – report
October 18, 2018 Rainbow Trout 2,800 – report
September 11, 2018 Rainbow Trout 2,800 11 in report
September 6, 2018 Rainbow Trout 3,283 15.2 in report
September 5, 2018 Rainbow Trout 3,283 15.2 in report
September 4, 2018 Rainbow Trout 1,641 15.2 in report
May 18, 2018 Brown Trout 3,009 – report
April 18, 2018 Rainbow Trout 2,622 15 in report
April 16, 2018 Rainbow Trout 1,650 15 in report
April 12, 2018 Rainbow Trout 2,607 15 in report
April 11, 2018 Rainbow Trout 2,530 15 in report
April 10, 2018 Rainbow Trout 1,265 15 in report
April 9, 2018 Rainbow Trout 1,642 15 in report
January 18, 2018 Rainbow Trout 28,579 – report
September 18, 2017 Rainbow Trout 2,052 15 in report
September 15, 2017 Rainbow Trout 2,052 15 in report
September 15, 2017 Rainbow Trout 2,052 15 in report
September 12, 2017 Rainbow Trout 612 15 in report
September 8, 2017 Rainbow Trout 771 15 in report
September 7, 2017 Rainbow Trout 1,938 15 in report
September 5, 2017 Rainbow Trout 1,938 15 in report
April 6, 2017 Brown Trout 8,000 – report
March 27, 2017 Rainbow Trout 1,652 15 in report
March 24, 2017 Rainbow Trout 1,508 15 in report
March 23, 2017 Rainbow Trout 1,140 15 in report
March 22, 2017 Rainbow Trout 3,192 15 in report
March 21, 2017 Rainbow Trout 1,425 15 in report
March 20, 2017 Rainbow Trout 3,420 15 in report
September 8, 2016 Rainbow Trout 1,040 11 in report
September 7, 2016 Rainbow Trout 293 15 in report
September 7, 2016 Rainbow Trout 3,760 11 in report
August 16, 2016 Rainbow Trout 2,508 11 in report
August 15, 2016 Rainbow Trout 2,508 11 in report
May 3, 2016 Brown Trout 2,642 11 in report
May 2, 2016 Brown Trout 5,358 11 in report
April 6, 2016 Rainbow Trout 367 15 in report
April 5, 2016 Rainbow Trout 2,419 15 in report
April 1, 2016 Rainbow Trout 3,024 11 in report
March 31, 2016 Rainbow Trout 2,526 11 in report
March 29, 2016 Rainbow Trout 3,932 11 in report
December 23, 2015 Rainbow Trout 15,236 – report
November 10, 2015 Lake Trout 57 23.5 in report
November 10, 2015 Lake Trout 40 23.5 in report
September 4, 2015 Rainbow Trout 3,264 11 in report
September 3, 2015 Rainbow Trout 206 15 in report
September 3, 2015 Rainbow Trout 3,306 11 in report
September 2, 2015 Rainbow Trout 3,430 11 in report
July 2, 2015 Brown Trout 4,000 – report
April 22, 2015 Rainbow Trout 5,549 11 in report
April 20, 2015 Rainbow Trout 5,425 11 in report
April 17, 2015 Rainbow Trout 5,055 11 in report
April 14, 2015 Rainbow Trout 2,698 11 in report
April 14, 2015 Rainbow Trout 1,356 11 in report
September 16, 2014 Rainbow Trout 1,786 11 in report
September 16, 2014 Rainbow Trout 354 15 in report
September 9, 2014 Rainbow Trout 1,369 – report
September 9, 2014 Rainbow Trout 2,712 11 in report
September 9, 2014 Rainbow Trout 880 11 in report
September 8, 2014 Rainbow Trout 2,957 11 in report
April 21, 2014 Rainbow Trout 4,903 11 in report
April 18, 2014 Rainbow Trout 6,110 11 in report
April 17, 2014 Rainbow Trout 3,519 11 in report
April 17, 2014 Rainbow Trout 699 11 in report
April 14, 2014 Rainbow Trout 4,963 11 in report
October 25, 2013 Rainbow Trout 4,871 11 in report
October 25, 2013 Rainbow Trout 129 15 in report
September 11, 2013 Rainbow Trout 1,005 11 in report
September 10, 2013 Rainbow Trout 4,048 11 in report
June 26, 2013 Rainbow Trout 2,400 11 in report
May 24, 2013 Rainbow Trout 2,400 11 in report
May 1, 2013 Rainbow Trout 3,345 11 in report
April 30, 2013 Rainbow Trout 3,548 11 in report
April 29, 2013 Rainbow Trout 4,357 11 in report
April 25, 2013 Rainbow Trout 3,750 11 in report
October 23, 2012 Rainbow Trout 4,725 11 in report
September 19, 2012 Rainbow Trout 4,725 11 in report
June 26, 2012 Rainbow Trout 2,400 11 in report
June 25, 2012 Rainbow Trout 2,400 11 in report
May 25, 2012 Rainbow Trout 4,709 11 in report
May 1, 2012 Rainbow Trout 4,725 11 in report
March 19, 2012 Rainbow Trout 5,250 11 in report
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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