Pactola Reservoir fishing

Pactola Reservoir fishing is stocked with Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Lake Trout, and Kokanee Salmon on a reservoir. Also recorded: Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, Bluegill, Black Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Rock Bass, and 2 more. 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, Kokanee Salmon, and Largemouth Bass, dawn, day, and dusk for Brown Trout, Northern Pike, and Yellow Perch, and dawn for Lake Trout.

Pactola Reservoir
Photo: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Public domain
Last stocked
September 9, 2026
· Rainbow Trout
Plants on record
250
Since 2012
Species stocked
4 (+8 also recorded)
Average size
15.5 in
Surface acres
825
Elevation
4,655 ft

Fish at Pactola Reservoir

4 stocked · 8 confirmed present

Rainbow Trout Stocked · 229 plants · last September 9, 2026 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked September 9, 2026 · avg 15.5 in · 229 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Rainbow Trout species guide
Brown Trout Stocked · 14 plants · last May 5, 2025 Best: dawn, day, dusk

Last stocked May 5, 2025 · avg 13.8 in · 14 plants

Best: dawn, day, dusk

Brown Trout species guide
Kokanee Salmon Stocked · 5 plants · last May 5, 2025 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked May 5, 2025 · 5 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Kokanee Salmon species guide
Lake Trout Stocked · 2 plants · last November 10, 2015 Best: dawn

Last stocked November 10, 2015 · avg 23.5 in · 2 plants

Best: dawn

Lake Trout species guide

Pactola Lake is known for its large lake trout. Brown trout are also found in Rapid Creek both upstream and downstream of the dam. (en.wikipedia.org, accessed September 22, 2026)

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

How Pactola Reservoir is stocked

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

About 1,293 reported fish per acre, 2nd most of 3 lakes in Pennington County with both a fish count and a surface area.

Fish stocked in 2012

28,934

Fish stocked in 2013

29,853

Fish stocked in 2014

30,252

Fish stocked in 2015

49,622

Fish stocked in 2016

30,377

Fish stocked in 2017

31,752

Fish stocked in 2018

57,711

Fish stocked in 2019

170,534

Fish stocked in 2020

31,429

Fish stocked in 2021

57,069

Fish stocked in 2022

69,372

Fish stocked in 2023

219,450

Fish stocked in 2024

161,047

Fish stocked in 2025

88,664

Fish stocked in 2026

10,592

Stocking history

Source: South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP).
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
September 9, 2026Rainbow Trout47219.5 inreport
September 8, 2026Rainbow Trout47219.5 inreport
September 4, 2026Rainbow Trout94419.5 inreport
September 3, 2026Rainbow Trout47219.5 inreport
September 3, 2026Rainbow Trout44023.5 inreport
September 2, 2026Rainbow Trout88023.5 inreport
September 1, 2026Rainbow Trout88023.5 inreport
August 31, 2026Rainbow Trout44023.5 inreport
August 31, 2026Rainbow Trout44023.5 inreport
April 21, 2026Rainbow Trout44023.5 inreport
April 14, 2026Rainbow Trout52019.5 inreport
April 9, 2026Rainbow Trout50019.5 inreport
April 7, 2026Rainbow Trout44023.5 inreport
April 2, 2026Rainbow Trout49619.5 inreport
March 9, 2026Rainbow Trout1,73018.5 inreport
March 9, 2026Rainbow Trout1,02619.5 inreport
October 6, 2025Rainbow Trout48019.5 inreport
September 30, 2025Rainbow Trout48019.5 inreport
September 29, 2025Rainbow Trout46419.5 inreport
September 18, 2025Rainbow Trout46419.5 inreport
September 12, 2025Rainbow Trout54618.5 inreport
September 10, 2025Rainbow Trout46419.5 inreport
September 10, 2025Rainbow Trout72818.5 inreport
September 9, 2025Rainbow Trout71218.5 inreport
September 8, 2025Rainbow Trout1,42418.5 inreport
May 5, 2025Brown Trout21,000–report
May 5, 2025Kokanee Salmon57,000–report
March 28, 2025Rainbow Trout93617 inreport
March 26, 2025Rainbow Trout69618.5 inreport
March 24, 2025Rainbow Trout1,39818.5 inreport
March 21, 2025Rainbow Trout62418.5 inreport
March 20, 2025Rainbow Trout1,24818.5 inreport
November 8, 2024Brown Trout6623.5 inreport
November 8, 2024Rainbow Trout3223.5 inreport
September 5, 2024Rainbow Trout1,28815.2 inreport
September 4, 2024Rainbow Trout59219.5 inreport
September 3, 2024Rainbow Trout1,18419.5 inreport
September 2, 2024Rainbow Trout59219.5 inreport
September 2, 2024Rainbow Trout1,18419.5 inreport
August 29, 2024Rainbow Trout2,73012.2 inreport
August 29, 2024Rainbow Trout37012.4 inreport
July 18, 2024Rainbow Trout1,59610.8 inreport
July 18, 2024Rainbow Trout2,0209.8 inreport
July 9, 2024Rainbow Trout3,65010.2 inreport
April 10, 2024Rainbow Trout62,601–report
April 10, 2024Kokanee Salmon72,686–report
April 10, 2024Brown Trout5,000–report
March 28, 2024Rainbow Trout64018.5 inreport
March 27, 2024Rainbow Trout64018.5 inreport
March 21, 2024Rainbow Trout77618.5 inreport
March 21, 2024Rainbow Trout77618.5 inreport
March 20, 2024Rainbow Trout65618.5 inreport
March 20, 2024Rainbow Trout65618.5 inreport
March 20, 2024Rainbow Trout65618.5 inreport
March 19, 2024Rainbow Trout65618.5 inreport
December 4, 2023Rainbow Trout145,126–report
November 16, 2023Brown Trout5,000–report
September 19, 2023Rainbow Trout48819.5 inreport
September 18, 2023Rainbow Trout48819.5 inreport
September 11, 2023Rainbow Trout68814.5 inreport
September 11, 2023Rainbow Trout50015.5 inreport
September 7, 2023Rainbow Trout58614.5 inreport
September 7, 2023Rainbow Trout48819.5 inreport
September 6, 2023Rainbow Trout42515.5 inreport
September 6, 2023Rainbow Trout48819.5 inreport
August 31, 2023Rainbow Trout48819.5 inreport
August 30, 2023Rainbow Trout48819.5 inreport
August 30, 2023Rainbow Trout68014 inreport
August 29, 2023Rainbow Trout48819.5 inreport
August 29, 2023Rainbow Trout68014 inreport
August 28, 2023Rainbow Trout68014 inreport
August 28, 2023Rainbow Trout48819.5 inreport
August 21, 2023Rainbow Trout48819.5 inreport
August 21, 2023Rainbow Trout68014 inreport
June 27, 2023Kokanee Salmon50,522–report
April 28, 2023Rainbow Trout81717 inreport
April 20, 2023Rainbow Trout1,74417 inreport
April 19, 2023Rainbow Trout1,53018.5 inreport
April 18, 2023Rainbow Trout2,04018.5 inreport
April 17, 2023Rainbow Trout2,16018.5 inreport
April 14, 2023Rainbow Trout60019.5 inreport
April 14, 2023Rainbow Trout60019.5 inreport
November 14, 2022Kokanee Salmon10,171–report
October 5, 2022Rainbow Trout65618.5 inreport
October 4, 2022Rainbow Trout1,39418.5 inreport
September 27, 2022Rainbow Trout65618.5 inreport
September 20, 2022Rainbow Trout73912.4 inreport
September 16, 2022Rainbow Trout88817 inreport
September 15, 2022Rainbow Trout88817 inreport
September 14, 2022Rainbow Trout88817 inreport
September 14, 2022Rainbow Trout88817 inreport
September 13, 2022Rainbow Trout1,77617 inreport
September 12, 2022Rainbow Trout1,26517 inreport
September 12, 2022Rainbow Trout1,26517 inreport
July 11, 2022Rainbow Trout4,166–report
July 11, 2022Kokanee Salmon15,732–report
May 16, 2022Rainbow Trout9,000–report
May 13, 2022Rainbow Trout56714.5 inreport
April 28, 2022Rainbow Trout6,912–report
April 20, 2022Rainbow Trout1,60715.5 inreport
April 19, 2022Rainbow Trout1,78915.2 inreport
April 11, 2022Rainbow Trout57814.5 inreport
April 11, 2022Rainbow Trout1,12815.5 inreport
March 25, 2022Rainbow Trout63914 inreport
March 24, 2022Rainbow Trout2,22314 inreport
March 23, 2022Rainbow Trout2,18814 inreport
March 22, 2022Rainbow Trout70014 inreport
March 21, 2022Rainbow Trout66914 inreport
November 23, 2021Rainbow Trout8,987–report
November 23, 2021Rainbow Trout9,069–report
November 22, 2021Rainbow Trout2,929–report
November 10, 2021Rainbow Trout2,65712.8 inreport
September 29, 2021Rainbow Trout8,832–report
September 28, 2021Rainbow Trout5,431–report
September 10, 2021Rainbow Trout1,20817 inreport
September 3, 2021Rainbow Trout1,20817 inreport
September 2, 2021Rainbow Trout1,20817 inreport
September 1, 2021Rainbow Trout1,19717 inreport
August 31, 2021Rainbow Trout1,19717 inreport
August 30, 2021Rainbow Trout1,19717 inreport
May 5, 2021Rainbow Trout1,44215.5 inreport
May 4, 2021Rainbow Trout1,35617 inreport
April 29, 2021Rainbow Trout1,43615.5 inreport
April 27, 2021Rainbow Trout1,50415.5 inreport
April 27, 2021Rainbow Trout1,50415.5 inreport
April 26, 2021Rainbow Trout1,50415.5 inreport
April 23, 2021Rainbow Trout1,69915.2 inreport
April 22, 2021Rainbow Trout1,50415.5 inreport
November 9, 2020Rainbow Trout74813 inreport
November 6, 2020Rainbow Trout1,76013 inreport
November 5, 2020Rainbow Trout74813 inreport
November 4, 2020Rainbow Trout3,06612.6 inreport
September 14, 2020Rainbow Trout2,40017 inreport
September 11, 2020Rainbow Trout1,14017 inreport
September 10, 2020Rainbow Trout2,40017 inreport
September 9, 2020Rainbow Trout1,14017 inreport
September 9, 2020Rainbow Trout1,43615.5 inreport
September 9, 2020Rainbow Trout1,14017 inreport
September 9, 2020Rainbow Trout1,43615.5 inreport
September 4, 2020Rainbow Trout1,00815.5 inreport
September 3, 2020Rainbow Trout1,00815.5 inreport
April 28, 2020Rainbow Trout1,41411 inreport
April 28, 2020Rainbow Trout55715 inreport
April 27, 2020Rainbow Trout1,11515 inreport
April 24, 2020Rainbow Trout1,42815 inreport
April 23, 2020Rainbow Trout1,76815 inreport
April 22, 2020Rainbow Trout1,76815 inreport
April 21, 2020Rainbow Trout1,76815 inreport
April 20, 2020Rainbow Trout1,50115 inreport
April 10, 2020Rainbow Trout68015 inreport
September 12, 2019Rainbow Trout20615 inreport
September 11, 2019Rainbow Trout1,64815 inreport
September 10, 2019Rainbow Trout2,34815 inreport
September 5, 2019Rainbow Trout1,17415 inreport
September 3, 2019Rainbow Trout1,17415 inreport
August 28, 2019Rainbow Trout1,17415 inreport
July 29, 2019Brown Trout8,760–report
July 29, 2019Brown Trout2,18412.4 inreport
May 17, 2019Rainbow Trout62,165–report
May 15, 2019Rainbow Trout2,33715 inreport
May 14, 2019Rainbow Trout1,64015 inreport
May 13, 2019Rainbow Trout1,64015 inreport
April 25, 2019Brown Trout22115.5 inreport
April 25, 2019Rainbow Trout26515 inreport
April 25, 2019Rainbow Trout1,60011 inreport
April 23, 2019Rainbow Trout88915 inreport
April 18, 2019Rainbow Trout2,61115 inreport
April 2, 2019Brown Trout16,960–report
April 2, 2019Brown Trout1,6289.6 inreport
January 16, 2019Rainbow Trout59,910–report
October 18, 2018Rainbow Trout2,800–report
September 11, 2018Rainbow Trout2,80011 inreport
September 6, 2018Rainbow Trout3,28315.2 inreport
September 5, 2018Rainbow Trout3,28315.2 inreport
September 4, 2018Rainbow Trout1,64115.2 inreport
May 18, 2018Brown Trout3,009–report
April 18, 2018Rainbow Trout2,62215 inreport
April 16, 2018Rainbow Trout1,65015 inreport
April 12, 2018Rainbow Trout2,60715 inreport
April 11, 2018Rainbow Trout2,53015 inreport
April 10, 2018Rainbow Trout1,26515 inreport
April 9, 2018Rainbow Trout1,64215 inreport
January 18, 2018Rainbow Trout28,579–report
September 18, 2017Rainbow Trout2,05215 inreport
September 15, 2017Rainbow Trout2,05215 inreport
September 15, 2017Rainbow Trout2,05215 inreport
September 12, 2017Rainbow Trout61215 inreport
September 8, 2017Rainbow Trout77115 inreport
September 7, 2017Rainbow Trout1,93815 inreport
September 5, 2017Rainbow Trout1,93815 inreport
April 6, 2017Brown Trout8,000–report
March 27, 2017Rainbow Trout1,65215 inreport
March 24, 2017Rainbow Trout1,50815 inreport
March 23, 2017Rainbow Trout1,14015 inreport
March 22, 2017Rainbow Trout3,19215 inreport
March 21, 2017Rainbow Trout1,42515 inreport
March 20, 2017Rainbow Trout3,42015 inreport
September 8, 2016Rainbow Trout1,04011 inreport
September 7, 2016Rainbow Trout29315 inreport
September 7, 2016Rainbow Trout3,76011 inreport
August 16, 2016Rainbow Trout2,50811 inreport
August 15, 2016Rainbow Trout2,50811 inreport
May 3, 2016Brown Trout2,64211 inreport
May 2, 2016Brown Trout5,35811 inreport
April 6, 2016Rainbow Trout36715 inreport
April 5, 2016Rainbow Trout2,41915 inreport
April 1, 2016Rainbow Trout3,02411 inreport
March 31, 2016Rainbow Trout2,52611 inreport
March 29, 2016Rainbow Trout3,93211 inreport
December 23, 2015Rainbow Trout15,236–report
November 10, 2015Lake Trout5723.5 inreport
November 10, 2015Lake Trout4023.5 inreport
September 4, 2015Rainbow Trout3,26411 inreport
September 3, 2015Rainbow Trout20615 inreport
September 3, 2015Rainbow Trout3,30611 inreport
September 2, 2015Rainbow Trout3,43011 inreport
July 2, 2015Brown Trout4,000–report
April 22, 2015Rainbow Trout5,54911 inreport
April 20, 2015Rainbow Trout5,42511 inreport
April 17, 2015Rainbow Trout5,05511 inreport
April 14, 2015Rainbow Trout2,69811 inreport
April 14, 2015Rainbow Trout1,35611 inreport
September 16, 2014Rainbow Trout1,78611 inreport
September 16, 2014Rainbow Trout35415 inreport
September 9, 2014Rainbow Trout1,369–report
September 9, 2014Rainbow Trout2,71211 inreport
September 9, 2014Rainbow Trout88011 inreport
September 8, 2014Rainbow Trout2,95711 inreport
April 21, 2014Rainbow Trout4,90311 inreport
April 18, 2014Rainbow Trout6,11011 inreport
April 17, 2014Rainbow Trout3,51911 inreport
April 17, 2014Rainbow Trout69911 inreport
April 14, 2014Rainbow Trout4,96311 inreport
October 25, 2013Rainbow Trout4,87111 inreport
October 25, 2013Rainbow Trout12915 inreport
September 11, 2013Rainbow Trout1,00511 inreport
September 10, 2013Rainbow Trout4,04811 inreport
June 26, 2013Rainbow Trout2,40011 inreport
May 24, 2013Rainbow Trout2,40011 inreport
May 1, 2013Rainbow Trout3,34511 inreport
April 30, 2013Rainbow Trout3,54811 inreport
April 29, 2013Rainbow Trout4,35711 inreport
April 25, 2013Rainbow Trout3,75011 inreport
October 23, 2012Rainbow Trout4,72511 inreport
September 19, 2012Rainbow Trout4,72511 inreport
June 26, 2012Rainbow Trout2,40011 inreport
June 25, 2012Rainbow Trout2,40011 inreport
May 25, 2012Rainbow Trout4,70911 inreport
May 1, 2012Rainbow Trout4,72511 inreport
March 19, 2012Rainbow Trout5,25011 inreport

Access and facts

Water type
reservoir
Nearest town
Silver City
Facilities
restrooms, camping, dock

Two USFS boat launches: Pactola North on the northeast corner (vault toilets, busy on weekends, day-use fee per vehicle) and Pactola South. Pactola Pines Marina on the south shore rents boats. The Forest Service visitor center sits on the south side of the dam.

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

View larger map · Open in Google Maps · Directions

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

About Pactola Reservoir

Photo of Pactola Reservoir
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Public domain
Photo of Pactola Reservoir
USFS, via Recreation.gov, Public domain (US federal government work, 17 U.S.C. 105)
Photo of Pactola Reservoir
DXR, CC BY-SA 4.0

Nearest lakes

Sheridan Lake 7.1 mi last stocked May 21, 2026 Deerfield Reservoir 14.8 mi last stocked September 9, 2026 Sylvan Lake 16.1 mi last stocked September 10, 2026 Belle Fourche Reservoir 46.7 mi last stocked May 8, 2026 Angostura Reservoir 50.5 mi last stocked April 24, 2026

Common questions

What fish are at Pactola Reservoir?

Fishing Pactola Reservoir usually means Rainbow Trout: Rainbow Trout accounts for 229 of 250 plants on record, ahead of Brown Trout and 2 more. Rainbow Trout was last stocked September 9, 2026, averaging 15.5 in. Brown Trout was last stocked May 5, 2025, averaging 13.8 in. Kokanee Salmon was last stocked May 5, 2025. Lake Trout was last stocked November 10, 2015, averaging 23.5 in. Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, Bluegill, and Black Crappie, plus 4 more are recorded here outside the stocking reports.

When is Pactola Reservoir stocked?

Last stocked September 9, 2026. It is stocked about 17 times a year since 2012, most often in April and September. About 1,293 reported fish per acre, 2nd most of 3 lakes in Pennington County with both a fish count and a surface area.

How big are the fish stocked at Pactola Reservoir?

Stocked fish average 15.5 in. Rainbow Trout average 15.5 in. Brown Trout average 13.8 in. Lake Trout average 23.5 in.

How do you get on Pactola Reservoir?

The nearest town is Silver City. Facilities include restrooms, camping, and dock. Two USFS boat launches: Pactola North on the northeast corner (vault toilets, busy on weekends, day-use fee per vehicle) and Pactola South. Pactola Pines Marina on the south shore rents boats. The Forest Service visitor center sits on the south side of the dam.

Which lakes near Pactola Reservoir were stocked more recently?

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

Sources (7) +