Walleye Stocked · 10 plants · last June 16, 2025 Best: dawn, dusk, night Pelican Lake fishing
Pelican Lake fishing is stocked with Walleye, Yellow Perch, and Saugeye on a natural lake. Also recorded: Northern Pike, White Bass, Common Carp, and White Sucker. It is stocked about 0.9 times a year since 2012, most often in May and June. Species guides list dawn, dusk, and night for Walleye, Saugeye, and White Bass, dawn, day, and dusk for Yellow Perch and Northern Pike, and dawn and dusk for Common Carp.
- Last stocked
- June 16, 2025
- · Walleye
- Plants on record
- 13
- Since 2012
- Species stocked
- 3 (+4 also recorded)
- Surface acres
- 2,779
- Elevation
- 1,710 ft
Fish at Pelican Lake
Walleye Stocked · 10 plants · last June 16, 2025 Best: dawn, dusk, night 
Saugeye Stocked · 2 plants · last May 22, 2023 Best: dawn, dusk, night 
Yellow Perch Stocked · 1 plant · last June 22, 2016 Best: dawn, day, dusk 
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
Common Carp Confirmed present Best: dawn, dusk Best: dawn, dusk
Common Carp species guide White Sucker Confirmed present
How Pelican Lake is stocked
No plants recorded in 2013, 2018, 2020, and 2024.
Fish stocked in 2012
1,400,000
Fish stocked in 2014
1,400,000
Fish stocked in 2015
1,500,000
Fish stocked in 2016
29,890
Fish stocked in 2017
1,400,000
Fish stocked in 2019
700,000
Fish stocked in 2021
1,400,000
Fish stocked in 2022
1,400,000
Fish stocked in 2023
3,300,000
Fish stocked in 2025
196,959
Stocking history
| Date | Species | Quantity | Avg. length | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 16, 2025 | Walleye | 132,219 | – | report |
| June 16, 2025 | Walleye | 24,858 | – | report |
| June 16, 2025 | Walleye | 39,882 | – | report |
| May 22, 2023 | Saugeye | 1,800,000 | – | report |
| May 20, 2023 | Saugeye | 1,500,000 | – | report |
| May 20, 2022 | Walleye | 1,400,000 | – | report |
| May 15, 2021 | Walleye | 1,400,000 | – | report |
| May 16, 2019 | Walleye | 700,000 | – | report |
| May 8, 2017 | Walleye | 1,400,000 | – | report |
| June 22, 2016 | Yellow Perch | 29,890 | – | report |
| May 15, 2015 | Walleye | 1,500,000 | – | report |
| May 9, 2014 | Walleye | 1,400,000 | – | report |
| April 27, 2012 | Walleye | 1,400,000 | – | report |
Access and facts
- Water type
- natural lake
- Nearest town
- Watertown
- Facilities
- restrooms, camping
Pelican Lake Recreation Area, 9 miles southwest of Watertown off US Hwy 212, has a boat ramp, kayak launch, ADA fishing pier and shore fishing. GFP also keeps the Northwest Lakeside Use Area, and Watertown runs an East-Side Access. The lake is shallow, 8 feet at its deepest.
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.
Nearest lakes
Common questions
What fish are at Pelican Lake?
Fishing Pelican Lake usually means Walleye: Walleye accounts for 10 of 13 plants on record, ahead of Saugeye and one more. Walleye was last stocked June 16, 2025. Saugeye was last stocked May 22, 2023. Yellow Perch was last stocked June 22, 2016. Northern Pike, White Bass, Common Carp, and White Sucker are recorded here outside the stocking reports.
When is Pelican Lake stocked?
Last stocked June 16, 2025. It is stocked about 0.9 times a year since 2012, most often in May and June. No plants recorded in 2013, 2018, 2020, and 2024.
How do you get on Pelican Lake?
The nearest town is Watertown. Facilities include restrooms and camping. Pelican Lake Recreation Area, 9 miles southwest of Watertown off US Hwy 212, has a boat ramp, kayak launch, ADA fishing pier and shore fishing. GFP also keeps the Northwest Lakeside Use Area, and Watertown runs an East-Side Access. The lake is shallow, 8 feet at its deepest.
Which lakes near Pelican Lake were stocked more recently?
Lake Kampeska (4.5 mi), Lake Cochrane (35.8 mi), and Enemy Swim Lake (39.5 mi) were stocked more recently. Lake Kampeska is also stocked with Walleye, Lake Cochrane is also stocked with Walleye, and Enemy Swim Lake is also stocked with Walleye.