Shadehill Reservoir fishing

Fishing at Shadehill Reservoir is on a reservoir, stocked with Walleye, Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass, and Gizzard Shad. It is stocked about 2.7 times a year since 2012, most often in April and May. Species guides list dawn, dusk, and night for Walleye and dawn and dusk for Rainbow Trout and Smallmouth Bass.

Last stocked

May 14, 2026

Plants on record

40

Since 2012

Species recorded

4

Surface acres

5,072

Elevation

2,287 ft

Access and facts

Water type
reservoir
Nearest town
Lemmon
Shore access
Yes
Boat ramp
Yes
ADA accessible
Yes
Fee required
Yes
Facilities
restrooms, camping, cleaning station

One of western South Dakota's few large lakes. Shadehill Recreation Area offers an ADA-accessible boat ramp, swim beach, ski beach, shore fishing access and a group lodge that sleeps 12. Twelve miles south of Lemmon off SD Hwy 73; $10-$15 daily park fee applies.

Sources: water_type , access.shore , access.boat_ramp , access.ada , access.fee , shore_notes , nearest_town , facilities , fishing_notes , fishing_notes

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How Shadehill Reservoir is stocked

The first plant of the year usually falls in the second week of May. In 2026 it was May 11, 2026, about when it usually is.

Pactola Reservoir (132.1 mi), Sheridan Lake (137.2 mi), Deerfield Reservoir (142 mi), and Sylvan Lake (147.7 mi) were stocked more recently. Pactola Reservoir is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, Sheridan Lake is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass, and Walleye, Deerfield Reservoir is also stocked with Rainbow Trout and Walleye, and Sylvan Lake is also stocked with Rainbow Trout and Smallmouth Bass.

Fish at Shadehill Reservoir

Fishing Shadehill Reservoir is most likely to be for Gizzard Shad. Gizzard Shad accounts for 21 of 40 plants on record, ahead of Walleye and 2 more.

Gizzard Shad 21 plants
Plants
21 of 40
Last stocked
May 14, 2026
Walleye 16 plants
Plants
16 of 40
Last stocked
May 11, 2026

Seasons and rigs are on the Walleye guide.

Smallmouth Bass 2 plants
Plants
2 of 40
Last stocked
August 7, 2012

Seasons and rigs are on the Smallmouth Bass guide.

Rainbow Trout 1 plant
Plants
1 of 40
Last stocked
June 11, 2012

Seasons and rigs are on the Rainbow Trout guide.

Fishing Shadehill Reservoir

Shadehill Recreation Area offers opportunities to enjoy land and water based activities. Species of fish in the lake include walleye, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, yellow perch, northern pike, and common carp. Also, located around the reservoir is the Hugh Glass Lakeside Use Area, named for the mountain man, Hugh Glass, which is also operated by the Game, Fish, and Parks as a free campground, boat launch and picnic area.

Sources: gfp.sd.gov , en.wikipedia.org

Fish stocked per year

  • 6,059,0052012
  • 112,3752013
  • 5,000,3732014
  • 4,700,0002015
  • 5,000,0002016
  • 5,000,0002017
  • 6,900,1132018
  • 3552019
  • 1202020
  • 6,000,1132021
  • 6,000,2002022
  • 691,8272023
  • 4,951,2602024
  • 4,108,5812025
  • 5,001,0102026

Stocking history

Showing 15 of 40 plants Showing 40 plants

Source: South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP).
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
May 14, 2026 Gizzard Shad 510 – report
May 13, 2026 Gizzard Shad 500 – report
May 11, 2026 Walleye 5,000,000 – report
May 9, 2025 Gizzard Shad 1,073 – report
May 7, 2025 Walleye 3,000,000 – report
May 5, 2025 Gizzard Shad 110 – report
April 22, 2025 Walleye 1,107,398 – report
May 17, 2024 Gizzard Shad 500 – report
April 26, 2024 Walleye 4,950,760 – report
May 24, 2023 Walleye 389,000 – report
May 19, 2023 Walleye 302,377 – report
May 16, 2023 Gizzard Shad 450 – report
June 3, 2022 Walleye 6,000,000 – report
May 17, 2022 Gizzard Shad 47 – report
May 16, 2022 Gizzard Shad 80 – report
May 12, 2022 Gizzard Shad 73 – report
May 19, 2021 Gizzard Shad 59 – report
May 18, 2021 Gizzard Shad 54 – report
May 15, 2021 Walleye 6,000,000 – report
May 21, 2020 Gizzard Shad 103 – report
May 18, 2020 Gizzard Shad 17 – report
May 14, 2019 Gizzard Shad 125 – report
May 6, 2019 Gizzard Shad 130 – report
May 3, 2019 Gizzard Shad 100 – report
May 24, 2018 Gizzard Shad 70 – report
May 17, 2018 Gizzard Shad 43 – report
May 15, 2018 Walleye 6,900,000 – report
May 6, 2017 Walleye 5,000,000 – report
May 9, 2016 Walleye 5,000,000 – report
May 9, 2015 Walleye 4,700,000 – report
May 16, 2014 Walleye 5,000,000 – report
April 25, 2014 Gizzard Shad 140 – report
April 21, 2014 Gizzard Shad 233 – report
June 19, 2013 Walleye 112,275 – report
May 13, 2013 Gizzard Shad 100 – report
August 7, 2012 Smallmouth Bass 10,800 – report
August 7, 2012 Smallmouth Bass 19,373 – report
June 11, 2012 Rainbow Trout 28,832 – report
May 20, 2012 Walleye 2,000,000 – report
May 18, 2012 Walleye 4,000,000 – 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.

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