Sheridan Lake

Sheridan Lake fishing

Fishing at Sheridan Lake is on a reservoir, stocked with Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass, and Walleye. It is stocked about 9.1 times a year since 2012, most often in April and September. Species guides list dawn and dusk for Rainbow Trout and Smallmouth Bass and dawn, dusk, and night for Walleye.

Last stocked

May 21, 2026

Plants on record

136

Since 2012

Species recorded

3

Average size

13.2 in

Surface acres

370

Elevation

4,630 ft

Access and facts

Water type
reservoir
Nearest town
Hill City
Boat ramp
Yes
Facilities
camping, dock

USFS-managed lake with a marina, improved swim beach and campgrounds on both the north and south shores. Water levels stay constant since the lake isn't used for flood control or irrigation. Reached via US-385 from Hill City or a scenic drive from Rapid City.

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

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How Sheridan Lake is stocked

The first plant of the year usually falls in the second week of April. In 2026 it was April 8, 2026, about when it usually is.

About 4,069 reported fish per acre, the most of 3 lakes in Pennington County with both a fish count and a surface area.

Pactola Reservoir (7.1 mi), Sylvan Lake (10.5 mi), and Deerfield Reservoir (17 mi) were stocked more recently. Pactola Reservoir is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, Sylvan Lake is also stocked with Rainbow Trout and Smallmouth Bass, and Deerfield Reservoir is also stocked with Rainbow Trout and Walleye.

Fish at Sheridan Lake

Fishing Sheridan Lake is most likely to be for Rainbow Trout. Rainbow Trout accounts for 111 of 136 plants on record, ahead of Walleye and one more.

Rainbow Trout 111 plants
Plants
111 of 136
Last stocked
April 15, 2026
Average length
13.2 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Rainbow Trout guide.

Walleye 20 plants
Plants
20 of 136
Last stocked
May 21, 2026

Seasons and rigs are on the Walleye guide.

Smallmouth Bass 5 plants
Plants
5 of 136
Last stocked
May 31, 2018

Seasons and rigs are on the Smallmouth Bass guide.

Fish stocked per year

  • 19,2852012
  • 25,8902013
  • 19,0792014
  • 19,0002015
  • 19,7212016
  • 34,6532017
  • 23,0232018
  • 37,8882019
  • 15,8772020
  • 41,3832021
  • 124,0622022
  • 91,4942023
  • 327,1392024
  • 89,7302025
  • 617,2792026

Stocking history

Showing 15 of 136 plants Showing 136 plants

Source: South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP).
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
May 21, 2026 Walleye 32,271 – report
April 18, 2026 Walleye 580,000 – report
April 15, 2026 Rainbow Trout 1,760 13 in report
April 13, 2026 Rainbow Trout 1,760 13 in report
April 8, 2026 Rainbow Trout 1,488 14.5 in report
October 1, 2025 Rainbow Trout 480 19.5 in report
September 19, 2025 Rainbow Trout 714 13 in report
September 18, 2025 Rainbow Trout 714 13 in report
September 11, 2025 Rainbow Trout 824 17 in report
September 10, 2025 Rainbow Trout 350 17 in report
September 9, 2025 Rainbow Trout 350 17 in report
September 8, 2025 Rainbow Trout 428 15.5 in report
June 2, 2025 Walleye 80,930 – report
May 15, 2025 Walleye 121 – report
March 26, 2025 Rainbow Trout 2,690 12.8 in report
March 25, 2025 Rainbow Trout 1,394 14 in report
March 21, 2025 Rainbow Trout 735 13 in report
December 10, 2024 Rainbow Trout 1,466 14.5 in report
December 9, 2024 Rainbow Trout 14 23.5 in report
December 9, 2024 Rainbow Trout 137 15.2 in report
December 6, 2024 Rainbow Trout 2,557 14 in report
December 6, 2024 Rainbow Trout 1,907 15.2 in report
December 6, 2024 Rainbow Trout 220 14 in report
December 4, 2024 Rainbow Trout 1,600 15.2 in report
September 12, 2024 Rainbow Trout 816 14 in report
September 12, 2024 Rainbow Trout 3,264 14 in report
September 11, 2024 Rainbow Trout 2,910 12.4 in report
September 11, 2024 Rainbow Trout 756 14 in report
September 11, 2024 Rainbow Trout 1,552 14 in report
September 10, 2024 Rainbow Trout 1,552 14 in report
September 10, 2024 Rainbow Trout 860 13 in report
July 9, 2024 Walleye 16,793 – report
July 2, 2024 Walleye 11,700 – report
May 10, 2024 Walleye 224,400 – report
May 9, 2024 Walleye 41,698 – report
April 11, 2024 Rainbow Trout 664 18.5 in report
April 10, 2024 Rainbow Trout 608 19.5 in report
April 9, 2024 Rainbow Trout 1,216 19.5 in report
March 22, 2024 Rainbow Trout 776 18.5 in report
March 18, 2024 Rainbow Trout 4,129 12 in report
March 14, 2024 Rainbow Trout 1,472 11.6 in report
March 13, 2024 Rainbow Trout 1,864 12 in report
March 13, 2024 Rainbow Trout 2,208 11.6 in report
December 14, 2023 Rainbow Trout 1,544 14 in report
December 7, 2023 Rainbow Trout 1,448 14.5 in report
October 4, 2023 Rainbow Trout 782 13 in report
October 3, 2023 Rainbow Trout 2,622 13 in report
September 28, 2023 Rainbow Trout 1,702 13 in report
September 27, 2023 Rainbow Trout 488 19.5 in report
September 27, 2023 Rainbow Trout 627 13 in report
September 27, 2023 Rainbow Trout 100 15.2 in report
September 14, 2023 Rainbow Trout 1,710 15.2 in report
September 13, 2023 Rainbow Trout 1,200 15.2 in report
July 26, 2023 Walleye 4,513 – report
July 25, 2023 Walleye 18,414 – report
July 21, 2023 Walleye 43,928 – report
June 8, 2023 Walleye 1,468 – report
April 13, 2023 Rainbow Trout 3,444 11.2 in report
April 13, 2023 Rainbow Trout 3,360 11.2 in report
April 12, 2023 Rainbow Trout 2,120 12.6 in report
April 11, 2023 Rainbow Trout 2,024 12.8 in report
October 5, 2022 Rainbow Trout 676 18.5 in report
September 28, 2022 Rainbow Trout 656 18.5 in report
September 20, 2022 Rainbow Trout 986 12.4 in report
September 19, 2022 Rainbow Trout 1,088 12 in report
September 19, 2022 Rainbow Trout 1,102 12.4 in report
September 16, 2022 Rainbow Trout 1,258 11.6 in report
September 15, 2022 Rainbow Trout 1,258 11.6 in report
September 15, 2022 Rainbow Trout 888 17 in report
July 7, 2022 Walleye 21,024 – report
May 16, 2022 Walleye 85,000 – report
April 5, 2022 Rainbow Trout 1,227 11.8 in report
April 4, 2022 Rainbow Trout 1,227 11.8 in report
April 4, 2022 Rainbow Trout 2,744 11.8 in report
March 31, 2022 Rainbow Trout 1,166 11.8 in report
March 28, 2022 Rainbow Trout 3,762 12 in report
November 5, 2021 Rainbow Trout 2,850 12.8 in report
September 29, 2021 Walleye 3,375 – report
September 29, 2021 Walleye 3,600 – report
September 9, 2021 Rainbow Trout 6,384 10 in report
September 7, 2021 Rainbow Trout 2,696 12 in report
June 12, 2021 Walleye 15,000 – report
May 7, 2021 Rainbow Trout 2,485 13 in report
May 6, 2021 Rainbow Trout 2,485 13 in report
April 28, 2021 Rainbow Trout 2,508 13 in report
November 2, 2020 Rainbow Trout 3,066 12.6 in report
September 17, 2020 Rainbow Trout 1,938 14.5 in report
September 16, 2020 Rainbow Trout 1,938 14.5 in report
September 15, 2020 Rainbow Trout 1,649 14.5 in report
September 15, 2020 Rainbow Trout 170 17 in report
May 7, 2020 Rainbow Trout 666 15 in report
May 6, 2020 Rainbow Trout 1,836 11 in report
May 5, 2020 Rainbow Trout 2,914 11 in report
April 29, 2020 Rainbow Trout 1,700 11 in report
September 11, 2019 Rainbow Trout 1,420 – report
August 28, 2019 Walleye 4,080 – report
June 16, 2019 Walleye 21,420 – report
April 29, 2019 Rainbow Trout 3,934 11 in report
April 26, 2019 Rainbow Trout 3,477 11 in report
April 17, 2019 Rainbow Trout 3,557 11 in report
October 18, 2018 Rainbow Trout 2,800 – report
September 11, 2018 Rainbow Trout 3,648 12 in report
September 11, 2018 Rainbow Trout 524 11 in report
September 11, 2018 Rainbow Trout 2,276 11 in report
September 10, 2018 Rainbow Trout 3,648 12 in report
May 31, 2018 Smallmouth Bass 250 – report
April 20, 2018 Rainbow Trout 1,000 11.2 in report
April 19, 2018 Rainbow Trout 8,877 11.2 in report
October 10, 2017 Walleye 14,000 – report
September 19, 2017 Rainbow Trout 10,190 11 in report
June 16, 2017 Smallmouth Bass 275 – report
March 30, 2017 Rainbow Trout 5,400 11 in report
March 29, 2017 Rainbow Trout 4,788 11 in report
September 12, 2016 Rainbow Trout 1,284 11 in report
September 9, 2016 Rainbow Trout 7,704 11 in report
June 6, 2016 Smallmouth Bass 300 – report
April 8, 2016 Rainbow Trout 3,666 11 in report
April 7, 2016 Rainbow Trout 3,751 11 in report
April 5, 2016 Rainbow Trout 3,016 11 in report
September 9, 2015 Rainbow Trout 3,139 11 in report
September 9, 2015 Rainbow Trout 5,861 11 in report
April 10, 2015 Rainbow Trout 8,220 11 in report
April 8, 2015 Rainbow Trout 1,780 11 in report
September 15, 2014 Rainbow Trout 1,000 10.2 in report
September 9, 2014 Rainbow Trout 8,079 – report
May 6, 2014 Rainbow Trout 1,120 11 in report
April 24, 2014 Rainbow Trout 4,449 11 in report
April 23, 2014 Rainbow Trout 4,431 11 in report
September 20, 2013 Rainbow Trout 9,000 9.8 in report
July 17, 2013 Smallmouth Bass 6,890 – report
May 6, 2013 Rainbow Trout 5,000 11 in report
May 3, 2013 Rainbow Trout 5,000 11 in report
September 28, 2012 Rainbow Trout 9,000 10 in report
May 30, 2012 Smallmouth Bass 285 – report
May 7, 2012 Rainbow Trout 5,000 9 in report
April 27, 2012 Rainbow Trout 5,000 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.

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