Sheridan Lake fishing

Sheridan Lake fishing is stocked with Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass, and Walleye on a reservoir. Also recorded: Largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Northern Pike, Rock Bass, and 4 more. 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, Smallmouth Bass, and Largemouth Bass, dawn, dusk, and night for Walleye, Black Crappie, and Rock Bass, and dawn, day, and dusk for Yellow Perch, Bluegill, and Northern Pike.

Sheridan Lake
Photo: Sheridanmarina (English Wikipedia), Public domain
Last stocked
October 15, 2026
· Rainbow Trout
Plants on record
139
Since 2012
Species stocked
3 (+10 also recorded)
Average size
13.2 in
Surface acres
370
Elevation
4,630 ft

Fish at Sheridan Lake

3 stocked · 10 confirmed present

Rainbow Trout Stocked · 111 plants · last April 15, 2026 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked April 15, 2026 · avg 13.2 in · 111 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Rainbow Trout species guide
Walleye Stocked · 20 plants · last May 21, 2026 Best: dawn, dusk, night

Last stocked May 21, 2026 · 20 plants

Best: dawn, dusk, night

Walleye species guide
Smallmouth Bass Stocked · 5 plants · last May 31, 2018 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked May 31, 2018 · 5 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Smallmouth Bass species guide

How Sheridan Lake is stocked

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

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

Fish stocked in 2012

19,285

Fish stocked in 2013

25,890

Fish stocked in 2014

19,079

Fish stocked in 2015

19,000

Fish stocked in 2016

19,721

Fish stocked in 2017

34,653

Fish stocked in 2018

23,023

Fish stocked in 2019

37,888

Fish stocked in 2020

15,877

Fish stocked in 2021

41,383

Fish stocked in 2022

124,062

Fish stocked in 2023

91,494

Fish stocked in 2024

327,139

Fish stocked in 2025

89,730

Fish stocked in 2026

617,279

Stocking history

Source: South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP).
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
October 15, 2026Rainbow Trout1,18613 inreport
October 15, 2026Rainbow Trout2,08811.8 inreport
October 15, 2026Rainbow Trout1,84013 inreport
May 21, 2026Walleye32,271–report
April 18, 2026Walleye580,000–report
April 15, 2026Rainbow Trout1,76013 inreport
April 13, 2026Rainbow Trout1,76013 inreport
April 8, 2026Rainbow Trout1,48814.5 inreport
October 1, 2025Rainbow Trout48019.5 inreport
September 19, 2025Rainbow Trout71413 inreport
September 18, 2025Rainbow Trout71413 inreport
September 11, 2025Rainbow Trout82417 inreport
September 10, 2025Rainbow Trout35017 inreport
September 9, 2025Rainbow Trout35017 inreport
September 8, 2025Rainbow Trout42815.5 inreport
June 2, 2025Walleye80,930–report
May 15, 2025Walleye121–report
March 26, 2025Rainbow Trout2,69012.8 inreport
March 25, 2025Rainbow Trout1,39414 inreport
March 21, 2025Rainbow Trout73513 inreport
December 10, 2024Rainbow Trout1,46614.5 inreport
December 9, 2024Rainbow Trout1423.5 inreport
December 9, 2024Rainbow Trout13715.2 inreport
December 6, 2024Rainbow Trout2,55714 inreport
December 6, 2024Rainbow Trout1,90715.2 inreport
December 6, 2024Rainbow Trout22014 inreport
December 4, 2024Rainbow Trout1,60015.2 inreport
September 12, 2024Rainbow Trout81614 inreport
September 12, 2024Rainbow Trout3,26414 inreport
September 11, 2024Rainbow Trout2,91012.4 inreport
September 11, 2024Rainbow Trout75614 inreport
September 11, 2024Rainbow Trout1,55214 inreport
September 10, 2024Rainbow Trout1,55214 inreport
September 10, 2024Rainbow Trout86013 inreport
July 9, 2024Walleye16,793–report
July 2, 2024Walleye11,700–report
May 10, 2024Walleye224,400–report
May 9, 2024Walleye41,698–report
April 11, 2024Rainbow Trout66418.5 inreport
April 10, 2024Rainbow Trout60819.5 inreport
April 9, 2024Rainbow Trout1,21619.5 inreport
March 22, 2024Rainbow Trout77618.5 inreport
March 18, 2024Rainbow Trout4,12912 inreport
March 14, 2024Rainbow Trout1,47211.6 inreport
March 13, 2024Rainbow Trout1,86412 inreport
March 13, 2024Rainbow Trout2,20811.6 inreport
December 14, 2023Rainbow Trout1,54414 inreport
December 7, 2023Rainbow Trout1,44814.5 inreport
October 4, 2023Rainbow Trout78213 inreport
October 3, 2023Rainbow Trout2,62213 inreport
September 28, 2023Rainbow Trout1,70213 inreport
September 27, 2023Rainbow Trout48819.5 inreport
September 27, 2023Rainbow Trout62713 inreport
September 27, 2023Rainbow Trout10015.2 inreport
September 14, 2023Rainbow Trout1,71015.2 inreport
September 13, 2023Rainbow Trout1,20015.2 inreport
July 26, 2023Walleye4,513–report
July 25, 2023Walleye18,414–report
July 21, 2023Walleye43,928–report
June 8, 2023Walleye1,468–report
April 13, 2023Rainbow Trout3,44411.2 inreport
April 13, 2023Rainbow Trout3,36011.2 inreport
April 12, 2023Rainbow Trout2,12012.6 inreport
April 11, 2023Rainbow Trout2,02412.8 inreport
October 5, 2022Rainbow Trout67618.5 inreport
September 28, 2022Rainbow Trout65618.5 inreport
September 20, 2022Rainbow Trout98612.4 inreport
September 19, 2022Rainbow Trout1,08812 inreport
September 19, 2022Rainbow Trout1,10212.4 inreport
September 16, 2022Rainbow Trout1,25811.6 inreport
September 15, 2022Rainbow Trout1,25811.6 inreport
September 15, 2022Rainbow Trout88817 inreport
July 7, 2022Walleye21,024–report
May 16, 2022Walleye85,000–report
April 5, 2022Rainbow Trout1,22711.8 inreport
April 4, 2022Rainbow Trout1,22711.8 inreport
April 4, 2022Rainbow Trout2,74411.8 inreport
March 31, 2022Rainbow Trout1,16611.8 inreport
March 28, 2022Rainbow Trout3,76212 inreport
November 5, 2021Rainbow Trout2,85012.8 inreport
September 29, 2021Walleye3,375–report
September 29, 2021Walleye3,600–report
September 9, 2021Rainbow Trout6,38410 inreport
September 7, 2021Rainbow Trout2,69612 inreport
June 12, 2021Walleye15,000–report
May 7, 2021Rainbow Trout2,48513 inreport
May 6, 2021Rainbow Trout2,48513 inreport
April 28, 2021Rainbow Trout2,50813 inreport
November 2, 2020Rainbow Trout3,06612.6 inreport
September 17, 2020Rainbow Trout1,93814.5 inreport
September 16, 2020Rainbow Trout1,93814.5 inreport
September 15, 2020Rainbow Trout1,64914.5 inreport
September 15, 2020Rainbow Trout17017 inreport
May 7, 2020Rainbow Trout66615 inreport
May 6, 2020Rainbow Trout1,83611 inreport
May 5, 2020Rainbow Trout2,91411 inreport
April 29, 2020Rainbow Trout1,70011 inreport
September 11, 2019Rainbow Trout1,420–report
August 28, 2019Walleye4,080–report
June 16, 2019Walleye21,420–report
April 29, 2019Rainbow Trout3,93411 inreport
April 26, 2019Rainbow Trout3,47711 inreport
April 17, 2019Rainbow Trout3,55711 inreport
October 18, 2018Rainbow Trout2,800–report
September 11, 2018Rainbow Trout3,64812 inreport
September 11, 2018Rainbow Trout52411 inreport
September 11, 2018Rainbow Trout2,27611 inreport
September 10, 2018Rainbow Trout3,64812 inreport
May 31, 2018Smallmouth Bass250–report
April 20, 2018Rainbow Trout1,00011.2 inreport
April 19, 2018Rainbow Trout8,87711.2 inreport
October 10, 2017Walleye14,000–report
September 19, 2017Rainbow Trout10,19011 inreport
June 16, 2017Smallmouth Bass275–report
March 30, 2017Rainbow Trout5,40011 inreport
March 29, 2017Rainbow Trout4,78811 inreport
September 12, 2016Rainbow Trout1,28411 inreport
September 9, 2016Rainbow Trout7,70411 inreport
June 6, 2016Smallmouth Bass300–report
April 8, 2016Rainbow Trout3,66611 inreport
April 7, 2016Rainbow Trout3,75111 inreport
April 5, 2016Rainbow Trout3,01611 inreport
September 9, 2015Rainbow Trout3,13911 inreport
September 9, 2015Rainbow Trout5,86111 inreport
April 10, 2015Rainbow Trout8,22011 inreport
April 8, 2015Rainbow Trout1,78011 inreport
September 15, 2014Rainbow Trout1,00010.2 inreport
September 9, 2014Rainbow Trout8,079–report
May 6, 2014Rainbow Trout1,12011 inreport
April 24, 2014Rainbow Trout4,44911 inreport
April 23, 2014Rainbow Trout4,43111 inreport
September 20, 2013Rainbow Trout9,0009.8 inreport
July 17, 2013Smallmouth Bass6,890–report
May 6, 2013Rainbow Trout5,00011 inreport
May 3, 2013Rainbow Trout5,00011 inreport
September 28, 2012Rainbow Trout9,00010 inreport
May 30, 2012Smallmouth Bass285–report
May 7, 2012Rainbow Trout5,0009 inreport
April 27, 2012Rainbow Trout5,00011 inreport

Access and facts

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

Boat launches on the north and south shores, each with shore fishing and floating docks. More floating docks and an ADA ramp to the fishing piers sit at a parking lot off Hwy 385 on the west end. The north shore marina rents slips and sells angler supplies.

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 Sheridan Lake

Photo of Sheridan Lake
Sheridanmarina (English Wikipedia), Public domain
Photo of Sheridan Lake
USFS, via Recreation.gov, Public domain (US federal government work, 17 U.S.C. 105)
Photo of Sheridan Lake
USFS, via Recreation.gov, Public domain (US federal government work, 17 U.S.C. 105)

Nearest lakes

Pactola Reservoir 7.1 mi last stocked September 9, 2026 Sylvan Lake 10.5 mi last stocked September 10, 2026 Deerfield Reservoir 17 mi last stocked September 9, 2026 Angostura Reservoir 43.6 mi last stocked April 24, 2026 Belle Fourche Reservoir 53.7 mi last stocked May 8, 2026

Common questions

What fish are at Sheridan Lake?

Fishing Sheridan Lake usually means Rainbow Trout: Rainbow Trout accounts for 111 of 136 plants on record, ahead of Walleye and one more. Rainbow Trout was last stocked April 15, 2026, averaging 13.2 in. Walleye was last stocked May 21, 2026. Smallmouth Bass was last stocked May 31, 2018. Largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Black Crappie, and Bluegill, plus 6 more are recorded here outside the stocking reports.

When is Sheridan Lake stocked?

Last stocked October 15, 2026. It is stocked about 9.1 times a year since 2012, most often in April and September. About 4,069 reported fish per acre, the most of 3 lakes in Pennington County with both a fish count and a surface area.

How big are the fish stocked at Sheridan Lake?

Rainbow Trout stocked at Sheridan Lake average 13.2 in.

How do you get on Sheridan Lake?

The nearest town is Hill City. Facilities include restrooms, camping, and dock. Boat launches on the north and south shores, each with shore fishing and floating docks. More floating docks and an ADA ramp to the fishing piers sit at a parking lot off Hwy 385 on the west end. The north shore marina rents slips and sells angler supplies.

Which lakes near Sheridan Lake were stocked more recently?

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.

Sources (6) +