Sylvan Lake

Sylvan Lake fishing

Fishing at Sylvan Lake is on a reservoir, stocked with Rainbow Trout, Tiger Trout, Smallmouth Bass, and Cutthroat Trout. It is stocked about 7.9 times a year since 2012, most often in May and June. Species guides list dawn and dusk as the active times.

Last stocked

September 10, 2026

Plants on record

119

Since 2012

Species recorded

4

Average size

12.8 in

Surface acres

19

Elevation

6,145 ft

Access and facts

Water type
reservoir
Nearest town
Custer
Shore access
Yes
Fee required
Yes
Facilities
camping

Small dam-built lake (1891, Sylvan Lake Water Dam) inside Custer State Park, ringed by granite rock formations with hiking trails and a swim area. Small rental boats available; no public launch ramp confirmed. Custer State Park's $25/vehicle daily fee applies.

Sources: water_type , access.shore , access.fee , shore_notes , nearest_town , facilities , photos

View larger map · Open on Google Maps

How Sylvan Lake is stocked

The first plant of the year usually falls in the first week of May. In 2026 it was April 1, 2026, earlier than usual.

No plants recorded in 2020.

Fish at Sylvan Lake

Fishing Sylvan Lake is most likely to be for Rainbow Trout. Rainbow Trout accounts for 114 of 119 plants on record, ahead of Smallmouth Bass and 2 more.

Rainbow Trout 114 plants
Plants
114 of 119
Last stocked
September 10, 2026
Average length
12.8 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Rainbow Trout guide.

Smallmouth Bass 2 plants
Plants
2 of 119
Last stocked
May 31, 2024

Seasons and rigs are on the Smallmouth Bass guide.

Tiger Trout 2 plants
Plants
2 of 119
Last stocked
October 4, 2023
Average length
12.8 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Tiger Trout guide.

Cutthroat Trout 1 plant
Plants
1 of 119
Last stocked
October 9, 2024

Seasons and rigs are on the Cutthroat Trout guide.

Fish stocked per year

  • 8,4552012
  • 9,4452013
  • 9,4452014
  • 9,3432015
  • 9,3952016
  • 9,3202017
  • 7,6812018
  • 12,1342019
  • 9,2002021
  • 11,2032022
  • 10,5082023
  • 10,1402024
  • 7,4002025
  • 7,2002026

Stocking history

Showing 15 of 119 plants Showing 119 plants

Source: South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP).
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
September 10, 2026 Rainbow Trout 800 15.2 in report
September 9, 2026 Rainbow Trout 1,600 15.2 in report
June 15, 2026 Rainbow Trout 1,200 14 in report
May 21, 2026 Rainbow Trout 1,200 13 in report
April 8, 2026 Rainbow Trout 544 12.2 in report
April 7, 2026 Rainbow Trout 543 12.2 in report
April 7, 2026 Rainbow Trout 113 17 in report
April 1, 2026 Rainbow Trout 1,200 12.6 in report
September 4, 2025 Rainbow Trout 1,400 12.8 in report
September 3, 2025 Rainbow Trout 1,000 15.2 in report
June 16, 2025 Rainbow Trout 585 14 in report
June 16, 2025 Rainbow Trout 615 14.5 in report
May 27, 2025 Rainbow Trout 1,200 13 in report
May 6, 2025 Rainbow Trout 200 15.5 in report
April 23, 2025 Rainbow Trout 1,200 14 in report
April 14, 2025 Rainbow Trout 1,200 13 in report
October 9, 2024 Cutthroat Trout 2,413 – report
October 9, 2024 Rainbow Trout 536 14 in report
October 2, 2024 Rainbow Trout 289 15.2 in report
October 2, 2024 Rainbow Trout 775 14 in report
August 23, 2024 Rainbow Trout 273 15.2 in report
August 22, 2024 Rainbow Trout 1,176 14.5 in report
June 6, 2024 Rainbow Trout 1,500 12.4 in report
May 31, 2024 Smallmouth Bass 51 – report
May 22, 2024 Smallmouth Bass 27 – report
May 16, 2024 Rainbow Trout 1,500 13 in report
April 22, 2024 Rainbow Trout 150 12.8 in report
April 22, 2024 Rainbow Trout 1,450 12.6 in report
October 4, 2023 Tiger Trout 1,313 12.8 in report
September 18, 2023 Rainbow Trout 1,589 13 in report
August 15, 2023 Rainbow Trout 1,500 12.6 in report
June 20, 2023 Rainbow Trout 1,500 11.6 in report
June 7, 2023 Rainbow Trout 200 15.5 in report
June 7, 2023 Rainbow Trout 1,300 12.4 in report
May 24, 2023 Rainbow Trout 3,106 13 in report
September 12, 2022 Rainbow Trout 500 12.4 in report
August 24, 2022 Rainbow Trout 1,316 14 in report
June 27, 2022 Rainbow Trout 1,500 11.4 in report
June 13, 2022 Tiger Trout 6,287 – report
April 26, 2022 Rainbow Trout 100 17 in report
April 26, 2022 Rainbow Trout 1,500 12.8 in report
September 28, 2021 Rainbow Trout 100 14 in report
September 28, 2021 Rainbow Trout 1,500 – report
September 24, 2021 Rainbow Trout 1,500 12 in report
June 30, 2021 Rainbow Trout 1,500 11.4 in report
May 17, 2021 Rainbow Trout 100 12.8 in report
May 17, 2021 Rainbow Trout 4,500 11 in report
October 3, 2019 Rainbow Trout 100 15 in report
October 3, 2019 Rainbow Trout 1,520 11 in report
August 22, 2019 Rainbow Trout 1,520 11 in report
June 25, 2019 Rainbow Trout 1,520 11 in report
June 4, 2019 Rainbow Trout 1,520 11 in report
May 8, 2019 Rainbow Trout 2,977 11 in report
May 8, 2019 Rainbow Trout 2,977 11 in report
October 9, 2018 Rainbow Trout 1,477 11 in report
October 4, 2018 Rainbow Trout 124 15 in report
September 6, 2018 Rainbow Trout 1,520 11 in report
June 25, 2018 Rainbow Trout 1,520 11 in report
May 31, 2018 Rainbow Trout 1,520 11 in report
May 4, 2018 Rainbow Trout 1,520 11 in report
October 6, 2017 Rainbow Trout 100 15 in report
October 6, 2017 Rainbow Trout 1,520 – report
August 22, 2017 Rainbow Trout 1,520 10.6 in report
June 27, 2017 Rainbow Trout 1,520 10.6 in report
June 1, 2017 Rainbow Trout 1,520 11.2 in report
May 12, 2017 Rainbow Trout 531 12.2 in report
May 12, 2017 Rainbow Trout 100 15 in report
May 2, 2017 Rainbow Trout 2,509 11.8 in report
September 28, 2016 Rainbow Trout 1,520 11.2 in report
August 22, 2016 Rainbow Trout 50 15 in report
August 22, 2016 Rainbow Trout 1,520 10 in report
June 28, 2016 Rainbow Trout 1,520 11 in report
June 1, 2016 Rainbow Trout 75 15 in report
June 1, 2016 Rainbow Trout 1,520 10 in report
May 16, 2016 Rainbow Trout 75 15 in report
May 16, 2016 Rainbow Trout 1,520 11 in report
April 19, 2016 Rainbow Trout 75 15 in report
April 19, 2016 Rainbow Trout 1,520 11 in report
October 15, 2015 Rainbow Trout 1,520 10.6 in report
October 15, 2015 Rainbow Trout 50 15 in report
August 31, 2015 Rainbow Trout 1,520 9.6 in report
August 31, 2015 Rainbow Trout 50 15 in report
June 29, 2015 Rainbow Trout 1,418 11.8 in report
June 2, 2015 Rainbow Trout 1,520 10.8 in report
June 2, 2015 Rainbow Trout 75 15 in report
May 20, 2015 Rainbow Trout 75 15 in report
May 20, 2015 Rainbow Trout 1,520 11.2 in report
April 21, 2015 Rainbow Trout 75 15 in report
April 21, 2015 Rainbow Trout 1,520 10.8 in report
September 22, 2014 Rainbow Trout 50 15 in report
September 22, 2014 Rainbow Trout 1,520 10.4 in report
September 3, 2014 Rainbow Trout 1,520 11.4 in report
September 3, 2014 Rainbow Trout 50 15 in report
July 2, 2014 Rainbow Trout 1,520 10.4 in report
June 5, 2014 Rainbow Trout 1,520 10.4 in report
June 5, 2014 Rainbow Trout 75 15 in report
May 6, 2014 Rainbow Trout 1,520 10.8 in report
May 6, 2014 Rainbow Trout 75 15 in report
April 25, 2014 Rainbow Trout 1,520 11.2 in report
April 25, 2014 Rainbow Trout 75 15 in report
October 16, 2013 Rainbow Trout 50 15 in report
October 16, 2013 Rainbow Trout 1,520 11.6 in report
September 5, 2013 Rainbow Trout 1,520 12 in report
September 5, 2013 Rainbow Trout 50 15 in report
July 3, 2013 Rainbow Trout 1,520 10.8 in report
May 29, 2013 Rainbow Trout 1,520 10.8 in report
May 29, 2013 Rainbow Trout 75 15 in report
May 13, 2013 Rainbow Trout 150 15 in report
May 13, 2013 Rainbow Trout 3,040 12 in report
October 11, 2012 Rainbow Trout 1,520 11.2 in report
September 4, 2012 Rainbow Trout 50 15 in report
September 4, 2012 Rainbow Trout 1,520 9.6 in report
July 6, 2012 Rainbow Trout 1,520 9.8 in report
June 12, 2012 Rainbow Trout 75 15 in report
June 12, 2012 Rainbow Trout 1,520 10.6 in report
May 17, 2012 Rainbow Trout 75 15 in report
May 17, 2012 Rainbow Trout 580 11.4 in report
April 30, 2012 Rainbow Trout 75 15 in report
April 30, 2012 Rainbow Trout 1,520 11.4 in report
Show 104 more plants Show less

Species stocked here

Depth-by-season, top lures, and bait notes for each species stocked here are on its own species guide, linked above.

Nearest lakes