USWaterLevels
🎣 Week of July 26, 2026

South Dakota Weekly Fishing Report

Based on live USGS water temperature data — which lakes are in the ideal zone for your target species this Summer?

🐟 46 Species Active 🏞️ 5 Top Lakes 📅 Summer 2026

📋 This Week's Fishing Forecast

This week's fishing report for South Dakota shows active conditions for July. Water temperatures are supporting strong activity from Alligator Gar, Bighead Carp, Black Bullhead. In total, 46 species are currently within their preferred temperature range across the state. The top-rated water bodies this week include Whetstone River Near Big Stone City, Sd, James River At Ashton,Sd, Missouri River At Yankton, Sd. Whetstone River Near Big Stone City, Sd leads with a fishing suitability score of 29 species in optimal range at 75.2°F (29 active species). Summer heat pushes many fish into deeper, cooler water during midday. Early morning and late evening are the most productive windows. Look for shaded areas, deep channels, and thermoclines.

🏆 Top Lakes This Week — Ideal Water Temperatures

1 Whetstone River Near Big Stone City, Sd
🐟 Alligator Gar 🐟 Bighead Carp 🐟 Black Bullhead 🐟 Blue Catfish 🐟 Bluegill 🐟 Bowfin 🐟 Brown Bullhead 🐟 Burbot 🐟 Chain Pickerel 🐟 Channel Catfish 🐟 Common Carp 🐟 Flathead Catfish 🐟 Freshwater Drum (Sheepshead) 🐟 Grass Carp 🐟 Green Sunfish 🐟 Lake Sturgeon 🐟 Largemouth Bass 🐟 Longnose Gar 🐟 Paddlefish 🐟 Pumpkinseed 🐟 Redear Sunfish (Shellcracker) 🐟 Silver Carp 🐟 Spotted Gar 🐟 Warmouth 🐟 White Bass 🐟 White Crappie 🐟 White Sturgeon 🐟 Yellow Bass 🐟 Yellow Bullhead
75.2°F
Water Temp
29 species active
View current water level & conditions →
2 James River At Ashton,Sd
🐟 Alligator Gar 🐟 Black Bullhead 🐟 Black Crappie 🐟 Bowfin 🐟 Brook Trout 🐟 Brown Bullhead 🐟 Brown Trout 🐟 Bull Trout 🐟 Burbot 🐟 Chain Pickerel 🐟 Cutthroat Trout 🐟 Green Sunfish 🐟 Lake Sturgeon 🐟 Muskellunge (Muskie) 🐟 Northern Pike 🐟 Paddlefish 🐟 Pumpkinseed 🐟 Rainbow Trout 🐟 Sauger 🐟 Smallmouth Bass 🐟 Spotted Gar 🐟 Striped Bass 🐟 Walleye 🐟 Warmouth 🐟 White Perch 🐟 White Sturgeon 🐟 Yellow Bass 🐟 Yellow Bullhead 🐟 Yellow Perch
61.7°F
Water Temp
29 species active
View current water level & conditions →
3 Missouri River At Yankton, Sd
🐟 Alligator Gar 🐟 Bighead Carp 🐟 Black Bullhead 🐟 Blue Catfish 🐟 Bluegill 🐟 Bowfin 🐟 Brown Bullhead 🐟 Burbot 🐟 Chain Pickerel 🐟 Channel Catfish 🐟 Common Carp 🐟 Flathead Catfish 🐟 Freshwater Drum (Sheepshead) 🐟 Grass Carp 🐟 Green Sunfish 🐟 Lake Sturgeon 🐟 Largemouth Bass 🐟 Longnose Gar 🐟 Paddlefish 🐟 Pumpkinseed 🐟 Redear Sunfish (Shellcracker) 🐟 Silver Carp 🐟 Spotted Gar 🐟 Warmouth 🐟 White Bass 🐟 White Sturgeon 🐟 Yellow Bass 🐟 Yellow Bullhead
77.2°F
Water Temp
28 species active
View current water level & conditions →
4 James River At Columbia,Sd
🐟 Alligator Gar 🐟 Black Bullhead 🐟 Bowfin 🐟 Brook Trout 🐟 Brown Bullhead 🐟 Brown Trout 🐟 Bull Trout 🐟 Burbot 🐟 Chain Pickerel 🐟 Chinook Salmon (King Salmon) 🐟 Coho Salmon (Silver Salmon) 🐟 Cutthroat Trout 🐟 Green Sunfish 🐟 Lake Sturgeon 🐟 Northern Pike 🐟 Paddlefish 🐟 Pumpkinseed 🐟 Rainbow Trout 🐟 Sauger 🐟 Spotted Gar 🐟 Walleye 🐟 Warmouth 🐟 White Sturgeon 🐟 Yellow Bass 🐟 Yellow Bullhead 🐟 Yellow Perch
56.3°F
Water Temp
26 species active
View current water level & conditions →
5 Big Sioux River Near Brookings,Sd
🐟 Alligator Gar 🐟 Black Bullhead 🐟 Bowfin 🐟 Brook Trout 🐟 Brown Bullhead 🐟 Bull Trout 🐟 Burbot 🐟 Chain Pickerel 🐟 Chinook Salmon (King Salmon) 🐟 Coho Salmon (Silver Salmon) 🐟 Cutthroat Trout 🐟 Green Sunfish 🐟 Lake Sturgeon 🐟 Lake Trout 🐟 Northern Pike 🐟 Paddlefish 🐟 Pumpkinseed 🐟 Rainbow Trout 🐟 Sauger 🐟 Spotted Gar 🐟 Warmouth 🐟 White Sturgeon 🐟 Yellow Bass 🐟 Yellow Bullhead
51.3°F
Water Temp
24 species active
View current water level & conditions →

🪝 Recommended Baits This Week

deep-diving crankbaits dropshot rigs nightcrawlers topwater poppers (dawn/dusk)

Bait recommendations based on active species and current water conditions in South Dakota

🔥 Active Species This Week

These species currently have water temperatures in their optimal range somewhere in South Dakota.

🐟 Alligator Gar 🐟 Bighead Carp 🐟 Black Bullhead 🐟 Black Crappie 🐟 Blue Catfish 🐟 Bluegill 🐟 Bowfin 🐟 Brook Trout 🐟 Brown Bullhead 🐟 Brown Trout 🐟 Bull Trout 🐟 Burbot 🐟 Chain Pickerel 🐟 Channel Catfish 🐟 Chinook Salmon (King Salmon) 🐟 Coho Salmon (Silver Salmon) 🐟 Common Carp 🐟 Cutthroat Trout 🐟 Flathead Catfish 🐟 Freshwater Drum (Sheepshead) 🐟 Grass Carp 🐟 Green Sunfish 🐟 Lake Sturgeon 🐟 Lake Trout 🐟 Largemouth Bass 🐟 Longnose Gar 🐟 Muskellunge (Muskie) 🐟 Northern Pike 🐟 Paddlefish 🐟 Pumpkinseed 🐟 Rainbow Trout 🐟 Redear Sunfish (Shellcracker) 🐟 Sauger 🐟 Silver Carp 🐟 Smallmouth Bass 🐟 Spotted Gar 🐟 Striped Bass 🐟 Walleye 🐟 Warmouth 🐟 White Bass 🐟 White Crappie 🐟 White Perch 🐟 White Sturgeon 🐟 Yellow Bass 🐟 Yellow Bullhead 🐟 Yellow Perch

📍 Other States

🌡️ Temperature Guide

Below 50°F Trout Season
50–65°F Bass Pre-Spawn
65–75°F Peak Season
75–85°F Catfish & Carp
Above 85°F Fish Stressed

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