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Bield:Fish
Fish stocking schedule

South Dakota fish stocking schedule 2026.

Stocking NowSouth Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks

South Dakota's Black Hills trout stockings support some of the most accessible trout fishing in the central US — Spearfish Creek, Rapid Creek, and Custer State Park lakes receive regular stockings spring through fall.

Official source

South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks Stocking Report

South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks publishes the authoritative South Dakota stocking schedule — Annual updates in Searchable database format. For this week's actual stocking locations, dates, and volumes, view the official report directly.

View official South Dakota stocking report

This page summarizes the South Dakota stocking program for planning purposes. The agency report is the authoritative source — verify before any trip.

Primary stocked species in South Dakota

Typical stocking pattern by species. Heavy fill marks primary stocking months; moderate fill marks possible stocking. Verify exact dates against the official report.

  • Rainbow TroutOncorhynchus mykiss
    JanJan — no stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesFebFeb — no stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesMarMar — moderate stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesAprApr — heavy stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesMayMay — heavy stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesJunJun — heavy stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesJulJul — no stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesAugAug — no stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesSepSep — heavy stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesOctOct — heavy stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesNovNov — moderate stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesDecDec — no stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inches
    Typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inches
  • Brown TroutSalmo trutta
    JanJan — no stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesFebFeb — no stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesMarMar — moderate stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesAprApr — heavy stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesMayMay — heavy stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesJunJun — heavy stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesJulJul — no stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesAugAug — no stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesSepSep — heavy stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesOctOct — heavy stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesNovNov — moderate stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesDecDec — no stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inches
    Typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inches
  • Brook TroutSalvelinus fontinalis
    JanJan — no stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableFebFeb — no stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableMarMar — moderate stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableAprApr — heavy stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableMayMay — heavy stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableJunJun — heavy stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableJulJul — no stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableAugAug — no stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableSepSep — heavy stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableOctOct — heavy stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableNovNov — moderate stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableDecDec — no stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchable
    Typical size: 8–11 inch catchable
  • WalleyeSander vitreus
    JanJan — no stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingFebFeb — no stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingMarMar — no stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingAprApr — heavy stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingMayMay — heavy stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingJunJun — heavy stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingJulJul — no stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingAugAug — no stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingSepSep — heavy stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingOctOct — heavy stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingNovNov — no stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingDecDec — no stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerling
    Typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerling
  • Kokanee SalmonOncorhynchus nerka
    JanJan — no stocking Kokanee Salmon typical size: 2–3 inch fingerlingFebFeb — no stocking Kokanee Salmon typical size: 2–3 inch fingerlingMarMar — moderate stocking Kokanee Salmon typical size: 2–3 inch fingerlingAprApr — heavy stocking Kokanee Salmon typical size: 2–3 inch fingerlingMayMay — heavy stocking Kokanee Salmon typical size: 2–3 inch fingerlingJunJun — heavy stocking Kokanee Salmon typical size: 2–3 inch fingerlingJulJul — no stocking Kokanee Salmon typical size: 2–3 inch fingerlingAugAug — no stocking Kokanee Salmon typical size: 2–3 inch fingerlingSepSep — heavy stocking Kokanee Salmon typical size: 2–3 inch fingerlingOctOct — heavy stocking Kokanee Salmon typical size: 2–3 inch fingerlingNovNov — no stocking Kokanee Salmon typical size: 2–3 inch fingerlingDecDec — no stocking Kokanee Salmon typical size: 2–3 inch fingerling
    Typical size: 2–3 inch fingerling

Notable South Dakota programs

  • Black Hills Trout Streams
  • Walleye Reservoir Stocking
  • Custer State Park Lakes

State hatchery system

South Dakota operates 3 state-run fish hatcheries supporting the stocking program.

Weekly stocking alerts for South Dakota.

Bield: Fish reads South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks's stocking reports and alerts you when your saved waters are stocked. Set your county once and you'll know the day fish hit your home river.

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