Fishing at Lakota Lake, Custer County, South Dakota

• Overview

  Within Custer County, South Dakota, you have Lakota Lake. Height above sea level is 4,485 feet. This is a pocket water of some 8 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Our Custer County list holds plenty of bigger water. The nearest place of any size is Custer, 12 miles away. Fort Collins sits 242 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Lakota Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Reported across Custer County: rainbow trout, brook trout and bluegill. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Lakota Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 68°F and January about 25°F. The season stretches long at both ends here. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. That shapes the year on Lakota Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. You can park 130 yards away and walk in from there. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Failing this one, try Center Lake, 3.5 miles away. The position on Lakota Lake is worth confirming on the day.