Larive Lake in Fall River County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  In South Dakota, Larive Lake falls inside Fall River County. It sits at 3,543 feet above sea level. It covers about 3 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. It is a small entry by Fall River County standards. Hot Springs sits 1.4 miles from the bank. Then Custer, 23 miles, and Colonial Pine Hills, 39 miles. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Larive Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Public occurrence data for Fall River County names green sunfish, bluegill, channel catfish, white sucker and black bullhead. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Larive Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 71°F; by January the average is down near 24°F. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough late March. The lid tends to go about late March and return around early December. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. Plan any trip to Larive Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. The nearest mapped parking is half a mile away, so the last stretch is on foot. A camping area sits within 140 yards of here. Facilities run to toilets half a mile from the water. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. For a change of water, Cold Brook Lake is 0.6 miles distant. What applies at Larive Lake may have changed since it was mapped.