Lewis and Clark Lake near Yankton: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  This water sits in Yankton County, South Dakota. The surface lies 1,198 feet up. Surface area runs to some 38.2 sq miles, so a boat and a plan are both worth having. The edge bends in and out, so one side is usually calmer than the other. It is the biggest water on our Yankton County list. The closest town, Yankton, is 4.8 miles distant. Hartington is 20 miles away, with Springfield at 21 miles. The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Lewis and Clark Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. County-wide records name flathead catfish, freshwater drum and paddlefish. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. The near bank of Lewis and Clark Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 75°F and January reads 18°F. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. After late March the shallows warm and the fish move up. Expect the water usable from around late March until roughly early December. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. The season on Lewis and Clark Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. Boat access is recorded roughly half a mile away. Lewis & Clark Marina sits half a mile away and handles boats. Parking is mapped about half a mile from the bank. There are toilets half a mile off. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Lake Yankton sits 1.1 miles off and takes the overflow. Nothing on Lewis and Clark Lake should be assumed from this page alone.