Fishing Pactola Reservoir in Pennington County, South Dakota

• Overview

  Pennington County in South Dakota is where Pactola Reservoir sits. It stands 4,616 feet above sea level. It measures some 841 acres, and wind has room to build across it. Among the waters listed for Pennington County, none is wider. Start from Colonial Pine Hills, 11 miles down the road. For a city, Fort Collins is 254 miles off. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Pactola Reservoir

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. County-wide records name brook trout, brown trout and rainbow trout. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Work Pactola Reservoir in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 66°F and January near 24°F. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Look for the thaw near early April; the fishing lifts straight after. Break-up near early April, freeze-up near early December: that is the shape of an average year. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Time your trip to Pactola Reservoir by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. A boat ramp sits half a mile away, so trailered boats can get on. Recorded parking is half a mile off, far enough to travel light. A pier half a mile from here gives a platform over deeper water. There is a campsite half a mile from the water. Public toilets are recorded roughly half a mile off. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Confirm before you fish Pactola Reservoir.