Shadehill Reservoir Fishing Guide, Perkins County, South Dakota

• Overview

  Shadehill Reservoir falls in Perkins County, part of South Dakota. It lies 2,257 feet above sea level. It covers about 5.9 sq miles, which means weather matters as much as tactics. The shoreline runs to about 33 miles, far more than one trip can cover. For supplies, Lemmon is 15 miles out. Then Hettinger, 26 miles, and Bowman, 63 miles. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Shadehill Reservoir

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Species logged across Perkins County include northern pike, pumpkinseed, green sunfish and largemouth bass. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. On Shadehill Reservoir a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 72°F and January about 15°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Break-up comes around early April, and the run that follows is short and strong. In an average year the thaw lands around early April and the freeze near late November. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Plan any trip to Shadehill Reservoir around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. There is a campsite 0.9 miles from the water. There are toilets mapped about 0.9 miles away. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. If the gate is shut, Flat Creek Lake at 4.9 miles is the nearest alternative. Where Shadehill Reservoir is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.