All waters · South Dakota · Lake Poinsett

Lake Poinsett, SD

Lake in Hamlin County, South Dakota. At 7,900 acres the largest natural lake in northeastern South Dakota's glacial-lakes region, a shallow prairie lake (max ~22 ft) in Hamlin County. Managed primarily as a smallmouth bass, walleye and yellow perch fishery, with white bass, channel catfish, northern pike and panfish over its rock structure and weed flats. A popular open-water and ice-fishing destination in the Glacial Lakes & Prairies region.

62

Overall bite score

Scored 8 min ago · recomputed every 30 minutes

Water tempModeled100
Pressure trendNOAAsteady60
SolunarComputedmoon 46% lit43
Recent stockingState data50
Time of dayComputed50
WindNOAA50
Cloud coverNOAA35
PrecipitationNOAA50

Each instrument reads 0 to 100. The score is their weighted blend, tuned for lakes and reservoirs. No black box: every reading names its source.

What swims here

8 tracked species in Lake Poinsett, with the months each fishes best.

Yellow Perchabundant
Channel Catfishcommon
Northern Pikecommon
Smallmouth Basscommon
Walleyecommon
White Basscommon
White Crappiecommon
Largemouth Basspresent

Water facts

TypeLake
CountyHamlin
StateSouth Dakota
WaterFreshwater

No USGS gauge on this natural glacial lake, so the bite score uses the seasonal baseline. Public access at the Lake Poinsett Recreation Area (SDGFP state rec area) on the south shore and several township/county ramps. Statewide limits apply: walleye 4/day (one 20 in or longer), smallmouth/largemouth 5 combined/day, yellow perch 15/day. Verify on the SDGFP fish limits page.

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