Reservoir · Buffalo, South Dakota
Lake Sharpe
Lake Sharpe
Reservoir · South Dakota
Information Only
StrikeTracks does not currently provide a live condition rating for this destination. Destination and fishery information is still available.
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Fishery Profile
Documented species you may encounter at Lake Sharpe.
Species images are AI-generated illustrations for visual reference and may simplify natural variation. Fishery records are based on the cited agency sources. About fish illustrations
Fishery overview
Lake Sharpe is the distinct Big Bend Dam Missouri River reservoir between Oahe Dam and Fort Randall Dam. StrikeTracks publishes complete static Fishery with catalog-visible Unavailable conditions because no qualifying same-lake live USGS 00010 exists. Upstream Oahe and downstream Francis Case are different physical pools. This is not a copy of the GFP four-reservoir list as a class.
Target species
Walleye
Sander vitreus
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Stocked
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
GFP Missouri River exceptions name Lake Sharpe / Big Bend as a distinct walleye reservoir. Not Oahe walleye numbers as a copy and not Francis Case Fort Randall walleye as a substitute pin.
Channel Catfish
Ictalurus punctatus
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
GFP Missouri River channel catfish on Lake Sharpe. Not Pactola catfish context; this is a warmwater mainstem pool.
Smallmouth Bass
Micropterus dolomieu
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
GFP Lake Sharpe smallmouth on Big Bend rock structure. Not Oahe smallmouth as a copy.
White Bass
Morone chrysops
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
GFP Lake Sharpe white-bass fishery on the Big Bend pool. Not Lewis and Clark white bass as a substitute.
Northern Pike
Esox lucius
- Expectation
- Present
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
GFP lists northern pike among Lake Sharpe Missouri River game fish. Not Thompson glacial pike as a substitute pin.
Fishery characteristics
- Composition
- Mixed wild and stocked
Mainstem Missouri River reservoir created by Big Bend Dam, with canyon-wall shoreline and the Lower Brule / Pierre-to-Chamberlain corridor. Catalog coordinates are the USACE Big Bend Dam / GFP Lake Sharpe identity, not Oahe Dam and not Fort Randall Dam.
Best seasons
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall
Common techniques
- Boat fishing
- Shore fishing
- Spinning
- Trolling
Access and Public Fishing Rights
GFP and USACE document public boat ramps and recreation around Big Bend Dam and Lake Sharpe. Ramp availability depends on pool elevation. Catalog coordinates are not a verified launch pin.
Stocking information
GFP manages Lake Sharpe as a distinct Missouri River walleye and bass reservoir. Confirm current official GFP notices. Seasonal fishing closures are not condition science.
- Stocked
Walleye
Stocked · South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks
Official sources
South Dakota fishing license required. GFP Missouri River fishing exceptions apply on Lake Sharpe and differ from inland lakes and from Oahe-specific harvest notices. Confirm current GFP Missouri River regulations.
conditionPublicationPolicy=static-value-structural-unavailable. Lake Sharpe is the distinct Big Bend Dam Missouri River reservoir named by GFP as a separate Missouri-system fishery from Oahe and Francis Case, with destination-specific USACE Big Bend recreation and GFP Missouri River regulations. inlandHasCompleteStaticFisheryValue passes on official GFP fishery, access, and regulations. No qualifying same-lake live USGS 00010 exists; Oahe pool temperature, Fort Randall tailwater, stage, and elevation/storage are not accepted lake Monitoring or Estimated science. HIGH plus PATH B does not bulk-approve the four Missouri reservoirs; public catalog-visible Unavailable is approved because Sharpe has independent customer identity as the Big Bend pool, and honest Unavailable plus complete static Fishery is independently useful from Oahe and Francis Case. This justification is Sharpe-specific and does not copy Oahe or Francis Case prose.
Location and Access
Cataloged lake location
Buffalo, South Dakota
The map marker represents the cataloged waterbody or monitoring location and may not indicate legal parking or public access. Confirm access through the official information before visiting.
Lake Details
County
Buffalo
Management Category
Missouri River mainstem hydropower reservoir
Regulation Scope
Lake Sharpe
Regulation Summary
Lake Sharpe: GFP Missouri River reservoir rules on the Big Bend pool. Confirm current official regulations.
Target Species
Walleye, Smallmouth Bass, White Bass, Channel Catfish, Northern Pike
Public Access
Public
Boat Launch
Available
Shore Fishing
Available
Description
Lake Sharpe, Buffalo County, South Dakota. Missouri River mainstem reservoir behind Big Bend Dam. Catalog-visible Unavailable: no qualifying same-lake live USGS water temperature (00010). Upstream Oahe pool temperature, downstream Fort Randall tailwater, river stage, and reservoir elevation/storage are not Lake Sharpe pool thermal. Not Lake Oahe and not Lake Francis Case.
