Top fish species at Cottonwood

Rainbow trout
Rainbow trout
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Cottonwood fishing reports

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Rainbow trout

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General info

Cottonwood is a lake located in Lyman County, South Dakota, United States. It is most popular for fishing Rainbow trout.

Location

44°05′14″N 100°12′39.5″W
Directions

Fishing regulations at Cottonwood, SD

Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.

Fishing regulations in South Dakota can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.

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Local laws and licenses

South Dakota fishing license

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Cities nearby

Pierre

20.6 miles away

Oahe Acres

26.9 miles away

Reliance

33.5 miles away

Cow Creek

34.8 miles away

Stephan

39.0 miles away

Fort Thompson

39.9 miles away

Chamberlain

48.4 miles away

Agar

52.4 miles away

Bijou Hills

65.7 miles away

Swift Bird

67.6 miles away

Burke

77.5 miles away

Platte

83.7 miles away

Rockham

88.7 miles away

Alpena

91.6 miles away

Storla

93.7 miles away

Glenham

99.9 miles away

Mount Vernon

100.4 miles away

Huron

100.8 miles away

Ashton

105.0 miles away

Spink Colony

105.1 miles away

Wakpala

109.8 miles away

Wasta

110.9 miles away

Mound City

113.4 miles away

Kenel

122.7 miles away

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FAQ about Cottonwood fishing

📍 Where is Cottonwood located?
Cottonwood is a lake located in Lyman County, South Dakota, United States. Its coordinates are:
44°05′14″N 100°12′39.5″W
.
🎣 Where on Cottonwood is it best to fish?
Find the best fishing spots on Cottonwood by looking at where other anglers have caught fish. This can easily be done in the where it is also possible to see big fish potential and how good fishing is right now along with Garmin® depth maps.
🐟 What species are in Cottonwood?
The most common species in Cottonwood are:
📢 What are the latest Cottonwood fishing reports?
The latest Cottonwood fishing reports are:
🪪 Do I need a fishing license to fish at Cottonwood?

Fishing in South Dakota requires a valid state fishing license for anglers. Resident and non-resident annual and short-term licenses are available online or from licensed agents statewide.

In South Dakota, no fishing license is required for anglers under 16 or residents 65 and older. A few other exceptions worth knowing:

  • Free fishing days — most states designate 1–2 weekends a year where anyone can fish without a license

  • Tribal waters — tribal members fishing on tribal land operate under separate tribal regulations

  • Private ponds — landowners fishing their own water typically don't need a license

Non-residents usually pay more for a license than residents. Some species also require an extra stamp or endorsement on top of your base license.

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