Belle Fourche Reservoir

Belle Fourche Reservoir is a reservoir in Butte County, South Dakota with 8,040 acres and about 173,000 acre-feet of storage.

What Makes Belle Fourche Reservoir Different

Belle Fourche Reservoir, also called Orman Dam, is filled through an inlet canal and used heavily for irrigation. Water levels can pull fish away from shallow cover and toward rock, old channels and the first dependable drop.

How to Fish Belle Fourche Reservoir

At Belle Fourche Reservoir, start with points, the old creek path and the first drop outside shallow water.

On the reservoir, let the water level choose the plan: flooded edges when high, the outside break as water falls and rock or channel turns when the bank is bare.

Fish and Baits at Belle Fourche Reservoir

Fish listed for the reservoir include Black Crappie, Channel Catfish, Common Carp, Freshwater Drum, Gizzard Shad, River Carpsucker, Walleye, White Bass, White Crappie, and Yellow Perch.

Stocking records also list Bluegill for the reservoir. That release record for Belle Fourche Reservoir does not promise steady action on every trip.

Crappie, Sunfish and Perch

For black crappie at Belle Fourche Reservoir, try a small jig or minnow beside brush, weed edges and drop-offs; for white crappie at the reservoir, try a small jig or minnow around wood, creek channels and open-water schools. For stocked bluegill at the reservoir, try a worm, tiny jig or cricket near weeds and shallow cover; for yellow perch at the reservoir, try a small jig, minnow or worm close to bottom near weeds or a drop.

Walleye and Open-Water Fish

For walleye at Belle Fourche Reservoir, try a jig and minnow, crawler rig or crankbait on points, flats and channel edges; for white bass at the reservoir, try a small spoon, jig or shad-colored crankbait where baitfish bunch up. For freshwater drum at Belle Fourche Reservoir, try a worm, jig or small piece of cut bait near bottom.

Catfish, Bullheads and Carp

For channel catfish at Belle Fourche Reservoir, try cut bait, a nightcrawler or prepared bait on flats and channel edges; for common carp at the reservoir, try corn, dough bait or a worm on a simple bottom rig.

Seasonal Fishing at Belle Fourche Reservoir

Spring on Belle Fourche Reservoir usually starts near the warmest protected bank, shallow wood or the first green weeds. During summer at Belle Fourche Reservoir, fish early around shallow cover, then back out toward the creek path or a nearby drop. In fall, follow cooling water and moving bait toward points, green weeds and wind-hit banks at Belle Fourche Reservoir.

A Practical Plan for Belle Fourche Reservoir

On the first pass at Belle Fourche Reservoir, use one moving bait to find active fish and one slower bait to work the best-looking cover, changing depth before replacing everything in the box.

Wind can help on Belle Fourche Reservoir by pushing food toward a bank or point, but hard wind can muddy shallow water; compare the windy side with one protected area before settling in.

Keep a short note after fishing Belle Fourche Reservoir: water color, wind direction, useful depth and the cover that produced. Those details from Belle Fourche Reservoir make the next trip easier to plan.

Tackle for Belle Fourche Reservoir

A medium spinning rod with 8- to 12-pound line covers jigs, small crankbaits and many bait rigs on Belle Fourche Reservoir; add a heavier outfit only when the listed fish or thick cover calls for it.

Belle Fourche Reservoir FAQs

What should I check first after the wind changes on Belle Fourche Reservoir?

Compare a wind-hit point with a protected creek side on Belle Fourche Reservoir, and let clearer water or visible bait decide the next move.

What is a simple bait for gizzard shad at Belle Fourche Reservoir?

A good first choice on Belle Fourche Reservoir is a simple lure or bait; change its depth before replacing everything in the box.

How should I cover the 8,040 acres at Belle Fourche Reservoir?

Pick one section of Belle Fourche Reservoir and test shallow cover, a nearby drop and open water before making a long move.