Cheyenne River Fishing Guides
A prairie river carrying Black Hills and Badlands runoff across western South Dakota to Lake Oahe, silty and unglamorous but full of catfish and sauger.
Guides on the Cheyenne River
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About the Cheyenne River
The Cheyenne River gathers in eastern Wyoming, swings north around the southern end of the Black Hills, and crosses western South Dakota to meet the Missouri in the upper end of Lake Oahe. The USGS gauge near Wasta watches roughly twelve thousand seven hundred square miles, a drainage that includes the Badlands and much of the Black Hills’ western slope. It reports discharge and stage and carries no active temperature series, so flow and recent storm activity are the working numbers for anyone planning a day.
This is a plains river and it makes no apology for it. The channel runs wide, shallow and braided over sand and silt between cut banks of tan clay, and the water is habitually the color of coffee with cream. Flows swing violently: a summer thunderstorm over the Badlands can raise the river several feet in a day, and the same reach can be nearly walkable a week later. Much of the lower river runs through the Cheyenne River Sioux and Pine Ridge reservations, where tribal permits govern access and should be arranged before arriving.
The fishery is a genuine one and is dominated by species suited to turbid prairie water. Channel catfish are everywhere and are the primary target, with flathead catfish in the deeper holes and log jams. Walleye and sauger run up out of Lake Oahe, particularly in spring, and smallmouth bass, freshwater drum, goldeye and shovelnose sturgeon round out the catch.
There is no established guided drift trade on the middle river. Practical use is bank fishing at bridge crossings, wading the shallow bars, and small-boat work near the Oahe confluence when the reservoir backs water into the channel. Anyone planning a trip should confirm current tribal permit requirements and access rules for the reach they intend to fish, since they differ between the two reservations.
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Access
Wasta bridge and gauge site on Interstate 90 - the flow reference and easy bank access.
Cheyenne River bridge near Wall - road-supported access to the Badlands reach.
Red Shirt Table area - upstream access within the Pine Ridge Reservation; tribal permit required.
Cherry Creek confluence - tributary mouth on the Cheyenne River Reservation.
Bridger and Highway 63 crossing - middle-river access with limited facilities.
Cheyenne River arm of Lake Oahe - boat access where the river meets the reservoir.
Angostura area on the upper Cheyenne - reservoir and tailwater fishing near Hot Springs.
Seasons
Spring: highest and dirtiest flows, but the walleye and sauger run out of Oahe is the year's best fishing.
Summer: low, warm and clearing between storms; prime channel catfish water.
Fall: stable low flows, cooling water and good catfish and smallmouth fishing.
Winter: ice and very low flow; activity shifts to the reservoir arm.
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Questions
What is the current flow on the Cheyenne River?
As of Nov 2, 7:30 am, the USGS gauge CHEYENNE RIVER NEAR WASTA, SD reads 87 cfs. Conditions update every 15 minutes.
What species can you catch on the Cheyenne River?
Anglers target Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Freshwater Drum, Goldeye, Sauger, Shovelnose Sturgeon, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye on the Cheyenne River in South Dakota.
Where can you access the Cheyenne River?
Wasta bridge and gauge site on Interstate 90 - the flow reference and easy bank access. Cheyenne River bridge near Wall - road-supported access to the Badlands reach. Red Shirt Table area - upstream access within the Pine Ridge Reservation; tribal permit required. Cherry Creek confluence - tributary mouth on the Cheyenne River Reservation. Bridger and Highway 63 crossing - middle-river access with limited facilities. Cheyenne River arm of Lake Oahe - boat access where the river meets the reservoir. Angostura area on the upper Cheyenne - reservoir and tailwater fishing near Hot Springs.
When is the best time to fish the Cheyenne River?
Spring: highest and dirtiest flows, but the walleye and sauger run out of Oahe is the year's best fishing. Summer: low, warm and clearing between storms; prime channel catfish water. Fall: stable low flows, cooling water and good catfish and smallmouth fishing. Winter: ice and very low flow; activity shifts to the reservoir arm.
Where are the fishing regulations for the Cheyenne River?
Regulations change by season and section. Read the current rules on the South Dakota agency site: https://gfp.sd.gov/regulations/