Custer State Park is the crown jewel of the South Dakota State Park system. The park sits on 71,000 acres within the Black Hills, and includes campgrounds, hiking trails, waterbodies, wildlife, and four resort managed lodges. Custer State Park is perfect for family vacations, weekend getaways, or day trips. There is truly something for everyone, especially those that love to fish!
What Makes Custer State Park a Destination?
Custer State Park draws over 2 million visitors each year from across the state, country, and world. The annual Buffalo Roundup draws over 24,000 visitors itself, as the park’s bison herd and other wildlife gives individuals the true feeling of the wild west. The combination of campgrounds and resort lodges offer a stay for everyone, and the hiking trails, scenic drives, and local waterbodies provide ample outdoor opportunity.
What Makes the Fishing so Good?
Consistent stockings by South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks maintain abundant rainbow trout populations throughout the park. Additional species such as largemouth bass, northern pike, cutthroat trout, tiger trout, crappie, and bluegill can also be found in the diverse fisheries. There are many fish to find, and waterbodies to find them!
Does Legion Lake Offer Good Fishing?
Legion Lake offers excellent fishing, and even better morning views. Anglers can expect to find rainbow trout, largemouth bass, northern pike, and even crappie in the fishery. Enjoy a sunrise over the lake while enjoying the morning bite or end the day with a burger on the deck and a couple casts. There’s no better way to start or end a day!
Can I Enjoy a Hike While Fishing?
Custer State Park offers numerous hiking trails with everything from a relaxing walk around Legion Lake to a strenuous journey up Sunday Gulch or Little Devils Tower and everything in-between. One way to combine both hiking and fishing is the Grace Coolidge Walk-In Fishery, which provides a 3 mile hiking trail through six lowhead dams that all offer fantastic rainbow trout fishing!
Learn More and Book a Trip
There is much to do in Custer State Park, which makes planning your trip crucial. Check out everything both the park and the resort have to offer on the Custer State Park page of the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks website. Be sure to check out the Tatanka as well, the most important planning publication to find everything for your trip!
See the Fishing in Action
Seeing is believing, and you can see both how exciting the fishing is and how gorgeous the views are by checking out our YouTube page. You can find videos such as Multispecies Morning on Legion Lake in Custer State Park and Hiking into Rainbow Trout in Custer State Park, plus other videos too!
Follow Along on Instagram
Check out all of the latest travel and bites by following Nick on Instagram at mrwalleyesd. Stay up to date on the catches, sights, and adventures by following along!
