Lake Sharpe, South Dakota, USA

Lake Sharpe, located on South Dakota Highways 50 and 47 near Chamberlain, and Reliance, is one of the four reservoirs constructed along the Missouri River in South Dakota. (The other three are Lewis and Clark Lake, Lake Oahe, and Lake Francis Case). Lake Sharpe was named after a former South Dakota Governor, Merrill Q. Sharpe, who was influential in the construction of the dams and reservoirs along…
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    • All About Lake Sharpe, SD

    Lake Locations: USA - US Midwest Region - South Dakota - Great Lakes Region, SD -

    Lake Sharpe, located on South Dakota Highways 50 and 47 near Chamberlain, and Reliance, is one of the four reservoirs constructed along the Missouri River in South Dakota. (The other three are Lewis and Clark Lake, Lake Oahe, and Lake Francis Case). Lake Sharpe was named after a former South Dakota Governor, Merrill Q. Sharpe, who was influential in the construction of the dams and reservoirs along the Missouri River. Stretching 80 miles long and with 200 miles of shoreline, Lake Sharpe is a great place for, fishing, hiking, biking, swimming, camping, hunting, boating, or wildlife observing.

    Lake Sharpe was created by impounding the Missouri River near Fort Thompson. Seven miles upstream from the dam, is a unique bend in the Missouri River. At this bend, the Missouri makes almost a complete loop, before returning to the “neck” where the land is not quite a mile wide, hence the name Big Bend Dam. Construction began in 1959, as project of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer under the Pick-Sloan Plan. The Dam was completed in 1964 and measures approximately 10,570 feet long and 95 feet high, it now provides flood control, conservation of fish and wildlife, irrigation, hydropower, and recreation.

    Fishing and Hunting are two popular activities along Lake Sharpe. All public lands around the Lake Sharpe are open to hunting, except for developed recreation areas. Hunting opportunities include, water fowl, upland game birds and big game. Whitetail and mule deer, as well as elk, bison, coyotes and wild turkeys, are the big game animals you can expect to find. The waterfowl and upland game birds include ducks, grouse, prairie chickens, geese, and pheasants. Hunting regulations are established and enforced by the State of South Dakota, and the Lower Brule and Crow Creek Tribes. Walleye, large and small mouth bass, northern pike, catfish, and white bass are the fish of choice in Lake Sharpe. If fishing on reservation land a Tribal license is required.

    There are 19 recreation areas along Lake Sharpe operated by the Corps of Engineers, the State of South Dakota, and Lower Brule Sioux Tribe. Highly developed recreation areas like Left Tailrace and West Bend, include campsites with electrical hookups, shower houses, picnic shelters, boat ramps, fish cleaning stations, and amphitheaters. Primitive recreation areas are also available, such as the North and South Iron Station. Lake Sharpe is a great family retreat. Whether you are looking for a relaxing time on the sandy beaches, or to be exhilarated by the hunt of big game there is always something to do at Lake Sharpe.

    Things to Do at Lake Sharpe

    These are some activities in the Lake Sharpe, SD area visitors can enjoy:

    • Vacation Rentals
    • Fishing
    • Boating
    • Swimming
    • Beach
    • Camping
    • Picnicking
    • Hiking
    • Biking
    • Hunting
    • Wildlife Viewing
    • Birding

    What Kind of Fish Are in Lake Sharpe?

    Lake Sharpe has been known to have the following fish species:

    • Bass
    • Catfish
    • Northern Pike
    • Perch
    • Pike
    • Smallmouth Bass
    • Walleye
    • White Bass
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    Find Places to Stay at Lake Sharpe

    If you’re considering a Lake Sharpe lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

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    More Sites to Book a Lake Sharpe Vacation

    Our interactive Lake Sharpe lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

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    Lake Sharpe Statistics & Helpful Links

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    Lake Type: Artificial Reservoir, Dammed

    Water Level Control: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

    Surface Area: 56,884 acres

    Shoreline Length: 200 miles

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 1,420 feet

    Minimum Elevation (Min Pond): 0 feet

    Maximum Elevation (Max Pond): 1,422 feet

    Maximum Depth: 95 feet

    Water Volume: 1,621,000 acre-feet

    Completion Year: 1966

    Drainage Area: 249,330 sq. miles

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