Border Waters

Individuals fishing on waters that border South Dakota must enter the water and return to shore from the state in which they are licensed and only fish in the waters of the state in which they are licensed. Anglers may not exceed the daily or possession limits established for border waters even if they possess licenses from both adjoining states.

Exceptions are:

Minnesota

Anglers licensed in South Dakota or Minnesota may fish the MN/SD border waters. Residents of states other than South Dakota or Minnesota may fish the MN/SD border waters if in possession of a valid nonresident fishing license issued by either state or if lawfully authorized to fish by either state. Anglers must comply with the laws and rules of the state in which they are licensed. Anglers may launch and/or fish from either shore and must transport their catch to the state in which they are licensed by the most direct route. South Dakota licensed anglers transporting their fish from the Minnesota side must return to South Dakota by the most direct route. 

Nebraska

Any person possessing a valid fishing license or permit issued by South Dakota or Nebraska, or who is legally exempted from license or permit requirements, may fish from a boat or the shore with any legal method in the flowing portions of the Missouri River, including backwaters, sloughs, and chutes that connect to the Missouri River proper within the boundary of South Dakota adjacent to Nebraska. These anglers may also fish with any portion of any oxbow lake that contains a common boundary with Nebraska. From Gavins Point Dam to 0.6 miles downstream, a nonresident Nebraska fishing permit is required for anyone who is not a resident of Nebraska or South Dakota when fishing from boat or either bank. Anglers fishing in the South Dakota- Nebraska border waters shall follow the laws and regulations of the state in which they are licensed or the state in which they are fishing, whichever are more restrictive. 

Iowa

Any licensed angler may fish from boat or either bank in the South Dakota-Iowa border waters of the Big Sioux River if the angler complies with the laws of the state in which they are licensed or the state in which they are fishing, whichever are more restrictive.

North Dakota

Persons fishing on the Missouri River near the South Dakota-North Dakota border line must conform to all the laws of the state in which they are located or actively fishing. Possession of more than one day’s limit on the water is prohibited in both states.