Black Hills Fishing Report

Hot Patterns:

Dries

Yellow Stimulator, Rainy’s Grand Hopper, Big Secret Cricket, Foam Beetle, CDC PMD Thorax Dun, Elk Hair Caddis, Organza Trico Spinner, Adams, Upright Callibaetis Spinner, PMD Sparkle Dun, Barr’s Vis-a-dun PMD

Streamers

Hot Bead Crystal Buggers, White Sculpzilla, Natural Sculpzilla, Mini Leeches

Nymphs

Tungsten PMD Split Case Nymph, Tungsten BWO Split Case Nymph, Tungsten Psycho Nymph, Bubble Back Midge, Red Copper John’s, Tung Ready Baetis Nymph, Cheesman Canyon Emerger, North Fork Specials

Fishing Overview:

Hopper Fishing is picking up. Good reports on hopper fishing on Castle Creek. Hoppers are working well on Rapid Creek in town. Fishing with other terrestrials remains productive. Try a Big Secret Cricket up against the bank. It has been one of our best patterns this season.

Tricos, Pale Morning Duns, and Pale Evening Duns are hatching on Rapid Creek. PMDs and PEDs are also hatching on Spearfish Creek.

Best fishing continues to be on Rapid, Spearfish, and Castle Creeks. The best times of day are from 7:00am to 12:00pm and 4:00pm on.

Rapid Creek (Central Black Hills):

Good fishing below the dam through town. Fishing is decent above Pactola Reservoir at Silver City. Tan Caddis and Tricos are hatching in town. Pale Morning Duns are hatching below Pactola Reservoir. Fish are looking up for terrestrials and PMDs/PEDs/Sulphurs. Nymphing is steady, fish baetis and PMD nymph patterns. Get out between 6:00 and 9:00 am for the trico action. Fishing is best early and late on Rapid Creek in town.

Hoppers, ants, and beetles are working well.

Castle Creek (Central Black Hills):

Hopper fishing is solid on the stretch below Deerfield Dam. Good dry-dropper water. Fish a small rainy’s grand hopper or solitude pany dropper hopper with a dropper of a small copper john. The zebra copper john is a killer bug on castle.

Spearfish Creek (Northern Black Hills):

Same as last week: Hatches of Small BWOs and PEDs. Good nymphing in the canyon and in town. Ant and beetle pattens are working well. Little Spearfish Creek is fishing well with attractor dries. Small Woolly Buggers have been effective on Spearfish.

Spring Creek (Central Black Hills):

Water is warming on Spring Creek. Might be a good idea to give this one a rest.

Box Elder Creek (Northern Black Hills):

Water is warming on Spring Creek. Might be a good idea to give this one a rest too.

Sand Creek (Northern Black Hills):

PMDs hatching still a few caddis and yellow stones. Good fishing. Terrestrial bite is good too.

Custer State Park (Southern Black Hills):

Fish the callibaetis hatch on Sylvan and Center Lakes. Fish early on the Grace Coolidge Walk-in area.

Deerfield Lake (Central Black Hills):

No recent reports.

Sheridan Lake:

No recent reports.

Pactola Lake:

Bluegill fishing should be good, but the fish have moved into deeper water. Focus on drop-offs and weed edges.

That’s a wrap. Be sure to call us with any questions regarding guiding or fishing!

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