Dry Fly Fishing is picking up. Tricos are now hatching on Rapid Creek in town. Trico hatches continue on Spring Creek. Caddis are hatching on Rapid, Spring, Castle, and Spearfish Creeks. Terrestrial fishing is picking up. Beetles, Ants, and Crickets are working well. Hatches of Little Yellow Stones are still occurring on Spring Creek.
This is a great time to fish dry-dropper rigs. A good go to is an Elk Hair Caddis or small Yellow Stimulator with a Tungsten Split Case nymph or Barr's Tung-Teaser dropper.
Lakes in Custer State Park are also fishing well. Callibaetis are hatching on the lakes of the Black Hills.
All around nymph fishing has been consistent throughout the Black Hills. Try a two fly rig with a Tungsten Split Case nymph as a lead fly and a Cheeseman Canyon Emerger as dropper. Streamer fishing is decent on Rapid Creek and Spearfish Creek.
Rapid Creek (Central Black Hills):
Good fishing below the dam through town. Fishing is steady above Pactola at Silver City. Tan Caddis have shown up in town . Nymphing has been best all around technique, however streamers have accounted for bigger fish. Yellow Stones are beginning to hatch below the dam. Look for increasing hatches of PMDs and Tricos.
Spring Creek (Central Black Hills):
Some of the best Black Hills fishing right now. Great dry fly fishing. Lots of fish and they are hungry. Fish dries -tricos, little yellow stones, caddis, beetles, and ants with a dropper. Nymph the deeper pools. Big Trico hatches early in the morning.
Castle Creek (Central Black Hills):
Fishing well below Deerfield Dam. Good baetis hatches when there is cloud cover. Caddis hatches are picking up, little yellow stoneflies to follow.
Spearfish Creek (Northern Black Hills):
Hatches of Caddis, Small BWOs, Little Stones, and Midges at mid-day. Good nymphing in the canyon and in town.
Box Elder Creek (Northern Black Hills):
Good caddis hatches. A few bigger mayflies are showing up. A great stream to fish an attractor dry-dropper rig. Try fishing around Steamboat Rock picnic area or upstream of Nemo near the Box Elder Forks Campground.
Sand Creek (Northern Black Hills):
Dave fished Sand Creek this week and had awesome fishing. He described the hatch as "Clouds of Little Yellow Stoneflies". Had great dry fly fishing and nymphing with little yellow stonefly patterns.
Custer State Park (Southern Black Hills):
Center Lake is fishing well. Great evening rise. Fish a Parachute Adams with a Red Copper John Dropper. French Creek continues to fish well. Grace Coolidge Walk-in area has also been productive. Fished a stimulator with a tungteaser dropper.
Deerfield Lake (Central Black Hills):
Fishing has been reported as good to great. Fish a black mini leech or a bugger. Nice rainbows are cruising near shore.
Sheridan Lake:
No recent reports.
Pactola Lake:
Good bluegill bite in the coves.
That's a wrap. Be sure to call us with any questions regarding guiding or fishing!
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