Black Hills Fishing Report August 22, 2022
Sorry for the delay since the last report. Not too many changes on the fishing front. Thankfully it looks like we will have cooler weather with increased chances of rain and thundershowers. Flows have dropped a bit and water is clear in most areas. Overall, that makes fish a bit pickier, but they are increasingly looking up for hoppers and other terrestrials.
The best fishing continues to be on Rapid, Castle, and Spearfish Creeks. These streams have the most consistent flows and water temperatures.
Rapid Creek is fishing well above and below Pactola Reservoir. For Rapid Creek in town please get out early and get done by 12 or 1 pm. Water temps can be an issue by afternoon. The Trico hatch has picked back up in town. Best action between 7-9 am. PMDs continue to hatch throughout the watershed, mostly later in the day and into the evening. Hoppers and terrestrials are working well.
Castle has great water above and below Deerfield Lake. Great opportunities to fish smaller water and find some brook trout. Some PMDs and small Baetis are hatching. Hopper bite is picking up. Terrestrials are good bet overall. Great water for fishing a dry dropper rig.
Spearfish continues to fish well in the Canyon and in town. Water flows have come down a fair amount. Smaller flies and lighter tippet are a must for more pressured areas. Fish the fast pocket water to find eager fish. Good dry fly fishing in the evening. Hoppers and Chubby Chernobyls are working on top.
Warm Water Warning- Rapid Creek in town. Please carry a stream thermometer and stop fishing when water temps hit 68 degrees. Hot today (Monday, August 22nd) with highs in the mid-90s.
The primary concern of fishing in warmer temperatures is it causes undue harm and mortality to the fish. There’s no sense in risking the fishery for a few hours of fishing when there’s colder water just a short drive upstream. And as we have said this primarily applies to the section of Rapid Creek within the city limits. Temperatures just above Canyon Lake are cool enough to fish on most days due to the spring water coming in from Cleghorn Springs.
Hatches have remained much the same since the last reports. Look for afternoon hatches of Pale Morning Duns, along with a few caddis hatching into the evening. There are some very small yellow olive summer baetis (Accentrella?) hatching in the late afternoon and evening as well. Regular Baetis hatching below Pactola Reservoir on Rapid Creek. Terrestrials continue to pick up steam. Hoppers, ants, beetles, and cicadas are all worth fishing. Especially as part of hopper/dropper or dry dropper rigs.
For lake fishing seek out the solitude of Deerfield Lake. This large reservoir offers great fishing from kayaks, float tubes, personal pontoons, etc. It’s a no wake lake so almost no motorized boat traffic is around to disturb anglers.
Repeat from last several reports- It’s carp fishing season. The most reliable spots are on Angostura Reservoir and Belle Fourche Reservoir. This time of year, carp are just as likely to be feeding on the surface, cruising to find cotton and terrestrials out in the middle of the reservoir. This is some of the most exciting and exhilarating carp fishing of the season.
Hot Flies
Dries- PMD Sparkle Duns, PMD Parachutes, Yellow Stimulators, Chubby Chernobyls, Hippie Stompers, Hoppers, Ants, Beetles, Fathead Cicadas, Elk Hair Caddis, Bloom’s Parachute Caddis, Trico spinners
Nymphs- Perdigons, Zebra Midges, Torin’s Soft Hackle, Czech Princess Olive, Tungsten Split Case PMD, TNT Jig PMD, Frenchies, Cheeseman Canyon Emergers, Split Case Nymphs
Streamers- Small Thin Mints
Tippet Sizes- 5x-7x