Fishing Report June 4, 2022
Cooler weather and moisture make for great fishing conditions. More moisture coming in the next few days. The Black Hills had a very warm and dry winter, so the rain is much needed. Flows jumped after rains on Memorial Day, however, most streams are now at very fishable levels. Dry fly fishing has tapered a bit as flows rose and should pick back up as the flows drop. Nymph fishing has been excellent. Streamer fishing was very good this week.
Rapid Creek above Pactola (near Silver City) was muddy early in the week. The water continues to be stained above the reservoir, but the fishing is quite good. With the higher water, it is best to use larger nymphs and streamers here. Big prince nymphs are working well. Pat’s rubber legs are another great option. Streamers that are flashy are working best here; try a kreelex or lil kim.
Below Pactola Reservoir has improved with the higher flows. There are some dry fly opportunities in the C&R area. Mostly Baetis and Midges. There could be some little yellow stoneflies and caddis showing up soon. Otherwise, nymph fishing will be the ticket. Fish prefer smaller flies just below the reservoir. Try a scud or Baetis nymph with a midge larva dropper. Split Case Baetis nymphs, zebra midges, and green weenies are good options.
Rapid Creek in town fished well this past week. Fish have pushed up into shallower riffles and runs. Dry dropper rigs are a nice option. Chubby Chernobyls with a tungsten jig dropper continues to be a great option. Caddis are showing up in greater numbers. The evening is the best time to fish the caddis hatch.
Castle Creek has been a great option. Especially below Deerfield. The flow was increased below the reservoir this week. The added flow should make fishing even better. Dry fly fishing should be quite good most afternoons. Mostly Baetis and midges, but caddis and little yellow stoneflies should show up soon. Start with a dry-dropper rig. A chubby Chernobyl and dropper is a perfect way to fish Castle.
Castle Creek above the lake has been decent but the water is muddy. More rain will likely make the water even dirtier. Fishing should be quite good if the flows come down. Sucker spawn is tapering off and rainbows should still be pushed up feeding on eggs. Rainbows will also be spawning soon (if not already). Take care and leave spawning trout along if possible.
Spearfish Creek was very high earlier this week. Flows went from around 70 CFS to over 300 CFS. As of this report, flows are back down to 109 CFS. That is slightly high but fishable. Nymph fishing is going to be the best option. Focus on heavier tungsten nymphs – perdigons, rubber legs, jig assasins, etc. Tightline techniques and Euro Nymphing are particularly effective right now. Keep an eye on flows after Sunday and Monday when the Black Hills are supposed to get more rain.
Fishing is improving with the added moisture on some of the area’s other streams. Recent rains are still making up for a dry winter, however, fishing should improve on Spring, Box Elder, and French Creeks as we get more moisture.
That’s all for this report. Reach out to us with questions about Warmwater opportunities, lake fishing, etc. We only have a few openings left for guided trips in June. Give us a call at 605-341-2450 to book a trip.