Brown Trout from Rapid Creek, Black Hills, South Dakota

Black Hills Fishing Report 6/8/12

Fishing Report 6/8/12

Hot Patterns: Dries Morgans Midge, Matts Midge, Parachute Adams BWO CDC Thorax Dun BWO Sparkle Dun Smith's CDC Emerger Streamers Hot Bead Crystal Buggers, White Sculpzilla, Black Dungeons Nymphs #14-18 Barrs Tungteaser, #18 Black Copper John, Red Copper John, #16 Red Fox Squirrel Nymph, #12-14 Wades North Fork Special, Tungsten Psycho Nymph, Two Bit Hooker.

Fishing Overview:

Fishing continues to be excellent. Dry fly fishing is in full swing with hatches of Blue Winged Olives, Caddis, Little Yellow Stoneflies, and Tricos. The best spot to fish tricos is early morning on Spring Creek Fishing is great on Rapid Creek, Spring Creek, Spearfish Creek, and Castle Creek. Lakes in Custer State Park are also fishing well. Nymph fishing has been excellent throughout the Black Hills. Streamer fishing is decent on Rapid Creek. Rapid Creek (Central Black Hills): Fishing is best below Pactola and in town. Fishing has picked up above Pactola at Silver City. A good place to fish streamers. Baetis hatching on cloudy days. 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. 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 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 Baetis, 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!

Buy the Book: Trout Fishing in the Black Hills

trout fishing black hills book

If you have not had the opportunity to take a look at Steve Kinsella's book, Trout Fishing in the Black Hills, you will be pleasantly surprised. Steve's book offers amazing insight into just how much water there is to fish in the Black Hills. Even if you have fished in the Black Hills for years, there is a good chance you will discover many more opportunities.
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