Black Hills Fishing Report August 31st 2024
Stop by the Shop Today for our in store event! Winston and Scott Rod Demo
Labor Day Weekend is here. We stll have some hot weather in the forecast, but for the most part we have cooled off in the evenings. Cooler nights are helping stream temps and improving fishing. We will see some highs in the 90s over the next few days, so still best to get out early. The best fishing will continue be at the highest elevations or beneath the reservoirs.
Rapid Creek
Rapid Creek is fishing decent. Get out early! Find cold water. In town (below Canyon Lake) will likely be too warm to fish this weekend. With the current conditions the prime spots are from Canyon Lake up to Pactola and above Pactola towards Rochford. Tricos are still hatching, so early morning is your best bet to capitalize on this activity. Hopper activity is increasing as well, making a hopper-dropper setup a promising approach.
Castle Creek
Below Deerfield Lake, Castle Creek has been particularly productive. Be extra cautious of your shadows and approach the stream quietly, as the fish are wary. Above the lake, the smaller waters are also yielding good results. As the weather warms, dry-dropper fishing is gaining traction. Try using ants, beetles, or your favorite attractor flies with a small dropper to cover this area effectively.
Spearfish Creek
Fishing in Spearfish Canyon remains good/excellent with cool water temperatures. Look for some caddis, smaller midges, and tiny mayflies in the afternoons. A few tan caddis are still around. Nymphing continues to be effective, but a dry-dropper rig featuring a micro chubby or beetle pattern can also be a solid choice as temperatures rise.
Lake Fishing
Lake fishing across the Hills is still going strong. Sylvan Lake and Center Lake in Custer State Park are particularly productive. Fish are responding well to leeches, damsels, and callibaetis mayflies.
Top Flies -
Dry Flies- Elk Hair size 16-18, Foam Run Caddis size 14-18, Parachute Adams size 18-22, Micro Chubby Chernobyls size 14-18, Foam Beetles 12-18, Ant patterns 12-18 Tricos 18-22, Yellow Sally’s 14-16 Olive Klinkhammer 12-14
Nymphs- Hot Tag Hares ear 14-18’s, Perdigons Blue or Green size 14-20, waltz worms, zebra midges, prince nymphs,
