Black Hills Fishing Report July 22nd 2021
Black Hills Fishing Report July 22nd 2021
Fishing remains good on Rapid Creek, Spearfish Creek, and Castle Creek. We have been fortunate to get some showers from thunderstorms the past few days. That has helped flows on Black Hills streams. Definitely have to keep an eye on water temperatures at lower elevations.
Rapid Creek has fished well above and below Pactola Reservoir. Above Pactola anglers will find success hiking up from Silver City. Dry Dropper rigs are the ticket for most of this stretch. Just below Pactola in the catch and release area, anglers can target fish with larger terrestrial patterns. Grasshoppers are showing up in better numbers. Beetles, Ants, and crickets are good choices too. Nymph fishing will be the best technique in the deepest runs and pools. Some PMDs hatching later in the afternoon. The stretch through Rapid City (below Canyon Lake) has been fairly warm with the recent heat, anglers should fish above Rapid City for the best fishing.
Castle Creek continues to fish well below Deerfield Reservoir. A good mix of terrestrial dry fly fishing - hoppers, ants, beetles, and crickets have worked well. A few PMDs and small baetis hatching as well. Deeper corner holes require getting down deeper. In most spots, a dropper behind a large dry will suffice.
Spearfish Creek is fishing quite well both in Spearfish Canyon and through the city of Spearfish. From town on down, fish are happily eating grasshoppers patterns. Tan and brown hoppers are working best. In the canyon, a dry-dropper rig with a hippy stomper with a smaller tungsten jig dropper works great for covering the pocket water. Deeper runs and pools require getting down deeper with a strike indicator nymph rig. Euro Nymphing is very effective in the Canyon.
Top Flies for Black Hills Streams
Dry Flies- Parachute PMD, PMD Sparkle Dun, HiVis Beetle, Bloom's Parachute Ant, Chubby Chernobyls, Fat Franks, Grand Hoppers, Hippie Stompers
Nymphs- Perdigons, Jig Baetis, Tungsten Zebra Midges, Split Case PMD, Split Case Baetis, Tungsten Jig Pheasant Tails
Lake Fishing
Deerfield and Pactola Reservoirs are fishing well for trout. Pactola fishes best early and late when the boating and swimming crowds are absent. Indicator rigs with leeches and chironomid patterns are working well. Leech and bugger patterns can also work well when fished on a sinking line.
Stockade Lake near Custer State Park is fishing well for crappies and sunfish. The bass bite is decent on Stockade as well, however, for the best bass fishing, it is best to get out at dawn and fish for the first two hours of daylight.