<strong>Black Hills Fishing Report July 25, 2022</strong>
Much cooler weather this week, with the exception of 90s for highs this coming weekend. Thankfully it is the 70s and 80s for high temperatures until then. It's a great time to get out and hit the water. Black Hills streams got a splash of moisture Sunday night. Hopefully, there will be another shower or two before the warm weather returns.
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. In Rapid City conditions should be the best we have seen for a couple of weeks. Cooler daytime and nighttime temps are helping a bunch for fishing in town. Tricos hatching in town in the morning. PMDs and caddis hatching 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. Caddis towards the evening. Hopper bite is picking up.
Spearfish Creek continues to fish well in the Canyon and in town. Water flows have come down a fair amount. Smaller flies and lighter tippets are a must for more pressured areas. Fish the fast pocket water to find eager fish. Good dry fly fishing in the evening.
Later in the week keep an eye on water temps. When the highs in the 90s return we may see some warm water on Rapid Creek through town.
The primary concern fishing in warmer water temperatures is causing 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 report. Look for afternoon hatches of Pale Morning Duns, along with caddis hatching into the evening. There are some very small yellow olive summer baetis (Accentrella?) hatching in the late afternoon and evening as well. 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 the last report- 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, Hippy 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
Streamers- Small Thin Mints
Tippet Sizes- 5x-7x
