Black Hills Stream Fishing Report- Warm weather held off on Friday, but will return to highs in the high 80s and 90s this week. Streams got a dose of rain this week from thundershowers. Flows and temps are good up in the Black Hills. The best fishing will be on Rapid Creek, Castle Creek, and Spearfish Creeks.
Anglers should keep an eye on water temps on Rapid Creek in town this week. Water temperature late in the day may get into the high 60s. Give the fish on Rapid Creek in town a break if water temps are over 68 degrees. Move up closer to Pactola Reservoir if water is warm in town.
Hatches are sporadic, with the best being Tan caddis in the evenings and little yellow stoneflies at mid-day. A few summer yellow mayflies throughout the afternoon and evening. Terrestrials are showing up and fish are hitting attractor dries, ant, and beetle patterns. Still a bit early for hoppers.
Nymph fishing is the most effective technique for numbers, as is always the case. However, it's a good time to switch up from indicator rigs and go to dry-dropper rigs. With more summer bug activity, fish are looking up for bigger meals.
Recommended Nymph Patterns: Peacock Perdigon, Blue Perdigons, Jig Yellow Spot PT, Tungsten Split Case PMD, BWO Split Case, Tungsten Zebra Nymphs.
Recommended Dry Flies: Chubby Chernobyls, Hippie Stompers, Yellow Stimulators, Elk Hair Caddis, Bloom’s Parachute Caddis, Parachute Adams, PMD Sparkle Duns, Foam Beetles, Parachute Ants
Black Hills Lake Report- Warmer weather will slow down lake fishing during the day, best to be out earlier in the day or just before dark. Or change techniques and utilize sinking lines to fish deeper. Leech Patterns and chironomids are the best subsurface. Look for Callibaetis hatches or fish targeting damselflies on the surface. The best lakes have been Pactola, Deerfield, and Center Lakes.
Warmwater fishing opportunities are improving. Bass fishing is picking up early on Sheridan Lake and Stockade Lake. Best to be out at sunrise and fish until 10 am. Poppers, murdich minnows, and Ehler’s Grim Reaper are all good bets.