Black Hills Fishing Report June 12th 2024
Fishing remains quite good on most streams. The lack of moisture this past winter is starting to show in some areas. Hopefully the cooler and wetter weather forecasted to move in on Sunday will give us a boost.
For Rapid Creek it will be best to focus above town until the cooler weather rolls in. The stream temps through town have been creeping up on days when the highs are in the mid to high 80s. Fish from Canyon lake up to Pactola, or above Pactola to Rochford for the best fishing on Rapid Creek.
Castle Creek is a good bet both above and below Deerfield Reservoir. Above the lake is smaller water, but great fun with a light rod and attractor dries. Below the lake is slightly more technical, but afternoons and evenings will offer dry fly fishing opportunities. There are some very nice brown trout below the dam.
Spearfish Creek in Spearfish Canyon is fishing well. A few more caddis starting to show up and possibly some little yellow sallies. Dry dropper will be a good technique in the canyon. Euro Nymphing or tight line nymphing will put up some numbers.
For now those are the top stream spots, but there are some possibilities on French, Whitewood, Box Elder, and Spring. Hopefully the cool wet weather will give everything a boost next week.
Lake fishing will be decent early and late- especially the lakes in custer state park. Deerfield Reservoir is another solid lake option. Fish will target, leeches, damsels, and callibaetis mayflies.
Top Flies -
Dry Flies- Elk Hair size 16-18, X-Caddis size 14-18, Parachute Adams size 18-22, Micro Chubby Chernobyls size 14-18, Foam Beetles 12-18, Ant patterns 12-18
Nymphs- Perdigons Blue, Brown or Green size 14-20, walt's worms, zebra midges, prince nymphs
