Black Hills Fishing Report May 28th, 2026
Flows are below normal across the board right now, but the fishing has been good. We had warm weather early in the week, luckily cooling down over the next few days, with a chance of rain over the weekend.
Rapid Creek in Town
Running 55 cfs, below the historical median of 81 cfs for this date, but plenty of water to fish. Clear and wadeable. Thin Mints and small streamers have been producing in the runs. Streamer fishing has been solid with the increased flows from Pactola, although releases have dropped since the last report. When the weather warms back up, be sure to take a water temperature before fishing, as the stretch in town warms up quickly. Nymphing is also good. If you don't want to fish an indicator, you can use a dry dropper with a chubby and a perdigon. Caddis and midges are hatching. A few small BWOs are out on cloudy days.
Rapid Creek Below Pactola
49 cfs below the dam and fishable. But not the best overall spot. Still a few larger fish around, but not a numbers game.
Rapid Creek Above Pactola, Silver City
22 cfs at Silver City, well below the seasonal median of 69 cfs. The water is low but fishing has been decent. Mostly smaller browns with the occasional nice rainbow. Dry dropper or nymphing the deep runs and pools are the best options. Decent caddis hatch this week, along with a few small stoneflies.
Spearfish Creek
47 cfs at the Spearfish gauge, below the median of 74 cfs but fishable throughout the canyon. Clear water and good fish activity. Caddis are showing up in the evenings. Good option this week, especially if you want dry fly water. Fish the seams and slower runs. Little Yellow stoneflies are hatching as well.
Castle Creek
Good fishing above and below Deerfield. Flows are fairly low, but some good opportunities are still available. Will fish similar to Rapid creek, seeing some small stoneflies and caddis. Good dry
Deerfield Lake
Deerfield has been fishing well. Chironomids or balance leeches under an indicator have been the go-to. Leeches stripped slow near drop-offs and weed edges are also working. A Woolly Bugger fished on an intermediate-to-type-3 sinking line is a great option, especially from a float tube or pontoon boat.
Custer State Park Lakes
The CSP lakes are fishing well. Same approach as Deerfield. Chironomids early, then leeches and Woolly Buggers as the day goes on. Work the drop-offs and any visible weed edges. Fish are active, and this is a great time to be on still water in the Hills.
Hot Flies
Streamers: Thin Mint, Woolly Bugger black or olive
Lakes: Chironomids and balance leeches under indicators, Leech patterns black or olive, Thin Mints or Woolly Buggers on a sinking line
Nymphs: Zebra Midge black or red 20-22, Mercury Midge 20-22, Killer Mayfly Nymph 18-20, T-Midge 18-20, Perdigons
Dries: Morgan's Midge 18-22, Griffith's Gnat 18-20, Caddis 14-16, Little Yellow Stones 14-16, Beetles, Ants, BWOs 18-20
Stop by or call the shop for flies and current conditions. 605-341-2450
flyfishsd.com | Dakota Angler and Outfitter | 1010 Jackson Blvd, Rapid City, SD
