Black Hills Fishing Report October 4th 2024

Black Hills Fishing Report October 4th 2024

We continue to be very dry in the Black Hills. Stream fishing is decent, but lower water has limited the available spots to a few streams. Best fishing will be on Castle creek below Deerfield, Spearfish Creek, and select areas of Rapid Creek. Lake fishing is picking up and provides the best action right now. 

Rapid Creek
Rapid Creek is fishing decent. Lower water conditions above Pactola, but cooler nights are making for good water temps. With the current conditions the prime spots are from Canyon Lake up to Pactola and above Pactola towards Rochford. 

Castle Creek
Below Deerfield Lake, Castle Creek has been particularly productive. Be extra cautious of your shadows and approach the stream quietly, as the fish are wary. Above the lake, the smaller waters are also yielding good results. 

Spearfish Creek
Fishing in Spearfish Canyon remains good/excellent with cool water temperatures. Look for some caddis, smaller midges, and tiny mayflies in the afternoons. A few tan caddis are still around. Nymphing continues to be effective, but a dry-dropper rig featuring a micro chubby or beetle pattern can also be a solid choice as temperatures rise.

Lake Fishing 

New Update- Pactola and Sheridan Lakes are fishing well. Deerfield is picking up. 
Lake fishing across the Hills is still going strong. Sylvan Lake and Center Lake in Custer State Park are particularly productive. Fish are responding well to leeches, damsels, and callibaetis mayflies. Go to rig for most lakes is an indicator rig with a balance leech. Drop leech 4-6' below the indicator. You can fish a chironomid and pheasant tail as an alternative rig to the leech pattern. 

Top Flies -

Dry Flies- Elk Hair size 16-18, Foam Run Caddis size 14-18, Parachute Adams size 18-22, Micro Chubby Chernobyls size 14-18, Foam Beetles 12-18, Ant patterns 12-18 Tricos 18-22, Yellow Sally’s 14-16 Olive Klinkhammer 12-14

Nymphs- Hot Tag Hares ear 14-18’s, Perdigons Blue or Green size 14-20, waltz worms, zebra midges, prince nymphs,