South Dakota is home to Black Hills and trout fishing streams, Mount Rushmore, Badlands National Park, buffalo herds and Custer State Park. All of those are famous icons of the state. According to knowledgeable anglers, the Black Hills offer fine fishing with 5- or 6-pound rainbow trout or brook trout just waiting to bite your hook. Trout were distributed into area streams as early as the 1880s by Colorado gold miners.
A Black Hills trout hatchery was constructed in 1918 in Rapid City, then another in 1927 in Cleghorn Springs at Rapid Creek. A hatchery is near Spearfish as well. The hatcheries stock more than 450,000 brown, brook and rainbow trout in Black Hills streams annually. South Dakota Badlands National Park spans 244,000 acres.
Open year-round, trout fishing in South Dakota can be successful in any season. Fish in winter and you'll likely find that while some streams and the lakes are frozen over, there are many such as Rapid Creek and Spring Creek that offer fine fishing. Fish eat less in the winter months. They also go deeper into the water, making fishing more of a challenge. To fish in the winter in South Dakota badland creeks, use small nymphs and midge pupae to attract the fish from the deeper waters. Ice fishing is popular in western South Dakota during winter as well.
During drought conditions, many streams dry up and fish will migrate to deeper water, so go there to find them.
Water is high early in the spring in Rapid Creek, making wading less of an option. Cast from the bank. By May, dry-fly fishing season begins in earnest. Experts recommend fishing during the fall Trico hatch -- as it is the closest thing you'll find to a "blizzard" hatch.
Fish in areas such Spearfish Creek, Rapid Creek, Spring Creek and Boxelder Creek. All of these have "big" waters. Wade with hip boots and you might find a good pool of fish without getting wet. Rapid and Spring creeks feature year-round fishing and offer sizable amounts of trout with easy access. They are located near Rapid City.
Rapid Creek flows into Pactola Reservoir. A catch-and-release area below the reservoir offers excellent trout fishing. At the top of the reservoir, old mining operations diminished the trout supply and insect world long ago. Do take a look at the top part of the reservoir, though -- it offers 100-foot granite walls and good views. Take the hiking trail from Silver City to follow Rapid Creek down through the valley to great fishing spots. There is a local fly-fishing club called Black Hills Fly Fishers, which should be a great source of insider information. Experts recommend using nymphs or drys to catch trophy trout.
Along Highway 44, there is access to Rapid Creek as well. Canyon Lake at Rapid City is another spot where anglers will find rainbow and brown trout. Within Rapid City, areas of the creek are open to the public. Browns and rainbows range up to 20 inches. Spring Creek, approximately 40 minutes from Rapid City, offers year-round fishing. "Trophy trout water" at this creek is the section just below the lake. They allow you to keep one trout above 15 inches. Spearfish Creek is great for fall fishing and beautiful views of limestone cliffs and the creek abloom with aspen. Catch rainbows, browns and brookies.
Locate French Creek in Custer State Park. Enjoy the buffalo as you fish for rainbows. Castle Creek and Boxelder Creeks also offer rainbows, browns and brookies. Fall is the best time to fish here.
The western region of South Dakota encompasses one-third of the state and includes the Black Hills and Badlands areas. There are 50,000 stock dams filled with largemouth bass, northern pike and panfish, although many of these are on private land and require advance permission to fish.
The main species of fish is rainbow trout. Others are: brown, brook, smallmouth and largemouth bass, walleye, perch, northern pike, catfish, perch and bluegill.
Little Missouri River, Murdo Dam, Deerfield Reservoir, Sylvan Lake, Stockade Lake, Pactola Reservoir, Rapid Creek, French Creek, Spring Creek, Castle Creek, Spearfish Creek, Sheridan Lake, Belle Fourche Reservoir, Angostura Reservoir and Little Missouri River.
On creek banks, conceal yourself under cover of brush and avoid sudden movements to have the best chance of success. Use flies and live bait.
For bait fishing, anglers use salmon eggs, marshmallows, crayfish, wigglers, leeches, frogs, night crawlers, grasshoppers and corn.
For spincasting, use jibs with plastic tail bodies, small spinners, spoons and plugs, crankbaits.
For fly-fishing, use hare's ear nymph, flashback scud nymph (size 16 to 20) blue wing olive, elk hair caddis, adams or streamers (size 4 to 10).
