Who would have thought that I would ever latch onto a 17" Rainbow on Little Spearfish Creek this weekend in the Black Hills…
Fishing a Lee?s Ferry Midge 2 feet below a bead head pheasant tail nymph about 4 feet below a strike indicator…I found this combination deadly from sunrise to about 11:00 am. After that it was hard to pin down what they were snacking on.
Lot’s of other rainbows and browns were caught this weekend, but this one was the stuff of dreams…
Gotta…
He’s beautiful!!
What section were you on? There’s some really incredible fishing up there!
(No! No! What was I thinking?!? No fishes in South Dakota!! Photo posted was from somewheere else!! Don’t go there!!)
Trouts don’t live in ugly places
We fished a small stream around a CCC camp in Nemo and I think it was Little Spearfish Creek but I am not for sure about that. Are yall familar with that stretch of water?
That looks like it’s probably Spearfish Creek, maybe it that small intake dam just past Savoy?
Little Spearfish Creek starts farther up, past Hannah campground…it meets Spearfish Creek under the bridge at Cheyenne crossing…I don’t think there’s any spot that wide on it, except the small pond along the road in Hannah.
parrotheadcrb, if it was by Nemo, it was probably either Boxelder Creek or South Boxelder. Little Elk Creek might be down there too, I can’t remember right. I was just down around there on the 4th looking at Boxelder Creek along the Nemo road…not too good, unfortunately. I think those areas got hit pretty hard by the drought the last couple of years. The only fish I saw were few and far between.
P.S. gottasail…that is a really nice fish. I’m jealous. 
[This message has been edited by Hole (edited 06 July 2005).]
That pond by Hannah is incredible for little browns, brookies, and a few rainbows!! Late afternoon is the BEST!!
The stretch by Savoy was real swampy when we were there in May…they’re building a dam by the resort, and it’s all backed up. Given a few months, it should be pretty good to fish.
And Cheyenne Crossing store has the best pie in the world!
Trouts don’t live in ugly places
Gotta_Sail -
Nice fish! The boss lady and I are planning a trip to the Black Hills area in early September. I would appreciate any recommendations and/or advice for fishing, sightseeing, and accomodations.
Thanks,
George
Hey folks…thanks for the note!
I caught this rascal at the new dam just up from Savoy on the road to Roughlock falls.
They also dredged out the dam on the road to the Hanna camp ground, but I didn’t have a chance to fish there.
Just up from the Savoy dam, Little Spearfish Creek meanders through a big meadow that was great for browns and bookies, but a beaver has moved in over the past year or two and has made it pretty hard to fish.
The new Savoy dam replaces the old one - they dredged it out and dug it nice and deep. While they were doing it they also pulled out a 26" fish that was hanging out in there where no one could fish for him. Just goes to show that the harder it is to fish, the bigger they will get!
I caught several other rainbows while here…none as big as this one - but a couple pretty close. If you can get out there - they rarely feed at the surface, so bang a Zebra midge nymph along the bottom and hang on!
(PLAIDAD) I have fished all over the Black Hills and am convinced that the fishing in the northern hills is probably the best. It wasn’t affected by the drought and the water levels stayed high and the temps low.
Start on Spearfish Creek between Savoy and Cheyenne Crossing with copper johns and other nymphs. There are a lot of trees so have a short rod with you.
Also don’t afraid to fish the ponds (Yates Upper & Lower) or any of the dams along the way. There is a Hydro dam between Savoy and Spearfish that has some HUGE fish, but they get hit pretty hard so they can be pretty cagy…but I have had some success there too.
There’s one more spot you can’t miss. Take the road from Cheyenne Crossing up towards the Hanna Campground…you’ll pass a nice pond about 1/2 mile up the road. Fish it if you want, but if you keep going another 2-3 miles, there’s a turn-off for a road marked as “209” turning to the right. Take it and it will take you to a pond that it loaded with bookies that will tear your flies apart.
Have fun and post pics when you’re back!
AAAAAGGGGHHHHH!!! You’re giving away all the top secret fishing places!!!
Repeat after me, “There are NO fish in the Black Hills!”
Actually, we all need to get together up there. We’ll be back in September (6th - 23rd) …anyone else be there then?
Just read back through the thread, and it looks like plaidad will be there in September!! If you can get hold of a copy of Steve Kinsella’s book, “Trout Fishing in the Black Hills”, he’s got fantastic directions to just about every place in the Black Hills.
Glad to hear the new dam is done…look forward to fishing it this fall. (On the road past Savoy toward Roughlock Falls) That stretch along 14A was tricky at best!
Trouts don’t live in ugly places
[This message has been edited by Betty Hiner (edited 07 July 2005).]
[This message has been edited by Betty Hiner (edited 07 July 2005).]
Gotta_Sail/Betty -
Thanks for the info! I don’t think you need to worry about me depleting the fish population. Betty, I’ve seen your fishing report on Bennett Springs. Are you a Missourian? I live in Cuba, MO, so I fish the Meramec more than Bennett. Have you fished the Current below Montauk?
George
Spent the second week of June on the Current! Love it down there! We’re just outside of KC…in Olathe…so we fish Bennett, Roaring River, Montauk, whenever we get the chance. Also fish Wyoming and South Dakota a few times each year (retirement is great!!). Stay tuned for (hopefully) a fish-in for this whole mid west area in the near future!
Trouts don’t live in ugly places
ok - although its my first post - I’ll do an introductory one in a minute or 2 …
we’re off to BH’s in … 42hrs, 53 minutes (but… who’s countin) … down there for a week - may pop over to Yellowstone too. It’s dad’s holiday - kids went to Disney World, Wifes heading to LV in Nov … me, oldest son and BH trout … any brookies down there ??? … duh, yeah I know … lookin forward to the creeks.
Betty - you noted “… Cheyenne Crossing store has the best pie in the world!” … now … where exactly is that ? Pie and Fly Fishing go hand in hand like nothing else …
(don’t worry - we’re full C&R - besides - we’re hoteling it … no camp stove)
Never been - but expect it’ll hold up to my expectations.
darrell,
a wise man will hear and increase in learning;
and a man of understanding will acquire wise council
Don’t know where you’ll be staying while you’re in the BHs. We usually stay in Hill City and Deadwood…trecking out to the local streams and ponds each day. We also, are strictly C&R.
Cheyenne Crossing is at the intersection of highways 85 and 14A. The store IS Cheyenne Crossing!!
Hopefully you have a copy of Steve Kinsellas book. He’s got some fantastic places to fish, and the exact directions on how to reach them.
Hope to have report when you get back!
Betty
Trouts don’t live in ugly places
thanks Betty, one of the guys up here also noted Steve Kinsellas book as a must-have. Think I’ll pick a copy up while down there.
We’re stayin in Custer … destinations are : Castle Cr (above Deerfield), Spring Cr, French Cr, Grace Coolidge and Spearfish (on the way out) are also destinations … so many waters - so little time. And have to leave room for family stuff.
I’ve been focusing on warm water critters the past while here, my cold water fly’s were … neglected - now I’m tying like a madman. As long as I can get a fish on the boys fly - the trip will be priceless.
Well, I’ll make due notes of the happenings. Pics and all.
a wise man will hear and increase in learning;
and a man of understanding will acquire wise council
Betty,
I’ll still be here waiting. By the way, the pond in the picture looks suspiciously like that great place in NORTH Dakota, doesn’t it???
Elliott W.
I tie flies to give the fish something to laugh about.
Darrell,
Grace Coolidge in Custer Sate Park is a lot of fun. Also, peaceful and fairly quiet. Bring Elk Hair Caddis and fish the dams early and late for the best action. There are a few monsters lurking. The second dam you come to has a concrete wall you can fish off of by the spillway. I put an EHC on the water, and turned to say something to my fishing partner. I turned back just as this submarine of a trout took that fly and snapped it off clean. I know…I know. No picture - No Proof. I am down one EHC though.
Elliott W.
I tie flies to give the fish something to laugh about.
Elliott,
We’ll be back the second week of September (6th to the 23rd), hope to be able to get with you then! Ya be around?
Ummm, yes, I do believe the lake is in NORTH Dakota!
EHC is by far, the best fly for Grace Coolidge! (Did use a little foam bluegill fly and the trouts went nuts!) We had a ball up there. For Spearfish, Little Spearfish, and Crystal Creek, think SMALL. WD40’s, spiders, and of course, EHC.
Trouts don’t live in ugly places
thanks Elliot - I’m a staunch believer, you can never have too many flies … although problems come with where to carry them …
Just respooled for the 4wt and 5wt rods last nite. I’m now spooled too - overspooled actually.
… don’t worry on pics for me … If one says so - it was. (besides, I’d just drool on the screen and keyboard).
Tight lines all - catch you on the return.
Ummm…Darrell…just pulling your leg, about the lake. Elliott and I like to “try” to “discourage” fishers from South Dakota…we’re afraid too many people are going to find out how fantastic it is, and our “solitude” will be broken by hordes of people streamside. The Black Hills are, without doubt, some of the most beautiful land in this world. All funning aside, the waters hold some of the loveliest rainbows, brookies, and browns you could ever hope to stalk. The people there are some of the most hospitable you’ll ever encounter. The canyons are breathtaking.
That said…there are no fish in South Dakota!!
Trouts don’t live in ugly places
[This message has been edited by Betty Hiner (edited 22 July 2005).]
It’s true. And the few fish that remain have just been named state criminals so you best not be associating with that crowd.
Best to try Bennett Spring (which is where I caught my first trout on a fly).
Elliott W.
I tie flies to give the fish something to laugh about.
No fish in SD ! ! !
hmmms, going fishin anyhow - I never expect or worry about catchin much 
just time on the water …
Dad used to love their holidays to the Black Hills. Not much the fisherman - but loved the area. Along with dad, and the late AC - I couldn’t be fishing in any better shadows.
And as I’ll be with my son - it don’t get much better right now …
Elliot - if I hook into one - I’ll have to deny, deny, deny …
Maybe I’ll have to stop by Lake Sakakawea goin or comin to find some fish … maybe find that bruiser brown that bust the state record earlier this year … eh, maybe I’ll just pop over to the Bighorn see whats happenin there …
All leg yanking aside - I’ll let you know … what I didn’t find …