Little Spearfish Creek Fishing Guides
The small limestone tributary joining Spearfish Creek at Savoy, past Roughlock Falls, with tight brook trout water in a spectacular canyon.
Guides on the Little Spearfish Creek
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About the Little Spearfish Creek
Little Spearfish Creek is the tributary that comes down the side canyon to meet Spearfish Creek at Savoy, in the middle of one of the most photographed limestone canyons in the northern plains. It is a genuinely small stream, a fraction of the size of the main Spearfish Creek it joins, and it runs past Roughlock Falls through a narrow valley of limestone walls, spruce and birch.
The creek is spring-influenced and limestone-fed, which keeps it cold and remarkably stable compared with the granite freestone streams of the southern hills. It runs clear over pale limestone gravel through a sequence of short pools, undercut banks and riffles, with a good deal of overhanging vegetation and deadfall. Roughlock Falls itself is a broad limestone cascade partway up the valley and a hard barrier to fish movement.
Brook trout dominate, particularly above the falls, and they are numerous, small and willing. Brown trout hold in the lower reach nearer Savoy and in the deeper pools, and rainbows are stocked in the accessible sections. Nobody fishes Little Spearfish for size. It is a place to fish a short rod and a dry fly on a summer afternoon and catch a lot of small, bright, wild fish in extraordinary surroundings.
The overhanging cover is relentless and the casting is the hardest part of the day. Most productive lies sit under a branch or against an undercut, and the answer is usually a short flick, a dapped fly or a bow-and-arrow cast from a crouch. Fish move in clear shallow water and see everything, so approach matters far more than fly selection.
Access is easy and the valley is busy. A road runs up from Savoy past Roughlock Falls to the Little Spearfish trailhead and the Rod and Gun campground, and the falls are a major stop for canyon visitors. The fishing pressure is lighter than the foot traffic would suggest, because most people come for the scenery. Walking a few hundred yards from any parking area is usually enough to be alone on the water.
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Access
Savoy - the confluence with Spearfish Creek and the main staging point at the canyon floor.
Roughlock Falls - the limestone cascade partway up the valley, with parking and a boardwalk.
Rod and Gun Campground - the forest campground on the upper creek.
Little Spearfish Trailhead - the access point for the upper valley and the Sixmile area.
Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway - Highway 14A, the main canyon road reaching Savoy.
Cheyenne Crossing - the canyon junction at the head of the byway.
Black Hills National Forest - the public ground holding the whole valley.
Seasons
Spring: snowmelt and high water through May, with the creek pushy and the falls at full volume.
Summer: the main season, with low clear water, brook trout on dry flies and heavy visitor traffic.
Fall: cool settled water, thinning crowds and brook trout in spawning color.
Winter: cold and iced, with the canyon road open but the creek largely unfishable.
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Questions
What is the current flow on the Little Spearfish Creek?
As of Sep 17, 6:00 am, the USGS gauge LITTLE SPEARFISH CREEK NEAR LEAD, SD reads 16 cfs. Conditions update every 15 minutes.
What species can you catch on the Little Spearfish Creek?
Anglers target Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout on the Little Spearfish Creek in South Dakota.
Where can you access the Little Spearfish Creek?
Savoy - the confluence with Spearfish Creek and the main staging point at the canyon floor. Roughlock Falls - the limestone cascade partway up the valley, with parking and a boardwalk. Rod and Gun Campground - the forest campground on the upper creek. Little Spearfish Trailhead - the access point for the upper valley and the Sixmile area. Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway - Highway 14A, the main canyon road reaching Savoy. Cheyenne Crossing - the canyon junction at the head of the byway. Black Hills National Forest - the public ground holding the whole valley.
When is the best time to fish the Little Spearfish Creek?
Spring: snowmelt and high water through May, with the creek pushy and the falls at full volume. Summer: the main season, with low clear water, brook trout on dry flies and heavy visitor traffic. Fall: cool settled water, thinning crowds and brook trout in spawning color. Winter: cold and iced, with the canyon road open but the creek largely unfishable.
Where are the fishing regulations for the Little Spearfish Creek?
Regulations change by season and section. Read the current rules on the South Dakota agency site: https://gfp.sd.gov/pages/regulations/