DA
Dakota Angler & Outfitter
Rapid City, SD
Fishes Rapid Creek, Spearfish Creek
Creek · Black Hills · South Dakota
Rapid Creek Fishing Guides and Conditions, South Dakota
The Pactola tailwater and the urban trout stream running straight through downtown Rapid City, with wild browns above town and stocked fish in the city park water.
Gauge location. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Guides on the Rapid Creek
Claimed profiles take booking requests. Unclaimed profiles are built from public records so the river is never empty; the guide can claim or remove one any time.
DA
Dakota Angler & Outfitter
Rapid City, SD
Fishes Rapid Creek, Spearfish Creek
FP
Finn Provisions
Spearfish, SD
Fishes Rapid Creek, Spearfish Creek
About the Rapid Creek
Rapid Creek runs east out of the Black Hills through Pactola Reservoir, down Dark Canyon and Placerville, and then straight through the middle of Rapid City before heading out onto the plains. It is really three fisheries stacked end to end: the small freestone water above Pactola, the cold tailwater below the dam, and the city stretch through the parks and greenway in Rapid City itself.
The tailwater below Pactola is the best of it. Cold releases hold brown trout year-round, some of them large, in a canyon reach with good structure and difficult access that keeps the pressure down. Wild browns and rainbows dominate here and they see enough anglers to be selective. Through Rapid City the creek is stocked and heavily used, but the greenway water genuinely fishes: there are browns in the deeper bends and under the bridges, and it is one of the few places in the country where you can catch a wild-behaving trout on your lunch break. Above the reservoir the creek is small, brushy brook and brown trout water.
The Rapid City gauge reads the creek at the bottom of the canyon reach. Flow below Pactola is release-driven and generally steady, which is what makes the tailwater reliable. Spring melt and heavy Black Hills thunderstorms can spike the creek quickly, and this basin has a serious flash-flood history, so treat a fast rise as a reason to leave the canyon rather than a reason to change flies.
Rapid City covers everything, and Pactola, Silver City and Johnson Siding are the access points upstream. Spearfish Creek is an hour away for a second day.
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Access
Rapid City greenway: several miles of urban creek with parking and paths.
Canyon Lake Park: the city impoundment and the water above it.
Placerville and Dark Canyon: the canyon reach below the dam, limited parking.
Pactola Dam: the top of the tailwater.
Silver City and Johnson Siding: upper creek access.
Pactola Reservoir: the impoundment itself, trout and lake fishing.
Cleghorn Springs: the state hatchery area near town.
Seasons
Open year-round; the tailwater fishes in every month.
March through May: runoff and stocking, high water in the canyon.
June through August: terrestrials and cool release water; fish the canyon early.
September through February: wild brown trout at their best, low clear water and no crowds.
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Questions
What is the current flow on the Rapid Creek?
As of Sep 6, 2:30 am, the USGS gauge RAPID CREEK AT RAPID CITY, SD reads 29 cfs, the 10th percentile for this date. Conditions update every 15 minutes.
What species can you catch on the Rapid Creek?
Anglers target Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout on the Rapid Creek in South Dakota.
Are there fishing guides on the Rapid Creek?
GuidedFloats lists 3 guides and outfitters on the Rapid Creek. Claimed profiles accept booking requests; unclaimed profiles are built from public records and link to the business.
Where can you access the Rapid Creek?
Rapid City greenway: several miles of urban creek with parking and paths. Canyon Lake Park: the city impoundment and the water above it. Placerville and Dark Canyon: the canyon reach below the dam, limited parking. Pactola Dam: the top of the tailwater. Silver City and Johnson Siding: upper creek access. Pactola Reservoir: the impoundment itself, trout and lake fishing. Cleghorn Springs: the state hatchery area near town.
When is the best time to fish the Rapid Creek?
Open year-round; the tailwater fishes in every month. March through May: runoff and stocking, high water in the canyon. June through August: terrestrials and cool release water; fish the canyon early. September through February: wild brown trout at their best, low clear water and no crowds.
Where are the fishing regulations for the Rapid Creek?
Regulations change by season and section. Read the current rules on the South Dakota agency site: https://gfp.sd.gov/regulations/