Fall River Fishing Guides
A warm spring-fed river running through the middle of Hot Springs, South Dakota, ice-free all winter and holding trout year-round.
Guides on the Fall River
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About the Fall River
The Fall River is one of the more unusual trout streams in the northern plains. It is fed by large warm springs at Hot Springs, South Dakota, in the southern Black Hills, and the water leaves those springs at a temperature in the high eighties. That thermal input means the river never freezes, runs at a nearly constant level and temperature through the year, and stays fishable in January when every other stream in the region is locked under ice.
The river runs straight through the middle of the town, and a good deal of the fishable water is within a few blocks of Main Street. That gives it an odd character for a trout stream. Sandstone bluffs rise over it, a paved path follows much of the bank, and anglers work pools that sit beside parking lots and historic buildings. What it lacks in wilderness it makes up for in dependability, because the flow and temperature that make it strange also make it reliable.
Brown trout are the mainstay, with rainbows stocked and holding well and brook trout present in the colder feeder water above town. The thermal input is a double-edged thing. It keeps the river open through winter, which is the main attraction, but through the hottest weeks of summer the water can push toward the upper limit of what trout tolerate, and the fishing slows accordingly. Downstream of town the river warms further and the community shifts toward largemouth bass, bluegill and channel catfish.
Access through Hot Springs is straightforward and largely public, with river walk paths, several parks and bridge crossings along the way. Below town the frontage is mostly private ranch ground, so most fishing happens within the city reach and the short stretch immediately above it.
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Access
Hot Springs - the gauge reach, with the river running through the middle of town.
Fall River county park - developed bank access and parking within the city.
Hot Springs river walk - a paved path following much of the in-town water.
Evans Plunge - the historic spring complex at the head of the river.
Cascade Falls - a warm spring reach south of town with a swimming and picnic area.
Cheyenne River confluence - the downstream end below the ranch country.
Wind Cave National Park - public ground north of town with headwater tributaries.
Seasons
Spring: steady flows and good fishing as the surrounding country thaws.
Summer: thermal input pushes water temperatures high and the fishing slows in the hottest weeks.
Fall: cooling air improves the fishing and the in-town water becomes pleasant again.
Winter: the main attraction, with the river running ice-free and fishable in deep cold.
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Questions
What is the current flow on the Fall River?
As of Sep 17, 5:30 am, the USGS gauge FALL RIVER AT HOT SPRINGS, SD reads 32 cfs. Conditions update every 15 minutes.
What species can you catch on the Fall River?
Anglers target Bluegill, Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Rainbow Trout on the Fall River in South Dakota.
Where can you access the Fall River?
Hot Springs - the gauge reach, with the river running through the middle of town. Fall River county park - developed bank access and parking within the city. Hot Springs river walk - a paved path following much of the in-town water. Evans Plunge - the historic spring complex at the head of the river. Cascade Falls - a warm spring reach south of town with a swimming and picnic area. Cheyenne River confluence - the downstream end below the ranch country. Wind Cave National Park - public ground north of town with headwater tributaries.
When is the best time to fish the Fall River?
Spring: steady flows and good fishing as the surrounding country thaws. Summer: thermal input pushes water temperatures high and the fishing slows in the hottest weeks. Fall: cooling air improves the fishing and the in-town water becomes pleasant again. Winter: the main attraction, with the river running ice-free and fishable in deep cold.
Where are the fishing regulations for the Fall River?
Regulations change by season and section. Read the current rules on the South Dakota agency site: https://gfp.sd.gov/pages/regulations