Black Hills
, South Dakota has several options for fishing.
South Dakota is a popular spot for fishing thanks to its accessibility to several natural lakes. Black Hills a mountainous area of the state, offers several spots for fishing enthusiasts, with a variety of types of fishing available. In one area, visitors can rent boats, fly fish or take a camping fish vacation. With some preparation and know-how, you can plan a fishing trip to Black Hills that is most appropriate for you.
Custer State Park
Fishing in Custer State Park is a popular option, with lakes including Stockade Lake, Bismarck Lake, Legion Lake, Sylvan Lake and Center Lake. Fisherman often come to Black Hills for the trout, but lakes in Custer State Park also include bass, crappie and northern pike. These lakes are all located within a 15-mile radius of on another and are found in this state park that spreads across 71,000 acres. The lakes are sometimes interconnected by streams, where visitors can also set up for fishing. The park boasts a mountain range and a slew of wildlife, including bison.
Custer State Park
13329 US Highway 16A
Custer, SD 57730
605-255-4515
custerstatepark.info
Black Hills National Forest
Black Hills National Forest is the largest forest range in South Dakota and is also in the Black Hills area. The forest is larger than 1.25 million acres and is a popular spot for outdoor sports like fishing, snow mobiling and hiking. The forest is home to Pactola Reservoir, Deerfield Lake and Sheridan Lake. These lakes are also sometimes connected by streams like French Creek, Spring Creek, Castle Creek, Rapid Creek and Spearfish Creek, which are all spots for fishing as well. The black hills trout is the most popular fish found in this area.
Black Hills National Forest
S. Fifth Street
Custer, SD 57730
605-673-9200
fs.fed.us/outernet/bhnf/
Angling
Angling is a popular way for visitors to enjoy fishing in the Black Hills area. Visitors typically participate in angling fishing either on a boat on one of the area's many lakes or at one of its wider streams. Boat rentals are available through local shops, including the Pactola Pines Marina and through the Black Hills National Forest visitors' center.
Pactola Pines Marina
23060 Custer Gulch Road
Rapid City, SD
605-343-4283
pactolapines.com
Camping
Fishing camping trips typically take place in the warmer months in Black Hills, from around May to October. Both the Custer State Park and the Black Hills National Park allow camping, though neither park rents camping cabins; visitors must bring their own tents and gears. Contact each park's visitors' center for guidelines on what items are allowed for fishing trips. There are rules on what camping foods are allowed and how they must be stored.
Black Hills National Forest
S. Fifth Street
Custer, SD 57730
605-673-9200
fs.fed.us/outernet/bhnf/
Custer State Park
13329 US Highway 16A
Custer, SD 57730
605-255-4515
custerstatepark.info
Fly Fishing
Cold water fishing is often done in Black Hills, as it is a good method for catching the area's most populousfish, the trout. Many of the lakes in the region have shallow enough waters for fly fishing, including Legion Lake, Sylvan Lake and Deerfield Lake. Some of the streams are also wide enough for fly fishing, including French Creek and Rapid Creek.
Tags: Black Hills, Black Hills National, Custer State, Custer State Park, Hills National, Hills National Forest
