The cool, clear waters of our local Black Hills streams and lakes in South Dakota provide anglers with a myriad of fishing opportunities a short drive outside of city limits. Whether you are pursuing wild Brown Trout on Rapid Creek, chasing trophy Lake Trout on Pactola Reservoir, or exploring the backcountry for out-of-the-way fish, the Rapid City area is a great spot to start your angling adventure!
While there are many different opportunities for anglers in the region, the following list includes some of the best that the area has to offer:
The Best Fishing Lakes:
Pactola Reservoir
Sheridan Lake
The second largest waterbody in the area is Sheridan Lake, a medium sized impoundment of Spring Creek located 15 miles southwest of Rapid City. Most of the same species that swim in Pactola are also found in Sheridan Lake, with the notable exception of Lake Trout. Although not as large or deep as Pactola, Sheridan Lake provides excellent shore fishing opportunities throughout the season, in addition to some great swimming beaches on the north side of the lake.
The Best Fishing Creeks:
Rapid Creek
Spring Creek
Learn To Fish:
Outdoor Campus - West