Spearfish Creek

Flow now

Little Spearfish Creek Near Lead, SD, 4 mi from the river.

11cfsat build, Nov 12, 12 PM MT

The typical week here, from 10 years of record: 15 cfs to 19 cfs, around 15 cfs.

Also gauged at Annie Creek Near Lead, SD: 0 cfs, Nov 12.

Snowpack

0.0 in of water in the snow at North Rapid Creek and 2 more stations, against a median 0.7 in for the date (5 % of normal).

The snowpack here usually builds from Nov 3, peaks Apr 2 and is gone by Apr 28; runoff follows the melt.

The season, November

Usually workable this week. Pick your window and fish it well.

• Midgessizes 18 to 22
• Small eggs and worms
• Pheasant tail and zebra midge nymphsunder an indicator

Typical for the week over 10 years: 15 to 19 cfs. Running 11 cfs today, below that range. Flows are not forecast; check the gauge the day before.

Brown Trout are spawning (October to December). Stay off clean, light-coloured gravel in riffle tails and pool tailouts, and leave paired fish alone.

Brook Trout are spawning (September to November). Stay off clean, light-coloured gravel in riffle tails and pool tailouts, and leave paired fish alone.

Mountain Whitefish are spawning (October to December). The egg bite behind spawning whitefish is the best winter nymphing of the year: an egg pattern below the riffles.

• Egg patterns in the runs below the spawning gravel, never on it.

Written by the app's rules engine from the calendar, the gauge record and the snowpack, not by hand, so it says only what the data says. The weather for the week comes with the app.

Fly shops on this water

• Dakota Angler & Outfitter Rapid CityWebsiteFishing report, updated Nov 8
• Finn Provisions SpearfishWebsite

Nearby waters

• Castle Creek25 mi
• Rapid Creek46 mi

Every South Dakota water