Mountain West
Rapid Creek (Pactola Tailwater)
Live Conditions
Rapid Creek (Pactola Tailwater) — Rapid Creek above Pactola Reservoir, SD
7-Day Flow
→ Stable
24-Hr Pressure
25.52 inHg · → High/stable
Local Weather
Tough conditions — fish deep
Today
🌦️Drizzle
73° / 47°
Tomorrow
🌦️Drizzle
77° / 56°
0.02"
Wed
🌫️Foggy
75° / 54°
Thu
🌧️Rain showers
69° / 55°
1.37"
Cold front incoming — go deep with nymphs, surface activity likely slow.
Weather by Open-Meteo · No API key · Updated every 30 min
What should I fish today?
One call. Specific to today's exact conditions on the Rapid Creek (Pactola Tailwater).
9
Time of Day
What should I pack?
Rod, flies, tippet, and safety gear specific to today's Rapid Creek (Pactola Tailwater) conditions.
🪰 Hatch Calendar
Rapid Creek (Pactola Tailwater) · June · Early Summer
Showing typical dates — water temperature data unavailable for live hatch predictions.
Select month
Caddis, early Terrestrials
River Map
About Rapid Creek (Pactola Tailwater)
The tailwater below Pactola Reservoir is the most consistent trout fishing in the Black Hills — cold, dam-regulated flows keep water temperatures ideal year-round even when surrounding freestone streams warm. The upper section between Pactola Dam and Rapid City sees significantly less pressure than the urban stretch below, with larger holdover fish and better natural hatch activity. SDGFP stocks this section regularly.
Regulations
South Dakota Fishing License required. Trout limit: 5 fish, minimum 8 inches. Check SD GFP for any special tailwater regulations on the Pactola section.