Spearfish Creek is a freestone river in South Dakota, listed as Catch and release by South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks.
1 USGS gauge on the water reports flow; South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks lists 1 species. 1 shop nearby are listed here.
Spearfish Creek is a freestone river in South Dakota.
Pick one of its USGS gauges and hear from us when the flow moves into or out of its usual range for the date, or crosses a flow you set. We check the public USGS reading every 2 hours and email only when it crosses, at most once every 6 hours. Flow alone is not a fishing forecast or a safety call.
Signed in: one step. Otherwise we email a confirmation link first. Every alert has one-click links to stop it.
Start from the agency's public access map. Nothing on this page grants or implies access: check the agency map, posted signs and landowner permission before you fish.
Nothing on this page grants or implies access.
Gauges, shops and guides within 40 miles
Map of Spearfish Creek: gauges, shops and guides
Map of Spearfish Creek with 1 USGS gauge.
Restrooms within 2 miles of Spearfish Creek in a straight line, nearest first, with what anglers found when they went. The map says a restroom is there, not whether it is clean or open today.
Map of 3 restrooms near Spearfish Creek
Skip the map; every place is in the list belowMap of 3 restrooms near Spearfish Creek, numbered as in the list, with the water’s point marked.
Not rated yet — be the first to tell other anglers if it's clean.
Mapped on OpenStreetMap · see or fix it on the map
At a campground · City of Spearfish
Not rated yet — be the first to tell other anglers if it's clean.
Mapped on OpenStreetMap · see or fix it on the map
Not rated yet — be the first to tell other anglers if it's clean.
Mapped on OpenStreetMap · see or fix it on the map
Restroom locations and map details: © OpenStreetMap contributors, Open Database License, read Oct 24, 2026. Ratings, answers and photos are members' own; who shared them is never shown, and every photo is reviewed before it appears. Visits older than 18 months no longer count. Distances are straight-line miles, not driving. Nothing here grants access to private land. Community guidelines.
Wild Trout WaterRepresentative photo · not Castle CreekThe North Platte River at Glendo, Wyoming (below Glendo Reservoir, not the Grey Reef or Miracle Mile reaches). Photo: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Castle Creek.
South Dakota · about 30 mi
Catch and releaseRepresentative photo · not Rapid CreekThe Bighorn River from the Swinging Bridge, Montana. Photo: charkes, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Rapid Creek.
South Dakota · about 41 mi
Seasons, limits, special regulations and closures for each reach are on the agency pages below. Read them before you go.
Each comes from the agency's own published list; where the list names a reach it is quoted. A designation applies to the listed reach, not necessarily the whole water. Listed in the finder under trout.
On the Black Hills exceptions: Spearfish Creek rainbow trout catch-and-release area (artificial lures only) list (South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks, read 2026-10-24). All waters with this designation
On the Black Hills primary streams with Class 1 (wild trout) designations list (South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks, read 2026-10-24). All waters with this designation
On the Black Hills exceptions: Spearfish Creek rainbow trout catch-and-release area (artificial lures only) list (South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks, read 2026-10-24). All waters with this designation
Measured from the NHDPlus High Resolution (flowlines and waterbodies) (U.S. Geological Survey, read 2026-11-04) for this water’s own mapped feature. Rounded figures; they describe the channel, not today’s conditions.
Areas the Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), public access (U.S. Geological Survey, Gap Analysis Project, read 2026-11-05) lists as owned or held in easement and open to the public, crossed by the mapped channel. Boundaries are mapped, not surveyed. Nothing on this page grants or implies access: check the agency map, posted signs and landowner permission before you fish.
27.8 of 43 mi on public land
Nothing on this page grants or implies access.
Listings marked Unclaimed are built from open map records and the business's own website: confirm licensing, rates, dates and hours directly.
No guide within 40 miles yet.
The species the agency lists here; presence varies by reach and season.
Listed by the state agency
Species guide
Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), illustration by Duane Raver for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Photo: Duane Raver, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
None of our destination hubs is within 40 miles in a straight line. The trip planner builds a trip around the water itself: the guides and shops listed within 40 miles of it, its gauges and its nearest towns and airports.
No hub within 40 miles
Matched on the fish the agencies list for both waters first, then the same water type, an official designation or flagship listing on both, and a similar mapped size where USGS hydrography covers both.
At most two waters per country. A shared fish is a listing, not a promise: presence varies by reach and season.
Like the Spearfish Creek? Same fish, overseas.
Flagship waterThe Tongariro River from the Tree Trunk Gorge track. Photo: Pseudopanax at English Wikipedia, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Flagship waterThe Clutha River / Mata-Au at Albert Town, near the Hāwea confluence. Photo: Photo by Lewis: Verduyn-Cassels, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Freestone riverThe Derwent River from the Pulpit Rock lookout, Tasmania. Photo: Bill, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Freestone riverThe Credit River at Streetsville. Photo: Mustang Joe, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Freestone riverThe Sava Bohinjka at Bodešče, below Bled, Slovenia (the reach of the ARSO gauge). Photo: Doremo, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Southern seasons open while ours close.
Flagship waterPenstock Lagoon, Central Highlands, Tasmania. Photo: Mike Cline, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Freestone riverRepresentative photo · not Río PetrohuéThe Río Puelo at Las Gualas, Cochamó. Photo: Nicolás from seno de reloncaví, Chile, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Río Petrohué.
Lake or reservoirRepresentative photo · not Lago LlanquihueThe Río Simpson passing Coyhaique, Aysén. Photo: Manxuc, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Lago Llanquihue.
Lake or reservoir
Flagship waterRepresentative photo · not Mataura RiverThe Oreti River near Lumsden, Southland. Photo: Krzysztof Golik, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped, via Wikimedia Commons Not Mataura River.
Flagship waterGreat Lake, Tasmania. Photo: Peripitus, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A wade-fishing checklist for big western trout rivers: a 9 ft 5–6 weight outfit, nymph, dry and streamer setups, waders, boots and a wading staff, with estimated prices by tier and where to buy.
9′ rod, 5–6 weight, floating line · Rainbow and brown trout, whitefish
Open the checklistSeams, shelves and soft water, shown on real rivers.
Public YouTube videos from established channels, chosen by us to support this page. Not sponsored; the creators are not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear.
Not sponsored All videos on reading water
Indicator rigs, depth and detecting the take.
Public YouTube videos from established channels, chosen by us to support this page. Not sponsored; the creators are not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear.
Not sponsored All videos on nymphing
Trip stories anglers chose to share publicly and tagged with Spearfish Creek.
No stories from here yet.
Not a statement of access, fish presence or conditions.
A water page organises discovery. It does not assert public access, legal access, current fish presence, guide availability or fishing conditions.
Flows, gauge statistics and flood stages come from USGS and the National Weather Service when the page is shown. Regulations, stocking, species and season statements link to the agency that publishes them; this page copies only the species names and the quoted sentences. Guide and shop listings come from the Legendary directories. Position: the USGS gauge SPEARFISH CREEK AT SPEARFISH, SD. Water type is our own classification.
Limited data: Normal flow for the date: no water temperature here
No water temperature here.
At SPEARFISH CREEK AT SPEARFISH, SD (USGS 06431500) Provisional USGS data
USGS 06431500 · NWS SFHS2
What the agencies suggest
Carry a pocket thermometer to monitor water temperatureNational Park Service
General guidance from the readings and the published lines named above, not a fishing forecast. Local rules and closures come first.
Reading Nov 5, 3:00 PM MST · provisional USGS data
Below normal for Nov 5 Steady · 24 h Below NWS action stage
Discharge, last 7 days: 169 readings from Oct 29, 4:30 PM MDT to Nov 5, 3:00 PM MST; ranging 34 to 44.4 ft³/s; latest 35.4 ft³/s.
USGS provisional data may be revised. Source: USGS instantaneous values.
| Time | Discharge (ft³/s) | Gauge height (ft) |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 5, 3:00 PM MST | 35.4 | 4.8 |
| Nov 5, 2:00 PM MST | 35.7 | 4.81 |
| Nov 5, 1:00 PM MST | 35.7 | 4.81 |
| Nov 5, 12:00 PM MST | 35.1 | 4.8 |
| Nov 5, 11:00 AM MST | 35.9 | 4.81 |
| Nov 5, 10:00 AM MST | 36 | 4.81 |
| Nov 5, 9:00 AM MST | 35.9 | 4.81 |
| Nov 5, 8:00 AM MST | 36.1 | 4.81 |
| Nov 5, 7:00 AM MST | 35.9 | 4.81 |
| Nov 5, 6:00 AM MST | 35.9 | 4.81 |
| Nov 5, 5:00 AM MST | 36.1 | 4.81 |
| Nov 5, 4:00 AM MST | 35.6 | 4.81 |
| Nov 5, 3:00 AM MST | 36 | 4.81 |
| Nov 5, 2:00 AM MST | 35.7 | 4.81 |
| Nov 5, 1:00 AM MST | 35.9 | 4.81 |
| Nov 5, 12:00 AM MST | 35.9 | 4.81 |
| Nov 4, 11:00 PM MST | 35.5 | 4.81 |
| Nov 4, 10:00 PM MST | 35.9 | 4.81 |
| Nov 4, 9:00 PM MST | 35.9 | 4.81 |
| Nov 4, 8:00 PM MST | 36.5 | 4.82 |
| Nov 4, 7:00 PM MST | 36.4 | 4.82 |
| Nov 4, 6:00 PM MST | 36.4 | 4.82 |
| Nov 4, 5:00 PM MST | 36.6 | 4.82 |
| Nov 4, 4:00 PM MST | 36.2 | 4.82 |
| Nov 4, 3:00 PM MST | 36.2 | 4.82 |
| Nov 4, 2:00 PM MST | 36.1 | 4.81 |
| Nov 4, 1:00 PM MST | 35.3 | 4.8 |
| Nov 4, 12:00 PM MST | 35.9 | 4.81 |
| Nov 4, 11:00 AM MST | 35.7 | 4.81 |
| Nov 4, 10:00 AM MST | 35.8 | 4.81 |
| Nov 4, 9:00 AM MST | 37.1 | 4.83 |
| Nov 4, 8:00 AM MST | 36.5 | 4.82 |
| Nov 4, 7:00 AM MST | 36.9 | 4.82 |
| Nov 4, 6:00 AM MST | 36.6 | 4.82 |
| Nov 4, 5:00 AM MST | 36.6 | 4.82 |
| Nov 4, 4:00 AM MST | 36.6 | 4.82 |
| Nov 4, 3:00 AM MST | 36.6 | 4.82 |
| Nov 4, 2:00 AM MST | 36.1 | 4.81 |
| Nov 4, 1:00 AM MST | 37 | 4.83 |
| Nov 4, 12:00 AM MST | 37.1 | 4.83 |
| Nov 3, 11:00 PM MST | 36.2 | 4.82 |
| Nov 3, 10:00 PM MST | 36.8 | 4.82 |
| Nov 3, 9:00 PM MST | 36.7 | 4.82 |
| Nov 3, 8:00 PM MST | 36.4 | 4.82 |
| Nov 3, 7:00 PM MST | 36.7 | 4.82 |
| Nov 3, 6:00 PM MST | 36.6 | 4.82 |
| Nov 3, 5:00 PM MST | 36.9 | 4.82 |
| Nov 3, 4:00 PM MST | 37 | 4.83 |
| Nov 3, 3:00 PM MST | 38 | 4.84 |
| Nov 3, 2:00 PM MST | 36.9 | 4.82 |
| Nov 3, 1:00 PM MST | 37.3 | 4.83 |
| Nov 3, 12:00 PM MST | 37.2 | 4.83 |
| Nov 3, 11:00 AM MST | 37.4 | 4.83 |
| Nov 3, 10:00 AM MST | 37.5 | 4.83 |
| Nov 3, 9:00 AM MST | 38.5 | 4.84 |
| Nov 3, 8:00 AM MST | 39.6 | 4.86 |
| Nov 3, 7:00 AM MST | 38.4 | 4.84 |
| Nov 3, 6:00 AM MST | 38.1 | 4.84 |
| Nov 3, 5:00 AM MST | 39.1 | 4.85 |
| Nov 3, 4:00 AM MST | 39.6 | 4.86 |
| Nov 3, 3:00 AM MST | 39.9 | 4.86 |
| Nov 3, 2:00 AM MST | 39.9 | 4.86 |
| Nov 3, 1:00 AM MST | 40.8 | 4.87 |
| Nov 3, 12:00 AM MST | 43.1 | 4.9 |
| Nov 2, 11:00 PM MST | 43.4 | 4.9 |
| Nov 2, 10:00 PM MST | 44.4 | 4.91 |
| Nov 2, 9:00 PM MST | 44.3 | 4.91 |
| Nov 2, 8:00 PM MST | 43.6 | 4.9 |
| Nov 2, 7:00 PM MST | 42.7 | 4.9 |
| Nov 2, 6:00 PM MST | 41.7 | 4.88 |
| Nov 2, 5:00 PM MST | 39.7 | 4.86 |
| Nov 2, 4:00 PM MST | 38.8 | 4.85 |
| Nov 2, 3:00 PM MST | 38.7 | 4.85 |
| Nov 2, 2:00 PM MST | 37.3 | 4.83 |
| Nov 2, 1:00 PM MST | 37 | 4.83 |
| Nov 2, 12:00 PM MST | 37.3 | 4.83 |
| Nov 2, 11:00 AM MST | 35.9 | 4.81 |
| Nov 2, 10:00 AM MST | 36.2 | 4.82 |
| Nov 2, 9:00 AM MST | 36.5 | 4.82 |
| Nov 2, 8:00 AM MST | 37.5 | 4.83 |
| Nov 2, 7:00 AM MST | 35.8 | 4.81 |
| Nov 2, 6:00 AM MST | 36.1 | 4.81 |
| Nov 2, 5:00 AM MST | 35.5 | 4.81 |
| Nov 2, 4:00 AM MST | 35.5 | 4.81 |
| Nov 2, 3:00 AM MST | 34.3 | 4.79 |
| Nov 2, 2:00 AM MST | 34.7 | 4.8 |
| Nov 2, 1:00 AM MST | 34.9 | 4.8 |
| Nov 2, 12:00 AM MST | 34.7 | 4.8 |
| Nov 1, 11:00 PM MST | 34.8 | 4.8 |
| Nov 1, 10:00 PM MST | 34.7 | 4.8 |
| Nov 1, 9:00 PM MST | 34.6 | 4.79 |
| Nov 1, 8:00 PM MST | 34.4 | 4.79 |
| Nov 1, 7:00 PM MST | 34.4 | 4.79 |
| Nov 1, 6:00 PM MST | 34.3 | 4.79 |
| Nov 1, 5:00 PM MST | 35.2 | 4.8 |
| Nov 1, 4:00 PM MST | 34.5 | 4.79 |
| Nov 1, 3:00 PM MST | 34.5 | 4.79 |
| Nov 1, 2:00 PM MST | 34.6 | 4.8 |
| Nov 1, 1:00 PM MST | 34.8 | 4.8 |
| Nov 1, 12:00 PM MST | 34.8 | 4.8 |
| Nov 1, 11:00 AM MST | 35.1 | 4.8 |
| Nov 1, 10:00 AM MST | 34.9 | 4.8 |
| Nov 1, 9:00 AM MST | 35.3 | 4.8 |
| Nov 1, 8:00 AM MST | 37.6 | 4.83 |
| Nov 1, 7:00 AM MST | 34.9 | 4.8 |
| Nov 1, 6:00 AM MST | 34.1 | 4.79 |
| Nov 1, 5:00 AM MST | 34.3 | 4.79 |
| Nov 1, 4:00 AM MST | 34 | 4.79 |
| Nov 1, 3:00 AM MST | 34.9 | 4.8 |
| Nov 1, 2:00 AM MST | 34.8 | 4.8 |
| Nov 1, 1:00 AM MST | 35 | 4.8 |
| Nov 1, 1:00 AM MDT | 35 | 4.8 |
| Nov 1, 12:00 AM MDT | 35.5 | 4.81 |
| Oct 31, 11:00 PM MDT | 35 | 4.8 |
| Oct 31, 10:00 PM MDT | 35.2 | 4.8 |
| Oct 31, 9:00 PM MDT | 35.5 | 4.81 |
| Oct 31, 8:00 PM MDT | 34.8 | 4.8 |
| Oct 31, 7:00 PM MDT | 34.9 | 4.8 |
| Oct 31, 6:00 PM MDT | 34.8 | 4.8 |
| Oct 31, 5:00 PM MDT | 34.9 | 4.8 |
| Oct 31, 4:00 PM MDT | 34.4 | 4.79 |
| Oct 31, 3:00 PM MDT | 34.3 | 4.79 |
| Oct 31, 2:00 PM MDT | 34.6 | 4.79 |
| Oct 31, 1:00 PM MDT | 34.6 | 4.79 |
| Oct 31, 12:00 PM MDT | 34.9 | 4.8 |
| Oct 31, 11:00 AM MDT | 34.8 | 4.8 |
| Oct 31, 10:00 AM MDT | 35 | 4.8 |
| Oct 31, 9:00 AM MDT | 34.8 | 4.8 |
| Oct 31, 8:00 AM MDT | 35.1 | 4.8 |
| Oct 31, 7:00 AM MDT | 34.9 | 4.8 |
| Oct 31, 6:00 AM MDT | 34.7 | 4.8 |
| Oct 31, 5:00 AM MDT | 35.4 | 4.8 |
| Oct 31, 4:00 AM MDT | 34.9 | 4.8 |
| Oct 31, 3:00 AM MDT | 34.7 | 4.8 |
| Oct 31, 2:00 AM MDT | 34.9 | 4.8 |
| Oct 31, 1:00 AM MDT | 34.3 | 4.79 |
| Oct 31, 12:00 AM MDT | 34.6 | 4.79 |
| Oct 30, 11:00 PM MDT | 34.4 | 4.79 |
| Oct 30, 10:00 PM MDT | 34.3 | 4.79 |
| Oct 30, 9:00 PM MDT | 34.2 | 4.79 |
| Oct 30, 8:00 PM MDT | 34.5 | 4.79 |
| Oct 30, 7:00 PM MDT | 34.6 | 4.8 |
| Oct 30, 6:00 PM MDT | 34.7 | 4.8 |
| Oct 30, 5:00 PM MDT | 35.1 | 4.8 |
| Oct 30, 4:00 PM MDT | 35.8 | 4.81 |
| Oct 30, 3:00 PM MDT | 35.3 | 4.8 |
| Oct 30, 2:00 PM MDT | 34.4 | 4.79 |
| Oct 30, 1:00 PM MDT | 34.6 | 4.79 |
| Oct 30, 12:00 PM MDT | 34.8 | 4.8 |
| Oct 30, 11:00 AM MDT | 34.8 | 4.8 |
| Oct 30, 10:00 AM MDT | 34.3 | 4.79 |
| Oct 30, 9:00 AM MDT | 34.7 | 4.8 |
| Oct 30, 8:00 AM MDT | 35.2 | 4.8 |
| Oct 30, 7:00 AM MDT | 34.7 | 4.8 |
| Oct 30, 6:00 AM MDT | 35.5 | 4.81 |
| Oct 30, 5:00 AM MDT | 34.8 | 4.8 |
| Oct 30, 4:00 AM MDT | 35.2 | 4.8 |
| Oct 30, 3:00 AM MDT | 34.9 | 4.8 |
| Oct 30, 2:00 AM MDT | 34.5 | 4.79 |
| Oct 30, 1:00 AM MDT | 34.3 | 4.79 |
| Oct 30, 12:00 AM MDT | 34.4 | 4.79 |
| Oct 29, 11:00 PM MDT | 34.6 | 4.79 |
| Oct 29, 10:00 PM MDT | 34.4 | 4.79 |
| Oct 29, 9:00 PM MDT | 34.4 | 4.79 |
| Oct 29, 8:00 PM MDT | 34.4 | 4.79 |
| Oct 29, 7:00 PM MDT | 35 | 4.8 |
| Oct 29, 6:00 PM MDT | 34.9 | 4.8 |
| Oct 29, 5:00 PM MDT | 34.9 | 4.8 |
| Oct 29, 4:30 PM MDT | 35.2 | 4.8 |
Normal for Nov 5: 39–62 ft³/s (middle half of 80 years of record). Now: 35.4 ft³/s, below normal.
Below normal for this date. 35.4 ft³/s is between the 10th and 25th percentiles of daily mean flow for Nov 5 at this gauge over 80 years of record (1947–2026): 10th 34, 25th 39, median 47, 75th 62, 90th 86 ft³/s.
Daily means on record for Nov 5: lowest 23 ft³/s, highest 112 ft³/s.
Classes as USGS labels them (hyswap: flow categories (WDFN_stats schema) (U.S. Geological Survey) ); percentiles from the USGS daily statistics (U.S. Geological Survey) (approved daily means; the reading is provisional and instantaneous).
Steady over 24 hours (−2.2% discharge). Rising or falling means a change of more than 10% in discharge (or 0.2 ft of gauge height) over 24 hours; our rule of thumb, not a USGS class.
Below NWS action stage. The National Weather Service reports this gauge below its action stage. That is not a statement that wading is safe.
NWS observed 4.8 ft stage, 31 ft³/s at Nov 5, 3:00 PM MST (NWS gauge SFHS2; its stage datum can differ from the USGS gauge height).
Forecasts are not available. Only observed stages are available for this point.
Open the NWS gauge page · What the categories mean (National Weather Service)
No current water-temperature reading at this gauge, so no temperature guidance is given. Take a stream thermometer. South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks publishes no water-temperature line for trout anglers that we found. The lines below are the National Park Service's, federal guidance, not a South Dakota rule: 68°F.
Species the agency lists for Spearfish Creek: Rainbow Trout.
Source: Black Hills exceptions: Spearfish Creek rainbow trout catch-and-release area (artificial lures only) (South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks).
Below NWS action stage. The National Weather Service reports this gauge below its action stage. That is not a statement that wading is safe.
Flood categories: action stage, minor, moderate and major flooding (National Weather Service)Turn Around Don't Drown. “A mere 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult.” No flow number makes a crossing safe; if in doubt, stay out.
Turn Around Don't Drown (National Weather Service)Guidance from the readings above and the published thresholds named with each line; not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access. Local rules and closures come first.
Checked Nov 5, 4:20 PM MST; readings refresh at most every 15 minutes and statistics daily. Provisional USGS data can be revised. Conditions change: re-check before you go. This is general guidance, not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access.
Wild Trout WaterRepresentative photo · not Castle CreekThe North Platte River at Glendo, Wyoming (below Glendo Reservoir, not the Grey Reef or Miracle Mile reaches). Photo: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Castle Creek.
South Dakota · about 30 mi
Catch and releaseRepresentative photo · not Rapid CreekThe Bighorn River from the Swinging Bridge, Montana. Photo: charkes, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Rapid Creek.
