How to use our fishing calendar
Planning your next fishing trip in Rapid City, United States ? Today is a average day for fishing. Our comprehensive fishing almanac combines our popular solunar tables, moon times, sunrise and sunset times, and a 7-day fishing calendar so you always know the best fishing times in your area. We analyse major and minor solunar bite times, rate each day on a five-star scale, and pair it with localized weather forecasts so you can quickly tell whether today is a good day to fish without juggling multiple tabs. Be sure to bookmark this page so you never miss a bite. view bite times...
- Check our unique Solunar Clock for precise solunar tables and the best moon phases.
- Use the forecast calendar section to sync bite times with major weather changes.
- Analyze the forecasted weather conditions, such as wind, barometric pressure and rain to plan your fishing session.
- Jump to the 7-Day Fishing Calendar for an extended fishing forecast, then explore nearby fishing spots on the interactive map.
Fishing near Rapid City, South Dakota centers around the cold, clear waters of the Black Hills, where anglers target stocked trout, wild browns, panfish, and warmwater species in lakes and streams. From Pactola Reservoir and Sheridan Lake to Rapid Creek right in town, Rapid City offers year-round fishing opportunities for fly, spin, and ice anglers looking for productive, scenic water. read more...
Sun and Moon Times
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Nautical Twilight begins:Sunrise:
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Sunset:Nautical Twilight ends:
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Moonrise:
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Moonset:
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Moon over:
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Moon under:
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Visibility:68%
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First Quarter Moon
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Distance to earth:395,196 kmProximity:24.7 %
Moon Phases for Rapid City
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average Day
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minor Time:12:06 am - 02:06 am
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major Time:07:06 am - 09:06 am
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minor Time:02:06 pm - 04:06 pm
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major Time:
07:39 pm -
09:39 pm
Current Fishing Weather
Wind Speed and Direction
Wind Direction:
Wind Speed:
Wind Direction and Speed are one of the most important aspects for choosing a fishing spot. An offshore wind can help land-based anglers with longer casting distances, while an onshore wind will make kayak fishing safer. Often fish will also move to certain feeding areas depending on the wind direction. Check out the long term wind forecast at the charts below.
Fishing Barometer
Atmospheric Pressure:
Change since midnight:
Trend for next 6 hours:
Atmospheric or Barometric Pressure affects fish activity. The best fishing can be had on a rising barometer and also the time just before it is falling. A steady barometer in the higher ranges can also mean good fishing. A falling or low barometer reading without much change is usually not a very good time for fishing.
UV Effect on Fishing
As a rule of thumb, the higher the UV index, the deeper fish will move. Shallow water fishing is best done at times with a low UV index. When the UV is high, stick to early mornings, late evenings and shaded areas. The effect is less noticable in deeper water, but often a higher UV index can produce good results in the deep.
7 Day Fishing Weather
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 Waxing Gibbous |
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 Full Moon |
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Fishing Overview Rapid City
Rapid City sits at the eastern edge of the Black Hills, putting anglers close to a diverse mix of trout streams, deep reservoirs, and easy-access ponds. The core fisheries are Rapid Creek, Pactola Reservoir, Sheridan Lake, Canyon Lake, and a cluster of smaller lakes and ponds within a short drive of town.
Seasonal patterns here revolve around water temperature and flows. In spring, runoff boosts Rapid Creek and other streams, pushing trout tight to banks and current breaks. Nymphing with beadhead mayflies, caddis, and midge patterns under an indicator is highly productive, while spin anglers do well with small spinners and 1/16–1/8 oz marabou jigs. As flows stabilize into early summer, morning and evening dry-fly fishing takes off, with blue-winged olives, caddis, and terrestrials (hoppers, ants, beetles) drawing surface strikes, especially in the tailwater section below Pactola.
Summer on the larger lakes like Pactola Reservoir and Sheridan Lake is prime time for warmwater and deep-water trout tactics. Lake trout and splake slide deeper as surface temps climb; target them with downriggers or lead-core line pulling spoons along main-lake points, humps, and old river channels. Early and late in the day, rainbow trout and kokanee salmon ride higher in the water column and can be reached with long-line trolling small spoons, crankbaits, or wedding ring-style spinners tipped with corn for kokanee. For shore anglers, focus on dawn and dusk with slip bobbers and nightcrawlers, or cast small spoons around marina areas, points, and inlets.
Both Sheridan Lake and smaller local waters such as Canyon Lake hold strong populations of yellow perch, crappie, bluegill, and bass. In late spring and early summer, work the 4–10 ft zone with small jigs, beetle spins, or under-a-bobber presentations near weed edges, flooded brush, and riprap. When the sun is high, move slightly deeper and slow down with slip floats and live bait or subtle soft plastics. Largemouth and smallmouth bass respond well to finesse worms, Ned rigs, and small spinnerbaits fished along rock, timber, and docks.
Fall is one of the most consistent periods around Rapid City. Cooling water pushes trout shallower in lakes and boosts feeding activity in Rapid Creek and other streams. Streamers and larger nymphs produce quality browns in town and in the canyon, especially on overcast days. In the reservoirs, walleye and perch key on baitfish along main-lake points and creek mouths; vertical jigging with 1/4–3/8 oz jigs tipped with minnows or soft plastics is a reliable approach.
Winter ice fishing is a major part of the local scene on Pactola, Sheridan, and nearby smaller lakes. Focus on structure—points, humps, and basin edges—using sonar to stay on fish. Jigging spoons, small tungsten jigs, and set-lines with minnows produce perch, trout, and occasional pike. Early and late ice periods tend to be most productive, with midwinter success coming to anglers who stay mobile and punch a lot of holes.
Throughout the year, success near Rapid City comes from matching your presentation to the specific water: delicate nymphs and small dries on Rapid Creek, deeper trolling and jigging on Pactola, and classic panfish and bass tactics on the smaller lakes. Pay attention to water clarity, temperature, and structure, and adjust lure size and depth until you consistently contact fish.
Interactive Fishing Map for the greater Rapid City area
We found a total of 40 potential fishing spots nearby Rapid City. Below you can find them organized on a map. Points, Headlands, Reefs, Islands, Channels, etc can all be productive fishing spots. As these are user submitted spots, there might be some errors in the exact location. You also need to cross check local fishing regulations. Some of the spots might be in or around marine reserves or other locations that cannot be fished. If you click on a location marker it will bring up some details and a quick link to google search, satellite maps and fishing times. Tip: Click/Tap on a new area to load more fishing spots.
Canyon Lake Dam - 5.13534410267km , Red Dale Gulch Dam - 5.57344261007km , Victoria Creek - 9.8368385654km , Victoria Dam - 14.32346996637km , Bogus Jim Creek - 15.74189941463km , South Victoria Creek - 16.18071872876km , Dutch Creek - 16.73784465132km , Morris Creek - 19.15478380788km , Pactola Dam - 20.6481308449km , South Bogus Jim Creek - 20.66154202949km , North Bogus Jim Creek - 20.71512919633km , Middle Bogus Jim Creek - 20.71512919633km , South Branch Prairie Creek - 20.81680640225km , Sheridan Lake Dam - 21.18114936102km , Clear Creek - 22.3683470247km , Little Elk Creek - 22.64378290509km , Estes Creek - 23.24045636058km , Beermug Dam - 23.35939564706km , Wolken 2 Dam - 23.40117923769km , West Fork Estes Creek - 25.80216937556km , Grizzly Bear Creek - 25.98861231882km , North Fork Estes Creek - 26.24066282473km , South Boxelder Creek - 27.46963417835km , Grace Coolidge Creek - 28.19232751295km , Billover Creek - 28.34562736957km , School Section Dam - 28.41353732342km , Marvin Reinhold Dam Number 1 - 28.51414461052km , Horse Thief Lake Dam - 28.75323239351km , Lakota Dam - 28.87856599591km , Mitchell Lake Dam - 29.19586839933km , Toll Gate Creek - 29.37638899974km , Farming Dale 1 Dam - 30.85640773415km , Spokane Creek - 30.95979569966km , Evans Number 1 Dam - 31.29096560325km , New Underwood Dam - 31.36892178775km , Newton Fork - 31.52454309034km , Farming Dale Dam - 31.80000210816km , Slate Creek Dam - 31.85569774168km , Burnt Fork - 32.70341320706km , Walter D Miller Dam Number 1 - 32.84117205474km
Harbours and
Marinas
Beaches
Bays
Wharfs
Points,Reefs,etc
Latest Catches
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uploaded by: Jessica Anderson
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