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All South Dakota reports
French Creek
Generated artwork: BlueStreamFly · Regional illustration; not the exact location.
Should I go fishing?
Check the water temperature first.
Water temperature is unconfirmed. Use a stream thermometer; stop trout fishing at 70°F or warmer, or sooner if fish show stress.
Fishing rating74
Rating updatedRiver local time:
Why this recommendation?
USGS shows 1 cfs. The flow has been stable over about 6 hours. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (1983-2025, 43 readings) show a median near 3 cfs and the lower quartile near 1 cfs; today's flow is below normal for the date. This is below normal, so edge depth, temperature, and pressure matter.
Available live dataHighHow much of the live flow, weather, and alert data came back.
Confidence in this recommendationMediumWater temperature not verified; do not use this score to clear warm-water risk.
Usually checks again about every 45 minutes
If you go
- Check first
- Custer State Park says the French Creek Natural Area covers 2,200 acres and that hikers should expect many creek crossings, wet feet, and a first mile that can run underground during drier months.
- Try
- Decide before leaving the trailhead whether the day is a shorter access-point session or a true natural-area walk.
- Leave when
- Skip when storms are active, crossings are unsafe, the creek is stained, water is warm, park access is restricted, or wildlife/visitor pressure changes the plan.
Flow and weather
Showing server-checked river conditions while current readings refresh.
- Flow
- 0.8 cfs
- From the latest stored river check. Open the official source for the newest reading.
- Air forecast
- 51°F
- Next 24h high
- 69.0°F
NWS air forecast near
- Rain chance
- 17%
This is an air forecast, not a river-temperature reading. Check the water with a stream thermometer before fishing in hot weather.
Latest stored weather check
Slight Chance Rain Showers
- Wind
- 9 mph
- Weather checked
More forecast and source details
Slight Chance Rain Showers
National Weather Service
French Creek forecast point near Custer State Park
The National Weather Service forecast is temporarily unavailable.
Live data
Where these readings come from
RiverReports gauge: French Creek above Custer
Flies for this time of year
Seasonal starting points, not a live hatch report. Match what you see on the water.
See flies for every season
SeasonWhat to look forFlies to try
March-May
What to look forBlue-winged olives, stones, caddis
May-June
What to look forMarch-brown style mayflies, caddis, yellow sallies
Summer
What to look forTerrestrials and caddis
FallThis season
What to look forBWOs and midges
Flies to try
Each fly name opens its matching Fly Box guide.
More fishing tips
Methods, fish species and trip notes
How to fish French Creek today.
The best French Creek days come on clear or slightly tinted moderate flow when you can move from seam to seam without every crossing becoming a chore. If the gorge is slick, thunderstorms are building, or the natural area would force too many high-water crossings, keep the day near the easier park access and leave the canyon for another time.
Moderate clear flow
Best for methodical nymphing and dry-dropper fishing through park runs, pocket water, and canyon edges.
Low late-season water
Expect stealthy fishing and remember the east-trailhead mile can go dry in places.
Higher runoff or storm pulse
Do not force the natural area. Fish only the easiest legal sections or postpone the trip.
Warm bright afternoon
Fish early, shorten the day, and keep moving water in the shade as the priority.
Wading, bank fishing or floating?
Access choicesNo single best option
Wading and Floating have the same top score. Use current access, footing, weather, and local rules to choose.
Wading74/100
Wading is in play only where your chosen access has clear footing, legal entry, and no forced crossings.
Bank fishingNot recommended
This report does not recommend bank fishing on this reach.
Floating74/100
A float is in play where this report supports boat access and wind, releases, and shuttle logistics are manageable.
Full river report
Is French Creek worth the trip today? Check flow, weather, hatches, access, and rules for South Dakota before you go.
French Creek gives anglers some of the strongest scenery and most committing trout access in the southern Black Hills. Start with RiverReports and USGS 06403300, then decide whether you want a shorter park-water session near access points or a true natural-area day where repeated crossings and the walk back matter as much as the fishing.
Fishing words used on this page
- U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) gauge
- A USGS gauge is an official river station that measures flow or water height.
- Cubic feet per second (cfs)
- Cubic feet per second, or cfs, shows how much water passes the gauge each second.
- Nymph
- A nymph is a young water insect. Anglers also use the word for a fly that copies it.
- Seam
- A seam is the line where fast and slow water meet.
- Blue-winged olive (BWO)
- Blue-winged olives, or BWOs, are small mayflies that often hatch in cool or cloudy weather.
- Caddis
- Caddis are small water insects. The adults look a little like tiny moths.
- Dry-dropper
- A dry-dropper rig has a floating fly with an underwater fly tied below it.
- Midge
- Midges are tiny flies and a common trout food, especially in cold water.
- Pocket water
- Pocket water is a small calm spot among rocks or fast current.
- Soft hackle
- A soft-hackle fly has moving fibers that can look like an insect rising through the water.
Why this call
Why this score
FlowUse caution
USGS shows 1 cfs. The flow has been stable over about 6 hours. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (1983-2025, 43 readings) show a median near 3 cfs and the lower quartile near 1 cfs; today's flow is below normal for the date. This is below normal, so edge depth, temperature, and pressure matter.
SeasonHelps
Fall: Often the most balanced season for cooler water, clearer weather, and a calmer natural-area plan.
WeatherHelps
The current NWS air forecast is about 51F, and the next 24-hour high reaches about 69F. Slight Chance Rain Showers.
Public alertsHelps
No active NWS alert was returned for this forecast point.
Fishing usefulnessHelps
Skip when storms are active, crossings are unsafe, the creek is stained, water is warm, park access is restricted, or wildlife/visitor pressure changes the plan.
Trip notes
Check these before you choose a reach.
Use the above-Custer gauge with park weather and crossing safety. Stable cool water is the best signal.
Skip when storms are active, crossings are unsafe, the creek is stained, water is warm, park access is restricted, or wildlife/visitor pressure changes the plan.
Start with the above-Custer gauge, then choose a Custer State Park or French Creek Natural Area plan before picking flies.
Compare Rapid Creek, Castle Creek, or Spearfish Creek when French Creek is high, warm, crowded, stormy, or access-limited.
French Creek access and rules.
Use these places as starting points. Open the access link below and check posted signs before you park or enter.
Before you go
Recheck the 2026 South Dakota Fishing Handbook and current park notices before fishing. Natural-area camping and fire rules are separate from fishing rules and still matter for trip planning.
Where to access the river
French Creek Trailhead
The park's clearest named trail access near Horse Camp for anglers building a structured day.
French Creek Horse Camp area
A practical staging point for the trail-and-crossing sections of the creek.
East or West Natural Area trailheads
Use only when you are prepared for wet feet, repeated crossings, and the canyon commitment.
- The natural area is unmarked enough that route discipline matters as much as fishing skill.
- Expect repeated crossings and wet feet. The park says hikers generally cross the creek many times.
- If the day depends on squeezing through the Narrows or finishing a long canyon push after a storm window, the plan is too aggressive.
Sources and report details
Official agencies and primary river operators come first. Secondary tools are labeled so you know what carries the most weight.
Rules and closures
Check what is allowed, where the rule applies, and whether the river is open.
Flow and weather
Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.
Access and land
Check public entry points, land rules, and seasonal access changes.
More helpful links
Use these links for stocking, safety, and other local details.
See all 7 checked sources
Rules and closures
Check what is allowed, where the rule applies, and whether the river is open.
What this source covers
Open the current rules and check the river section, season, and special limits.
Flow and weather
Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.
What this source covers
Open this page and check the latest safety advice before your trip.
What this source covers
Open this river reading to check the latest level, flow, and update time.
What this source covers
Open this river reading to check the latest level, flow, and update time.
Access and land
Check public entry points, land rules, and seasonal access changes.
What this source covers
Open the land or access page, then check signs before you park or enter.
What this source covers
Open the land or access page, then check signs before you park or enter.
More helpful links
Use these links for stocking, safety, and other local details.
What this source covers
Open this page for more river information and check when it was last updated.
How this report was checked
How this report was checked
Reviewed byBlueStreamFly River Review Team
Trip guidance checked
What was checked: This report starts with official regulation, access, flow, weather, and public-land sources, then adds practical planning guidance for fly anglers.
Live measurements and forecasts keep their provider timestamps. Rules, access, and trip guidance use the source-review date shown here. BlueStreamFly planning advice is editorial interpretation, not an agency notice.
First-hand experience: BlueStreamFly does not claim a first-hand visit or local field test for this report unless a real contributor is explicitly named and linked.
Quick questions
What gauge should I check for French Creek?
Start with RiverReports for the live chart and keep USGS 06403300 open as the official flow reference for the creek area.
Is French Creek a beginner-friendly Black Hills trout stream?
Only near the easiest park access. The natural-area day requires comfort with route-finding, wet crossings, and turning around early when conditions change.
Can I camp beside French Creek in the natural area?
Only under the park's rules: camping is limited to the canyon bottom, campsites must stay at least 50 feet from the stream, and open fires are prohibited.