The Black Hills region is rather isolated from the rest of the Rockies. The long stretch of dry prairie and badlands between here and the Big Horns, for instance, proved too far for trout to traverse. As a result, the steams were in olden days home to some rather unglamorous sucker-like species, and smaller minnows. Not that there's anything wrong with those -- but they aren't of sport-angling interest.

Anyone looking at the streams and mountains here in the 1800s would have been able to tell in an instant that this was prime trout water just waiting for the introduction of the salmonids. And that it got: Trout took off immediately and have been thriving in the Black Hills ever since. They have done so well that during most of the last century the natural reproduction has been good, and in the good streams, the fish have pretty much taken care of themselves.

In very recent years, trout have suffered from stream habitat being damaged by an invasive species in Rapid Creek. But that appears to be abating somewhat, and trout may be increasing in numbers again. In any event, the situation affects only some stream stretches.

To get started on Black Hills stream fishing, most anglers choose one of the bigger streams. Three main streams found here are in that category; a few less-noted ones with good fisheries are present as well.

Spearfish Creek, one of the most scenic streams to be found anywhere, starts in the higher elevations of the Black Hills and runs down Spearfish Canyon, a scenic byway so beautiful that people who don't even fish like to drive and bike through it to look at the canyon walls and very clear waters that babble along down the streambed.

Spearfish Creek has fairly steady water flows in it, and is often clear even after rainfall or snowmelt. It mainly holds brown trout, but a wild rainbow fishery is present in part of it, and brook trout appear farther up in the smaller headwaters. Most of these fish are wild, and the quality of this fishery is high by any standard.

Right now the headwaters area is likely to have snow in it, and may or may not be very fishable. Of course, some anglers will wade even through snow to catch fish. But a fair amount of ice might be on the stream in some places, as much of it is sheltered from the sun either by canyon walls or by thick stands of Black Hills spruce growing near the stream in much at higher elevations.

One of these headwater stretches runs through Roughlock Falls. It's beautiful enough that it's a popular location for weddings. So should you wish to get married and go fishing at the same time (in which case you'll know that you have the perfect spouse!), then this would be the perfect place for it.