There's a pond in the middle of the northern Black Hills that is thick with finicky Browns and Rainbows. When I first started fly fishing, I used to bang at them all day long.

They are in a spot that gets a lot of traffic and the fish really get pounded hard.

Consequently they are tippet shy and won't even give a #22 mosquito a second look during the dusk rise. Of course – this was long before I figured out that 90% of a fish’s diet comes from BELOW the surface – not on it.

HOWEVER - if you are patient and will fish nymphs near the current of the feeder creek that goes in there - you can stay quite busy.

I’ve also had great luck with Chrono patterns drifted below a dropper or just off a strike indicator. This is also pretty much true for any water out in the Black Hills. In Spearfish Canyon there are 4 or 5 different ponds created by dams in the creek. If you want to have any activity – keep your dries in your box and go deep with a zebra nymph…and hold on.

If you don't know what you're doing, this can be the most frustrating spot in the South Dakota Black Hills to get a line wet...plenty of fish rising...but they never seem hit! The trick is to leave your dry flies in the case and pull out your nymphs.

The prettiest little brookies (left) I've ever seen are out in the cold streams of the Black Hills. The Browns (right) are mighty pretty too. Of course these 8-10 inch treasures are not even half the size of the ones hiding out in the streams and lakes in the back part of the hills. If you're willing to walk up a few trails and get off the beaten path, there are plenty of nice fish back there. Check out any topo map, grab a 6' rod and if you don't set foot in the water you'll have a much better shot at pulling some good fish out of there.

This beautiful river is fed by a glacier high up on Mt. Ranier in Washington. It's packed with fish and I didn't have my fly-rod along! Timing is everything.