Updated October 15, 2026

    Fall River

    river in South Dakota

    Fall River is a technical trout stream with productive pools and runs through Hot Springs; it's an excellent choice for wade anglers looking for brown and rainbow trout on dries and nymphs.

    Brown TroutRainbow Trout
    This week's reportAccess & shops

    Conditions right now

    No USGS gauge is linked to this water yet, so we can't chart flows.

    Weather now
    55°F
    Clear Sky, wind 10 mph SW
    Bite report · week of Oct 4

    What's working on Fall River

    Tactical tipA highly effective tactic for the Fall River this week is to employ a dry-dropper rig. Rig a larger dry fly, such as a Comparadun (BWO) (Sizes: 18-22) or PMD (Pale Morning Duns) (Sizes: 16-18), which also serves as an indicator, with a Midge (Sizes: 20-24) or Baetis Nymph (Sizes: 16-20) as your subsurface dropper. This allows you to cover multiple depths and imitate both emerging insects and active nymphs. For those targeting more aggressive Brown Trout, systematically working Woolly Buggers (Olive) (Sizes: 4-8) or other streamers through deeper pools and along undercut banks, varying your retrieve speed, can trigger strong territorial strikes.
    1. 01Blue-Winged Olives (BWOs) and Pale Morning Duns (PMDs) are the primary dry fly hatches. Look for these tiny mayflies to emerge, especially on overcast days or during the warmer periods of the afternoon. Their low-profile emergers and adults are key.
    2. 02Consistent midge activity is a year-round staple, but becomes even more critical in cooler fall water. Nymphing with midge patterns subsurface will be highly effective, often accounting for the majority of trout caught.
    3. 03Brown Trout in the Fall River are in their pre-spawn phase, leading to increased aggression. This makes them more susceptible to larger subsurface imitations like streamers and egg patterns.
    4. 04When navigating the Fall River this week, focus your efforts on the deeper pools, current seams, and areas with ample submerged structure. These locations provide crucial holding lies for trout as they seek refuge from currents and prepare for colder water. With the current air temperature of 59°F, the most productive fishing windows are likely to be from dawn until mid-morning and again in the late evening, when insect activity can be most prolific and trout are actively feeding. As the air temperatures eventually dip below 50°F, shifting your prime fishing hours to noon till late afternoon will become more beneficial.

    Past reports week by week

    10 weeks

    What to tie on

    Picked from reports, hatches and the season. Tap a fly for the recipe and where else it works.

    streamer

    Woolly Bugger (Olive)

    #4#6#8

    A reliable year-round streamer, effective for imitating leeches and baitfish, especially for aggressive trout in colder fall flows.

    emerger

    Travis Hi-Vis BWO Para Emerger

    #18#20#22

    BWO emergers are crucial during fall hatches, and this high-visibility pattern helps spot subtle takes from trout feeding in the film.

    egg

    Blood Dot Egg

    Salmon/trout egg
    #10#12#14

    Fall is egg season for trout below spawning areas, making this pattern crucial for aggressive browns and rainbows.

    Buy at Amazon
    nymph

    Flashback Scud Wet Hare's Ear

    #14#16#18

    Mimicking various aquatic insects and scuds active in the currents, making it a good general searching nymph for fall.

    dry

    PMD (Pale Morning Duns)

    #16#18

    Pale Morning Duns are actively hatching in fall, providing a key food source for opportunistic feeders.

    dry

    Comparadun

    #14#16

    Blue-Winged Olives (BWOs) are active in fall, and this low-profile dry fly is excellent for selective trout feeding on emergers and adults.

    nymph

    Baetis Nymph

    Baetis (BWO) Nymph
    #16#18#20#22

    Baetis nymphs are active year-round and particularly effective during BWO hatch periods in fall.

    nymph

    Midge

    #20#22#24

    Midges are a primary and consistent food source year-round, making this nymph highly effective in fall.

    Where to fish and who to ask

    1Hot Springs City Park Access2US-18 Bridge Access3Veterans Park / 5th Street Access
    Access
    1

    Hot Springs City Park Access

    Easy urban access through Hot Springs with bank fishing and short wade opportunities.

    43.431°N 103.474°WDirections
    2

    US-18 Bridge Access

    Good midstream access where pools accumulate trout below riffles.

    43.428°N 103.480°WDirections
    3

    Veterans Park / 5th Street Access

    Well-used public access with convenient parking and nearby pocket-water trout habitat.

    43.430°N 103.469°WDirections

    Get Fall River reports by email

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    South Dakota season by season

    What changes on the water through the year, with the flies for each season.

    Mar – MaySpringRead the guideJun – AugSummerRead the guideSep – NovFallRead the guideDec – FebWinterRead the guide

    Read before you go

    Gear & tipsWinter Fly FishingEssential Cold Weather Tips & Tactics
    Gear & tips

    Winter Fly Fishing: Essential Cold Weather Tips & Tactics

    Master winter fly fishing with proven cold weather strategies, gear selection, and tactics for catching trout when temperatures drop.

    Gear & tipsFly Line Types GuideWF, DT, Running & Shooting Heads
    Gear & tips

    Fly Line Types Guide: WF, DT, Running & Shooting Heads

    Master fly line selection with our comprehensive guide to weight forward, double taper, running lines, and shooting heads for every fishing situation.

    Gear & tipsFly Fishing Pack vs VestWhich Setup Is Right for You?
    Gear & tips

    Fly Fishing Pack vs Vest: Which Setup Is Right for You?

    Compare fly fishing packs and vests to find the perfect gear setup for your angling style and fishing conditions.

    Gear & tipsBest Fly Fishing SunglassesLens Color & Polarization Guide
    Gear & tips

    Best Fly Fishing Sunglasses: Lens Color & Polarization Guide

    Master lens color selection and polarization technology for superior vision and fish detection on the water.

    Gear & tipsFly Fishing NetsRubber vs. Nylon & Why It Matters for Fish
    Gear & tips

    Fly Fishing Nets – Rubber vs. Nylon & Why It Matters for Fish

    The net you choose dramatically impacts fish survival. Here's why rubber nets are superior to nylon for catch-and-release success.

    Gear & tipsBest Budget Fly Fishing Combo Setups for Beginners
    Gear & tips

    Best Budget Fly Fishing Combo Setups for Beginners

    Expert guide to affordable fly fishing combos that won't break the bank but deliver quality performance for new anglers.

    Quick answers

    Common questions about Fall River.

    What flies work best on Fall River?

    Our top scored fly patterns for Fall River right now are PMD Sparkle Dun (95% confidence), Zebra Midge (95% confidence), PMD Comparadun (95% confidence). These picks are scored from recent fishing reports, hatch data, and seasonal patterns.

    What fish species are in Fall River?

    Fall River holds Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout. See the species links on this page for fly recommendations and seasonal behavior for each.

    Is Fall River fishing well right now?

    We publish a fresh bite report for Fall River each week based on recent on-the-water intel. The current report — with conditions, hatches, and what's producing — is on this page.