Custer State Park - Black Hills, Sd Tips?

[ColdWaterFshr]

Heading there soon. Staying 3 days/nights in the park at Sylvan Lodge and also Blue Bell Lodge. Was planning to hit French Creek natural area, but the reports of poison ivy have me freaked out a little bit. Any other good fishing spots, particularly creeks on the southern end of the park?

[Jeff Behrns]

A true fisherman; more concerned with the poison ivy than the rattlesnakes.

Don't have any useful fishing info for you but SD is outstanding country; not just the Black Hills, but the badlands and grasslands too; want to get back there.

[ColdWaterFshr]

I'm going with the theory that anyone that publishes a certain stream is infested with poison ivy . . . or snakes, then it must be a great fishing stream that they're wanting to keep to themselves. Will let you know if this theory holds true.

[ColdWaterFshr]

Black Hills are spectacular. Rushmore is very impressive if you have never been. And even though the hike into the gorge of French Creek in Custer State Park was enjoyable . .. the streamside vegetation WAS primarily poison ivy. Almost armpit deep. The guide book was right. Good thing I brought my waders.

Trout fishing for wild browns in a spectacular setting.

[Quillback]

Very nice - did you see any other fishermen?

[Greasy B]

A beautiful stream. Did you see the Crazy Horse memorial?

[ness]

Very sweet! That water looks phenomenal! I've never been fishing up there but I've wondered. How was it?

We did that trip when I was a kid, but we didn't fish. I saw on FB you did the Corn Palace. Classic! You had to feel a little Griswold, no?

[ColdWaterFshr]

The spirit of Clark Griswald inhabited my entire body. If you've ever spent 2800 miles in a mid-size car with a wife and 3 kids over the course of a week, you start to lose your mind. I even had a Christie Brinkley moment with the gal that registered us for the New Belgium Brewery tour in Ft. Collins. I may have been imagining it, but she was wearing a bikini top and was quite attractive. My wife and kids had to reel me back in.

Yes - we saw Crazy Horse, but it was $11 per person to go in so we took a couple pictures and did a U-ey and drove out, and them dam indians don't have the thing done yet and no estimated timetable for completion, so I refuse to contribute to their racket when I know good and well 10 out of 11 of those dollars go to their whiskey fund and casino play money.

behold, the Corn Palace!

the Badlands -- very cool and strange

[ness]

Ahhh, the memories. The five of us hurtling down the highway at 80 miles an hour in a smoke-filled, 5 ton Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser. Nary a seat belt in sight. The primo location for us kids was the backward-facing fold up seat in the back, nestled atop a tank of 29.9 cent Ethyl. You could spread out a little back there, plus you were out of reach of mom's flailing arms. Singing 99 bottles, counting license plates, and trying to get the 18 wheelers to honk -- hopefully scaring the bejeezus outta dad. Those were the days.

[ColdWaterFshr]

Ahhh, the memories. The five of us hurtling down the highway at 80 miles an hour in a smoke-filled, 5 ton Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser. Nary a seat belt in sight. The primo location for us kids was the backward-facing fold up seat in the back, nestled atop a tank of 29.9 cent Ethyl. You could spread out a little back there, plus you were out of reach of mom's flailing arms. Singing 99 bottles, counting license plates, and trying to get the 18 wheelers to honk -- hopefully scaring the bejeezus outta dad. Those were the days.

Good times indeed! Many great times like that, though we never travelled much further than Branson, Pomme de Terre or Roaring River.