Rock Creek Spring Fishing Report 2021

CFS: 713

Water Temp: 38-44°F

Dries: March Browns, Skwalas, Purple Haze

Nymphs: Pat's Rubber Leg, Double-bead Stonefly, Beaded Prince, Hare's Ear

FISHING REPORT

April is a fascinating month for fishing on Rock Creek. One day, it will be raining/snowing and the next it will be 60 degrees and sunny (which is the current weather trend as I write this report). This can make the fishing difficult at times due to a lack of consistency, but as I always like to advise, change your tactics given the conditions. Double nymph rigs have been the most consistent producer; try the combination of a large stonefly nymph or a brown Pat's Rubber Leg with a smaller dropper behind it like a hare's ear or a psycho prince nymph. Add a bit of flash, partridge hackle, or purple to any of these nymph patterns, and you'll have a lethal combination.

On the warmer April days, we often get our first good dry fly hatches of the season. Big trout that normally lay low and refuse dries in the summer months will hungrily rise to the occasion this time of the year. Next to salmon fly season in June, this is my preferred time to fish dries. Although most people immediately think "skwalas,” on Rock Creek the March Brown mayfly is actually the better hatch. We do have a skwala hatch, but it is nowhere near as prolific as the nearby rivers, and the March Brown has more consistency in getting strikes. When in doubt, try a foam skwala with either a brown mayfly cripple or a hare's ear nymph riding underneath it.

Given that the water levels have bumped thanks to some warmer days and rain, Rock Creek is higher and faster than normal for the time of year, so I urge using good judgment when going out on the water. Choose wisely where you decide to wade and err on the side of being overly cautious:

To cap off this report, I wanted to share some fish pics from friend of the shop Matt as well as some video of Rock Creek itself for those of you who need your fix and can't yet make it out here (Billy Grant, Chuck, Catfish, Woodwards, et al, this is for you guys!). Here's to a safe and happy fishing season on Rock Creek!

Rock Creek Fall Fishing Report 2020

CFS: 363

Water Temp: 47-52°F

Dries: October Caddis, BWOs, Mahogany Duns, Brindle Chutes, Small Terrestrials

Nymphs: Pat's RL, Perdigons, San Juan worms, STREAMERS

After enduring a week of solid smoke blanketing western Montana, we finally received some much-needed rain, and the air is now crystal clear. The precipitation also added to our streamflow and dropped the average water temp into the high 40s:

The downside to the temperature change is that the mornings and early afternoons have been tough fishing, at least for dry flies. If you enjoy fishing streamers, the mornings are an excellent time to come out. We're starting to see some bigger fish chasing buggers, sculpins, and rubber-legged streamers like the JJ Special. Nymphing is also a viable option in the morning; the San Juan worm has reigned supreme the past few days, but large stonefly nymphs with a small beaded dropper behind it have also been working.

If dry flies are your preference, I would recommend postponing your fishing until the mid-afternoon. My wife and I went out the other day and fished from 3:30 to about 6, and saw a number of hatches, including mayflies, tiny dark midges and October caddis (although nymphs were the only thing producing since it had rained earlier that morning). The Brindle Chute works as a great attractor for both Mahogany Duns and October caddis (depending on the size), and a size 18-20 Adams or Trico would work best for the midges.

The next couple weeks are forecast to be in the 60s-70s for daytime highs, and that will likely keep the terrestrials active into October. Try a Fat Albert or a small hopper with either a crippled emerger or a small beaded nymph a couple feet behind it. The fish will often eyeball the hopper and then take whatever is behind it.

We are going to stay open every day through October and then go to our limited winter hours starting in November, so we hope to see you in the Mercantile on your way up or down Rock Creek!

Rock Creek Fishing Report - 9/3/2020

CFS: 336

Water Temp: 55 - 62°F

Dries: Hoppers/Ants/Beetles, Purple Haze, Mahogany Duns, BWOs

Nymphs: Peacock Stone, Prince Nymph, Green Copper Johns

Young Sam with a beautiful brown trout

We can feel fall approaching with each passing day; the nights have been longer, the mornings colder, and the bigger fish have started to move more as the water temps go down.

Fortunately, we've still had enough warm weather in the middle of the day to activate the terrestrial flies. Hoppers have been the most popular choice, but ants, beetles and rubber-legged stimulators have been great options too.

In the evenings, smaller mayflies have been the fish's preferred bug. A yellow PMD or a Mahogany Dun will work on the warmer days, but if you have any clouds/precipitation, try a Blue-Winged Olive instead. Attractors like the Purple Haze and the Brindle Chute are great "all-around" flies to simulate these patterns.

Green has been the best dropper color the past couple weeks; try a mid-sized hopper with a green Copper John or Zebra Midge 1.5 ft - 2 ft behind it. The other option would be to fish a double-nymph rig. If you go this route, use a big stonefly nymph with some weight as your main, and trail the small dropper.

At some point this month, we'll start to see the October caddis flying. Keep an eye out for the orange caddis nymphs crawling on the rocks as a harbinger of bugs to come. With there being more water than usual this year, the September fishing should be great on Rock Creek!