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Rock Creek Fishing Report

Rock Creek Fishing Report

by John & Terri Herzer

Rock Creek Fishing Report

Updated Friday, April 05 at 6:13PM
Yes, there are probably 20 Rock Creeks in Montana but this is THE Rock Creek.  The Montana blue ribbon stream you’ve likely read about or dreamed of fly fishing. The Rock Creek boasting the state’s most likely chance of you catching five different wild trout species in one outing.  Welcome to the wade anglers paradise.

Conditions At-a-glance

Our Report

The river bumped and may take a little time to settle in, but once it levels the fishing should be great! The skwala bite has been pretty good and it's just the beginning! Look to throw a skwala dry on soft banks and then nymphing with a TJ Hooker, Pheasant Tail, Rubber Legs, and Worms in deeper runs.

Hare are a few tips for fly fishing Rock Creek:

1. A dry dropper is the best method to catch fish right now.
2. Fish the slow inside bends and deeper pools
3. The Skwala bite has been on and going to get better! 

Here are a few fly suggestions:

1. Sparkle Minnow size 6, in sculpin 

2. Purple Haze size 14-18

3. Skwala Patterns, 12 -14 

4. Kreelex Minnow size 6, in copper/gold

5. TJ Hooker size 10-12, in coffee/black

6. Pheasant Tail Nymph size 12-20

7. Zebra midge size 16

Flows and looking ahead:

Flows bumped but should level soon. Fishing in the morning through mid-day has been good and the evening fishing has been excellent.

Local Forecast

Deer Lodge, MT, USA

Conditions

Conditions are a little tough, but should improve over the next few days.

The Hatch

Midges. BWOs and March Browns. Skwalas.

Fly Patterns

DRIES

  • Griffiths Gnat #16-18
  • Goober Midge #18-20
  • BWO D&D Cripple #16-20

NYMPHS

  • TJ Hooker #8-12
  • Duracell #12-14
  • Jig Pheasant Tail #12-14
  • Jig Prince #8-12
  • Frenchie #12-14
  • Perdigons and Bullets #12-14
  • Soft Hackle Hare's Ear #12-14
  • Rubber Legs #8-12
  • San Juan Worm #8-10

STREAMERS

  • Lil' Kim #4-8
  • Wooly Bugger/Thin Mint #6-10
  • Sparkle Minnow #4-8
  • Kreelex #4-6
  • Chicago Overcoat #8-12

USGS Water Charts

Specifics

Water Flow

566CFS (above average for this time of year)

Link to Water Flow Graph

http://on.doi.gov/1omaqKB"

Visibility

36"+

Water temperature at mid-day

46F

Water Condition

Clear

Best time of day to fish

Afternoon

Best stretch

Anywhere you can publicly access the river. Options are limitless.

Best access point

Upper: Gilles Bridge Lower: Valley of the Moon

Fish Species

Cutthroat, rainbow, cutbow, brown, bull, some brook trout, and whitefish.

Fishing Season

Open year round, but catch and release for trout during winter.

Nearest airport

MSO (Missoula International Airport)

Recommended fly fishing leader

9' 3X or 4X for single dry or nymph rigs. 7.5' 3X for dry-dropper rigs. We only go down to 5X when fishing tiny dries to picky fish. No need for 6X here.

Recommended fly fishing tippet

3X-5X will cover almost all of your fishing applications. Don't use less than 2X for streamers.

Best fly fishing rod

A 9' 5WT is still going to be your do-it-all rod here, especially when nymphing or dry-dropper fishing, but we like to size down to a 8'6" 4WT for fishing single dires. A 6WT with a floating line, or light sink tip is all you need for fishing streamers.

Best floating fly line

Scientific Anglers Amplitude MPX

Best sinking fly line

A 3ips sink tip is all you need for Rock Creek, unless you are fishing during runoff- then go heavier. We frequently fish streamers on floating lines here.

Recommended Gear based on this report

Rock Creek River Rat Maps
$13.95
$13.95
Hwy 38 Bridge to Clark Fork River
Spring Fly Assortment Spring Fly Assortment
from $36.95
from $36.95
A selection of our top flies for spring in Western Montana. This assortment focuses on Blue Wing Olives (BWOs), Skwalas, and March Browns. Choose from dry flies, nymphs, or 50/50 mix. Let us know w...
Scientific Anglers Absolute Trout Leader 3-Pack
$19.95
$19.95
Absolute leaders are made with proprietary copolymer blends that are designed to drastically reduce water absorption while maintaining an optimal suppleness for high knot strength. Absolute nylon...
Scientific Anglers Absolute Fluorocarbon Trout Tippet Clear - 30M
$16.95
$16.95
Absolute fluorocarbon leaders and tippet boast a 15% higher wet knot strength compared to our previous material and features incredible clarity and abrasion resistance. 100% fluorocarbon for ultim...
Scientific Anglers Absolute Trout Tippet Clear - 30M
$8.95
$8.95
Absolute Tippet is made with proprietary copolymer blends that are designed to drastically reduce water absorption while maintaining an optimal suppleness for high knot strength. Absolute nylon l...
High and Dry Gel Floatant
$9.95
$9.95
High N Dry Gel Floatant was designed with special and unique materials, and is specifically for those fly fishers that prefer to dress their flies with their fingers or those who prefer to dress ce...
High N Dry Liquid Spray Floatant
$9.95
$9.95
A favorite of BRO Guides!  High N Dry Liquid Spray Floatant is made of the same special and unique materials as our award-winning Liquid Floatant, but in a convenient spray bottle.  This method of ...
Umpqua Dream Stream Nipper
$5.99
$5.99
Meet our line of value, high-quality and dependable tools with great prices. All Dream Stream™ tools are made with surgical-grade Japanese stainless steel to exacting specifications for fly-fishers...
Orvis Mitten Clamp
$23.95
$23.95
The Mitten Clamps are opened and closed with the same squeezing motion, making clipping them to a pack or vest extra convenient. Double-dipped Comfy Grip handle provides extra tackiness. Built-in ...
Scientific Anglers Amplitude Smooth MPX Fly Line Scientific Anglers Amplitude Smooth MPX Fly Line
$99.95
$99.95
HALF-SIZE HEAVY LINE     The Amplitude Smooth series of lines are, simply put, the highest-performance smooth fly lines in the world. With up to five times less drag and eight times the durabilit...
Streamer Assortment Streamer Assortment
from $39.95
from $39.95
A selection of our guides' and staff's top streamers. Dungeons, Sparkles Minnows, Dolly Lama, Peanut Envy, Thin Mint, Kreelex, and more. Choose either a half dozen or dozen. Includes a BRO logo str...
Scientific Anglers Absolute Streamer Leader
$8.95
$8.95
FRESHWATER LEADER Absolute leaders are made with proprietary copolymer blends that are designed to drastically reduce water absorption while maintaining an optimal suppleness for high knot stren...
Skwala Carbon Jacket
$449.00
$449.00
Made for anglers who have to see what’s around the next bend, the Carbon Jacket’s fully waterproof, four-way stretch shell will keep you dry without slowing you down. Built for anglers who demand f...
Skwala Thermo 150 Hoody
$129.00
$129.00
Is it a light baselayer? Is it a Merino sunshirt? Is it the most comfortable and versatile fishing shirt you’ve ever worn? Yes, yes, and yes. Our Thermo 150 Hoody gives you the natural comfort and ...