Rock Creek
creek in Montana
Rock Creek is a smaller, intimate freestone waterway with crystal-clear waters and abundant trout. It demands technical presentations but rewards anglers with wild westslope cutthroat, rainbow, brown, and even bull trout, especially during its famous salmonfly and golden stonefly hatches.
Conditions right now
No USGS gauge is linked to this water yet, so we can't chart flows.
Robust October Caddis hatches are a primary food source
- 01Robust October Caddis hatches are a primary food source, with active adult caddis on the water.
- 02Blue-Winged Olive (BWO) emergences are becoming more prevalent, providing selective dry fly opportunities.
- 03Terrestrial patterns, especially hoppers and ants, remain effective on warmer fall afternoons, particularly along shaded banks.
- 04Subsurface nymphing with Hare's Ear and Midge patterns is productive for trout feeding on active nymphs and pupae.
- 05Larger trout are responding to stripped Olive Woolly Buggers, mimicking baitfish and leeches in cooler waters.
Past reports week by week
6 weeksWhat to tie on
Picked from reports, hatches and the season. Tap a fly for the recipe and where else it works.
October Caddis (Dry)
Strong regional intelligence signals indicate active October Caddis hatches becoming a factor for Cutthroat and Cutt-bow in fall.
Buy at AmazonBlue-Winged Olive Comparadun
Regional intelligence and seasonal knowledge confirm Blue-Winged Olives are beginning to appear, making this an excellent pattern for selective risers in fall.
Schroeder’s Parachute Hopper
Regional reports confirm terrestrial fishing remains strong, and hoppers are a substantial fall food source for opportunistic trout.
Woolly Bugger (Olive)
A versatile streamer pattern that imitates leeches and baitfish, effective year-round and particularly in colder fall waters for aggressive trout.
Zebra Midge
Midges are a consistent food source year-round, particularly effective in fall as a subsurface searching pattern.
Buy at AmazonChernobyl Ant
Regional reports indicate Chernobyl Ant Greys are effective, especially for aggressive Cutthroat taking large terrestrials in early fall.
Buy at AmazonFlashback Hare's Ear Nymph
A versatile nymph effective year-round, mimicking various aquatic insects active subsurface in fall, including Baetis nymphs.
Purple Haze
Mentioned in regional reports as an effective early fall attractor, appealing to aggressive Cutthroat.
Buy at AmazonWhere to fish and who to ask
Dalles Fishing Access
Provides access to excellent pocket water and riffles.
Gillie Bridge
Key access point offering prime wade fishing and float launch.
Valley of the Moon
Offers access to diverse water, from deep pools to faster runs.
Fly shops within 40 miles
Montana Trout Outfitters
Grizzly Hackle Fly Shop
Freestone Fly Shop
Kingfisher Fly Shop
Get Rock Creek reports by email
Save this water and we'll email you a weekly summary of conditions, hatches and what's working.
Montana season by season
What changes on the water through the year, with the flies for each season.
Read before you go
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Best Fly Fishing Sunglasses: Lens Color & Polarization Guide
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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 Rock Creek.
What flies work best on Rock Creek?
Our top scored fly patterns for Rock Creek right now are Chubby Chernobyl (95% confidence), Tungsten Bead Pat's Rubber Legs (95% confidence), Keller's Heneberry Hopper-Tan (95% confidence). These picks are scored from recent fishing reports, hatch data, and seasonal patterns.
What fish species are in Rock Creek?
Rock Creek holds Cutt-bow, Cutthroat. See the species links on this page for fly recommendations and seasonal behavior for each.
What are current flow conditions on Rock Creek?
Live USGS streamflow readings for Rock Creek are charted in the sidebar of this page and updated automatically from the nearest gauge.
Is Rock Creek fishing well right now?
We publish a fresh bite report for Rock Creek each week based on recent on-the-water intel. The current report — with conditions, hatches, and what's producing — is on this page.