Rock Creek

This is THE Rock Creek, a world-renowned fishery, offering 50 miles of prime trout fishing from its headwaters at the confluence of its East and West Forks all the way to the Clark Fork 20 miles east of Missoula. Rock creek offers excellent wade fishing access along nearly its entire length.

Float fishing on Rock Creek is exciting and a great way to experience the fishing during the spring high water season when wading is downright dangerous. The float fishing season on Rock Creek is short and exciting-it begins in late May when the water is high enough to float and ends when the flows recede again in late May. Float fishing is prohibited on the Creek after July 1st. Floating Rock Creek is not for the novice oarsman. Floating conditions and hazards can change day-to-day on the creek. Be sure you know the river and your skills or hire a guide.

Rock Creek is a beauty of a trout river with nearly continuous riffle - pool character (dropping 1350' in the last 40 miles), numerous braided channels, log jams and a few sections with more significant rapids. Rock Creek cuts through a narrow valley between the Sapphire Mountains to the west and the John Long Mountains to the east. It is bordered by forested slopes and cottonwood bottoms for nearly its entire length.

Rock Creek has a number of notable hatches starting with the Skwala stone in April and march brown mayflies through the spring, followed by salmonflies in June. Golden stones start later in June and last into the summer. Rock Creek boasts good caddis hatches through the summer with the giant October caddis appearing in the fall. In addition to the excellent dry fly fishing associated with these hatches, anglers can expect consistently good nymphing and streamer fishing on this river as well.

Rock Creek Fishing Report for: 10/7/2008