Rock Creek By Mark E. Jones
Allow your mind
to conjure up a classic, free flowing trout stream located in the Rocky
Mountains of western Montana, and you will have created a mental image
of Rock
Creek. Rock Creek is located approximately 25 miles east of Missoula,
Montana
where, after flowing through fifty miles of mostly national forest
service
lands, it enters the Clark Fork River. It remains one of the true "Blue
Ribbon" fisheries of the West, supporting large populations of browns
and cutthroats. (Note: Whirling disease has impacted the rainbow
population, but they are still present in the system.)
Rock Creek is a
mostly free flowing, classic Western trout water. Although Rock Creek is
open
year around, and provides some excellent angling opportunities before
high
water, the fishing season typically commences with the salmon fly hatch
in late
May or early June.
The salmon fly
hatch on Rock Creek is somewhat more predictable than many Western
rivers, and
the angler arriving on the creek during the second or third week of June
will
have the opportunity to present large salmon fly imitations (size, 2,4
or 6) to
hungry fish. Because of the high water, the same angler will also
encounter
difficult wading conditions and may find themselves competing for the
relatively few wadable areas with other bank anglers. However, if you
are a
strong wader and not opposed to a day of slipping and sliding, June
fishing on
Rock Creek can be productive. During these high flows, fishing from a
well
equipped raft is far more productive. This success is
attributable to the float fishing angler's ability to access all
available
holding water with long, drag free floats. Commerical outfitters and
private floating is
permitted until July 1, at which time all fishing from boats is
prohibited.
As June gives
way to July and August, Rock Creek quickly recedes and becomes more
"wader
friendly." The boats are gone, and at this time one can expect to
encounter large golden stone flies intermingled with assorted mayflies
and
caddis. The hectic pace of fishing the salmon fly hatch quiets and gives
way to
the more typical attempt to match the hatch. Rock Creek trout are easily
fooled,
and the lower water defines the obvious holding water.
A
few special
words are required about the spruce moth fishing in August. Generally,
in early
August, Rock Creek provides some incredible morning fishing to the
angler using
any reasonable light colored, down-winged imitation. Any size 12 elk
hair
caddis will do. Depending on the day, the fishing will commence early
and
continue until 10:30 or 11:00 am. Then, the bugs simply disappear and
the fish
take up their more subtle forms of feeding.
Fishing in
September and October on Rock Creek is not as predictable as in the
early
summer months. For whatever reason, Rock Creek trout become more
selective and
difficult to catch. This is not to say that one cannot expect
outstanding
fishing, but only that the fall fishing does not match the incredible
catch
rate of early summer. During this time, the lower twelve miles provide
opportunities for spawning brown trout, and sporadic may mayfly hatches
are
present. The upper reaches are most productively fished during the heat
of the
day with smaller mayfly offerings and any size stonefly nymph.
Regardless of
the time of year, Rock Creek will provide any angler with a picturesque
setting
and catchable trout.
Rock Creek is
easily accessible and has numerous forest service campgrounds.
