Rock Creek is one of Montana’s designated “blue ribbon” trout streams, and this rating is well deserved. Flowing out of Welcome Creek Wilderness to its confluence with the Clark Fork River 21 miles east of Missoula, Rock Creek is internationally renowned for its spectacular June salmon fly hatch and its classic, textbook trout water. Supporting healthy populations of browns, cutthroats, rainbows, and bull trout, this stream is easily accessible along the majority of its length and will have anglers fishing shoulder to shoulder with wildlife that includes deer, elk, moose, bear and a world record producing herd of mountain sheep. Rock Creek hatches begin to motivate fish in April when the skwala stonefly and grey drakes mayflies first appear. In June, runoff permitting, the salmonfly hatch can produce non-stop action on big dryflies. Throughout the rest of the summer, hatches that include various mayflies, caddis and stoneflies keep the dryfly fishing season in full swing. Rock Creek is also one of the best year round fishing streams in the area in that even in very cold weather, the fish always seem willing to eat nymphs.

River Flow
What to Bring
Map and float recommendations of Rock Creek
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
SNOTEL: Snow – Precipitation Update