Montana Fishing Reports ยท Western Region
Rock Creek runs about 50 miles through a forested valley southeast of Missoula, a blue-ribbon stream with browns, rainbows and cutthroat.
Looking for the latest Rock Creek river report? This page is updated by the AvidMax fly shop team with live flows, current conditions, hatches and the flies working now on the Rock Creek โ Clinton.
Current flows
Wind forecast
Rock Creek fishing report
Updated November 7, 2026.
The gauge near Clinton reads around 280 cfs, clear and very cold. Fish are holding deep in the slower pools.
Slow, precise nymph drifts on the bottom work best. BWOs come off midday on cloudy days.
Load your fly box
Before you head to Clinton, bring: JuJu Baetis #18-20, Zebra Midge #18-20, Perdigon #16-18, Pheasant Tail Nymph #16-18, Parachute Adams #18-20, RS2 Emerger #18-22, Black Beauty #20-24, Egg #14-16, Squirmy Wormie #12-14.
Flies working right now
The flies above that we have in stock right now.
Rock Creek details
| Access | Rock Creek Road follows the creek, with Lolo National Forest pullouts and campgrounds. |
|---|---|
| Elevation | About 3,600 to 5,000 ft |
| Nearest town | Clinton, Montana |
| Best season | Spring through fall |
| Fish | Brown, rainbow and westslope cutthroat trout, plus bull trout |
| Regulations | Bull trout must be released. Check Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks regulations for the current rules. A Montana fishing license is required for anglers 12 and older. |
| Leaders and tippet | 9 ft leaders, 5X tippet |
| Camping | National forest campgrounds along Rock Creek Road |
| Kids | Partly. |
| Good to know | The road gets rough upstream. Watch for bighorn sheep. |
Fishing by season
Winter
Cold. Access is limited.
Spring
Skwalas, then salmonflies.
Summer
Caddis and hoppers.
Fall
BWOs and October caddis.
How to get there
From Missoula, take I-90 east to the Rock Creek exit near Clinton.