CFS: 258
Water Temp: 58-66°F
Dries: Hoppers, Caddis, Mayfly Spinner, Purple Haze, Cripples and Soft Hackles
Nymphs: Perdigon, Hare’s Ear, Pheasant Tail, Zebra Midge
FISHING REPORT
August was a rough month for fly fishing. With the exception of a few days of rain, the heat pushed into the 90s almost every day. Several rivers underwent hoot owl restrictions or were completely closed until further notice. Rock Creek escaped any restrictions this year, but the hot weather pushed the water temps close to 70°F for much of August and hurt the afternoon/evening fishing. The first week of September looks to be more of the same, but fortunately the weather forecast shows a significant drop in temperature coming up.
Once these 70 degree days arrive, the trout will become much more active and responsive in the latter half of the day. Until then, stick to the mornings and early afternoons for the best fishing.
I always like to stay optimistic first thing in the morning and try dry flies. Depending on what you see flying, try either a caddis or mayfly (spinner) with a crippled emerger a foot behind it. If there’s not much bug activity in the air, a Purple Haze or Royal Wulff attractor might be the ticket. When all else fails, go down and dirty with nymphs or streamers. I’ve had great success with a two nymph system using the new Oros indicators (now available at a Fisherman’s Mercantile near you). Look for deep runs and get those nymphs down quick. You’ll undoubtedly catch some whitefish, but with a little luck, you’ll also land some bigger trout.
The hopper-dropper combo will also be effective into September. Keep in mind, hoppers aren’t going to work on the entirety of the creek. Look for grassy fields that run right up to the water. If you find yourself in the more forested areas of the creek, switch up a hopper for an ant or beetle pattern. Whatever big dry you choose, we recommend dropping a nymph behind it. This time of year, the fish seem to prefer smaller patterns like pheasant tails, zebra midges, and caddis pupae. It’s probably still a little too early for our fall hatches of mahogany duns and October caddis, but it would be wise to have some ready just in case things happen early. More to come as things change…
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
There is currently a fire up on Solomon Mountain on the lower end of the Creek near the Merc. The Forest Service has been updating us on it every other day. It is high up in the hills and a good distance from both the road and the river, which both remain open. At this point, it is not threatening any structures or lives, but the Forest Service is keeping a close eye on it and doing fire maintenance as needed. The good news is it is surrounded by burnt area from previous fire years and will not have much room to grow. Still, it’s something to be aware of if you choose to come fish the creek, especially if you are extra sensitive to smoke. For updates, please contact us or visit the Inciweb page at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8370/ .
Black bears are down in the valley this time of year searching for chokecherries and any other food they can find. Although I’ve never heard of a bear attack on Rock Creek, keep your eyes open for them and make a lot of noise when walking through heavy brush or wooded areas. If you’re camping, make sure to secure your food for the night, preferably in an airtight container, and keep it away from your campsite. When in doubt, bear spray is a great accessory to have just in case.