Rock Creek Fishing Report – May 4, 2026

Streamflow: 1370 cubic feet per second
Water Temp: 47-53°F

This past month, both the fishing and the weather were erratic. On one day, the temperature sat in the mid-80s, and then just a couple days later it dipped below freezing and we even received fresh snow. I know that’s the nature of a Montana spring, but it’s hard to get any consistent fishing in the ever-changing conditions, especially up Rock Creek.

Fortunately, looking at the forecast, it looks like the next couple weeks are going to see more moderate weather, neither overly hot nor cold. The streamflow will steadily increase as it always does in May, but for the time being we should see some better fishing conditions. Remember that water levels this time of year are not ideal for wading, so choose your fishing spots wisely and tread carefully.

Recently we have been seeing hatches of March Browns in the afternoons and caddis in the evenings. Until the next large bump in the water levels, dry fly fishing should be a viable option, especially towards the end of the day. The rest of the time, go down and dirty with different nymph combinations. During runoff season, a large TJ Hooker nymph paired with a San Juan worm is a hard match to beat, but don’t forget the classics like the Hare’s Ear, the Pheasant Tail and the Prince Nymph, all of which are great ways to add some variety to your lineup. If you’re a streamer junkie, JJ Specials and Micro-Dungeons have been working to date, but as the water gets bigger, fish what we like to call the “chuck and duck” streamers, big and heavy. Especially from a boat, streamer fishing is fun this time of year.

Things to Know Before You Go

The Road – The dirt portion of Rock Creek Road has returned to familiar form, loaded with potholes that will shake your rig to pieces if you hit them wrong. It is particularly bad from the beginning of the dirt (mile 12) up past the Dalles Campground (mile 15), so take it slow and easy in this stretch. Although it improves a little after that, don’t be surprised if you run into several more clusters of them until you cross the Concrete Bridge (mile 36). At some point, they will come out and grate it, but it will be delayed until the current roadwork is finished.
Road Work – From the top of the Elkhorn (mile 4) to Spring Creek (mile 4.5), there will be delays while trenching is being done on Rock Creek Road. It shouldn’t linger into salmon fly season and the wait itself is typically short, but it’s something to account for when heading up this way.
Floating – Rock Creek is sitting at a good streamflow for floating, and if you have rowed the upper section in years past, there is nothing new to report regarding hazards. As for the lower float, some fallen logs in the Spring Creek and the Elkhorn takeout area have created some new obstacles to deal with at the end of this float. While passable, they are tight and inconvenient.
Shuttles – Alas, there is no current shuttle service for the Lolo National Forest section of Rock Creek. I think this is due to a number of factors; the road itself, the short duration of shuttles here, increasing costs, etc. Whatever the reason, it’s another thing to plan ahead for when coming here to float.
Weekdays vs Weekends – If you can find a way to get out here to fish Monday through Thursday, I highly recommend it. The weekends here have seen Rock Creek jam packed full of people (and it’s not even summer yet) but the weekdays are still quieter with more open fishing spots. DISCLAIMER: Rock Creek Mercantile neither encourages nor discourages playing hooky to go fly fishing.
Ron’s Food Wagon – Located right next to the Merc, Ron’s Food Wagon is back and serving some delicious breakfast and lunch! For the first few weeks of May, they will be open Thursday thru Monday from 9 am to 3 pm. They open this coming Friday (May 8th) so come on down and try their new creation, the “Quiche-a-dilla”

To sum it up, we’ll have a nice window of fishing here before the rivers get too blown out, and I expect we should have a great Mother’s Day caddis hatch. Whether floating or wading, respect the high water and stay safe out there friends! As always, I like to end these reports with some fishing and fish pics from the past few weeks here on the creek. Thanks to everyone who submitted pics!