CFS: 2360
Water Temp: 48-52°F
Dries: Salmon Flies, Purple Chubby Chernobyls, Green Drakes, BWOs
Nymphs: Pat’s Rubber Leg, Bitch Creek, Jumpin’ Jack Flash, Pink San Juan Worm
FISHING REPORT
Salmon fly season is underway here on Rock Creek! A cold, wet start to June has stifled the dry fly fishing, but incoming warmer weather should improve it significantly.
Most of the actual salmon flies are concentrated on the middle to lower portions of the creek, but they are starting to emerge on the upper sections as well. For the best results, look for them in the bushes by the water or flying in the air before putting on a salmon fly pattern. Two of our signature patterns for the big bugs are the notorious “Cat Puke” and Gravatt’s “Charlie Special.” Add a San Juan worm behind these dries, and you should have a productive day of fishing.
Besides salmon flies, try Purple Chubby Chernobyls, flying ant patterns and green/gray drakes. The Purple Haze and its crippled emerger equivalent also do well this time of year. When in doubt, go down and dirty with stonefly nymphs, San Juan worms or big streamers. The water is still running high and fast, so fish the slack water wherever you can find it.
Cat Puke and Charlie Special
SHUTTLES
In my last report, I mentioned Bond’s Shuttle Service for Rock Creek, but it’s actually an off-shoot of that company called Legacy River Shuttles. They can be reached at 406-239-6088 and have a 10 AM deadline to schedule shuttles. This year, the fee is $100 for shuttling on Rock Creek.
MOOSE ALERT!
One of our long-time anglers contacted me a couple days ago to report a cow moose with a young calf at the Morgan Case Homestead (30 miles upstream from the Merc). If you fish in this area, please use extreme caution and give mom and baby a wide berth if you see them.
NEW WEBSITE
You may have already noticed, but our website has been given a makeover, thanks to the talents of local angler and web designer Ben Stewart. Ben has a knack for catching big trout and designing sleek, modern websites, and we couldn’t be happier with his results. Now that we are streamlined, expect more info on our Mercipedia page this summer. Thanks for all your help, Ben! You can check out his Instagram profile or portfolio website here.
NEW EMPLOYEE
Joining our staff this year is our buddy, Matt. Matt moved from Texas a few years ago and fell in love with Montana fly fishing. Getting to know him over that time, I’ve watched him turn from a novice fly fisherman into a seasoned pro. Matt’s only downside is that being a big guy, even large trout look small in his hands. Give him a warm welcome if you happen to meet him in the shop, he’s easy to talk to and has a wealth of knowledge about Rock Creek!
NEW COMMERCIAL
Lastly, thanks to our friend Ty at KPAX for helping us create a new commercial. If you happen to watch the CW or CBS, you might see our Rock Creek ad. Working with Ekstrom’s Stage Station and JM Bar Outfitters, we feel this new ad captures the essence of the Rock Creek experience: