Rock Creek produced solid single dry fly fishing this week. With the flows still high the cast had to be tucked in tight to the edges of the Creek, with the majority of shots rewarded with an eager eat and a smiling angler. A few guides had a day off and headed up the West Fork of the Bitterroot to see what the log situation looked like. No major portages were encountered, however getting out and looking at channel splits is advised. Golden stones stayed in the bushes and didn’t make their appearance due to cold air temperatures. The dropper was productive, with a few fish committing to the dry mid-afternoon. Finding water out of the main flow was key, as the river is still pumping quite a bit of water. Jacob guided the West Fork yesterday and had a high numbers day.

Curiosity got the best of us, and some of our crew checked the main stem Bitterroot. High water presents a unique opportunity to catch large fish that are more difficult to find at other times of year. If you are not looking for a high catch rate, a high water trip closer to Missoula can produce some memorable fish. Finding the right water mattered more than the fly today on the Bitterroot. The trout wanted a feeding lane connected to holding water within a short distance. Any turbulence on the surface ensured the trout were not there, because fighting the current right now means a lot of work for the fish without enough food awash in the catastrophic drift. Dylan Curry, pictured above, landed a great example today of why fishing the edge of conditions is worthwhile. More options will continue to come into play this week as the rivers continue to drop into shape with the Blackfoot being the next play in the system to add to the rotation.

-Caleb Garrett


Alex Kopko with a nice Bitterroot rainbow from the same day!