Montana ·
Rock Creek Fly Fishing Report - November 8, 2026

ROCK CREEK
ReportNOV 8 — 15, 2026
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Flow
276CFS
Rock Creek near Clinton MT
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Water Temp
—
Updated 2026-11-07
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Weather
35–50°F
Mostly Cloudy
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Clarity
Clear
Check post-storm
Rock Creek is running at 276 cfs with a gauge height of 5.32 ft near Clinton — low, clear, and cold conditions that demand precise, deep presentations. Expect sluggish trout metabolism; fish need flies delivered right to their noses.
What's Working — Hot Flies

Juju Baetis Tungsten #22
22
BWO WD-40 #22
22
Barr's Flashback Emerger - BWO #22
22

Parachute - Blue Wing Olive #22
22

Black Zebra Midge(TBH) #20
20

Olsen's Hare's Ear Blowtorch Barbless #20 - 28
20

Olsen's Straggle Stone Brown Barbless #12 - 32
12

Egan's Thread Frenchie Jig - Olive #12
12

Roza's World Spain Perdigon Barbless #18 - 32
18
Lil Bit Craven - Dark Olive #22
22

Coffey's CH Sparkle Minnow Sculpin #6
6

Top Secret Baetis #16
16
Hatch Chart
| Insect | Size | Activity | Prime Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midge (Chironomid) | 20-22 | Moderate | 11 AM - 2 PM |
| Blue-Winged Olive (Baetis) | 20-22 | Moderate | 12 PM - 3 PM |
| Stonefly Nymph | 12-16 | Light | 9 AM - 12 PM |
| Caddis (subsurface) | 16-18 | Light | 1 PM - 3 PM |
Best Time Window
- 8 AM - 11 AM: Deep nymphing in pools and slow runs with stonefly and midge patterns before air temps warm.
- 11 AM - 2 PM: Prime BWO and midge hatch window — watch for rising fish in seams and be ready to switch to a dry or emerger.
- 2 PM - 4 PM: Swing a sculpin through tail-outs as light fades and big browns begin to move before temperatures drop toward freezing.
Guide's Tip
From the benchWith flows at 276 cfs and water cold and clear, set your indicator depth so your flies are ticking the bottom — we're talking 6 to 8 feet in the deeper pools, with a slow, methodical drift. Add just enough split shot to keep contact with the substrate without dragging. Focus your morning efforts on the deep, slow pools where fish conserve energy, then shift to the seams and tail-outs between 11 AM and 2 PM when the BWO hatch and warmer air temps coax fish to look up. With temperatures dropping back into the 40s by afternoon, don't linger on the dry fly game past 3 PM — return to deep nymphing to close out the day.
Main Species
Westslope Cutthroat Trout
Rainbow Trout
Brown Trout
