Rock Creek Fishing Report, June 9, 2026

All four rivers are dropping out of last week's rain-driven blowout and the trend is positive everywhere. Rock Creek is the headline: salmonflies are on the water and Grizzly Hackle rates it 5/5. The Bitterroot is the best big-river option with salmonflies starting on the upper river and both forks. The Blackfoot is shaping up ahead of its famous hatch, and the Clark Fork remains the slowest to clear. Lightweight's best fishing window for the week is 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Warning: Floating obstructions: a tree is down at Mile Marker 27, there is a new obstruction between Upper Fire Ring and the Microburst, and the Lower Fire Ring to Elkhorn stretch is woody with a fresh log blocking a corner (per Rock Creek Mercantile, 6/3). Float cautiously. Wading is still treacherous at these flows; one slip can take you a long way downstream.

Update: trusted friends who fish this water tell us the tree between the Upper Fire Ring and the Microburst has since been removed. We pass that along with thanks. Always read the river for yourself, but that particular obstruction should no longer be a concern.

At a glance: Elevated but dropped ~1,000 CFS and flattening out | ~1,320 CFS near Clinton | Water temp 47-53°F | Salmonflies actively hatching, best upper half | Grizzly Hackle: 5/5 | Missoulian Angler: 3/5 | Best window: early and late on bright days, 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. otherwise

The big bugs have arrived. Salmonflies are the ticket on the Creek right now, with the bulk of the hatch now in the upper half; anglers are reporting success up around the upper Fire Ring sections, and it has fished slower on the big bug below Nortons. Fishing is very good: work side channels, structure, slower water, willow lines, and boulder pockets. Grizzly Hackle rates Rock Creek a 5/5, the best score in the region.

Best techniques

• Salmonfly dries with plenty of orange: Grizzly Hackle favorites are Dancin' Ricky's, Supa-Dupa Stones, Stone Squatters, Juicy Stones, and Cat Pukes, with natural profiles like the Norm Woods, Sofa Pillow, and Emma's Stone for dry-fly-only days. Blackfoot River Outfitters likes a dry-dropper with a Juicy Stone, Henry's Fork Salmonfly, or Fool's Gold Salmonfly, and their featured list includes the Salmonfly Chubby Chernobyl.
• With chilly rain coming, a deep nymph rig will likely be the most consistent producer: heavy TJ Hooker, Sili-Leg Stone with a tungsten bead, Pat's Rubber Legs, or a Hot-Bead DBL Bead Stone, trailed by a Zirdle, San Juan Worm, Jig PT, Hare's Ear, Shuck-It, Duracell, or big Prince Nymph.
• Dead-drifting a Sparkle Minnow, Woolly Bugger, or Bighorn Bugger has worked well; streamers will move big fish in the extra current.

Hatches

Salmonflies now, with Golden Stones, Green Drakes (possible with the cool, rainy weather), Yellow Sallies, PMDs, and clouds of caddis in the coming weeks. Blackfoot River Outfitters' featured dries for the drake window: Flash Cripple (Green Drake and Grey), Jake's Green Drake, MFC Hot Spot Para-Wulff Brindle, Carlson's Purple Haze, and Stranahan's Brindle Chute.

The Fly Box

Nymphs: TJ Hooker, Sili-Leg Stone, Pat's Rubber Legs, Zirdle, San Juan Worm, Hare's Ear, Duracell, Prince Nymph

Dries: Dancin' Ricky, Juicy Stones, Fool's Gold, Chubby Chernobyl, Flash Cripple, Jake's Green Drake, Hot Spot Para-Wulff, Purple Haze, Brindle Chute

Streamers: Sparkle Minnow, Woolly Bugger, Bighorn Bugger

Outlook. Cold and wet up the canyon through the week (highs 40s-50s, rain here and there), which favors nymphing midday and dries in the soft windows. Get in on the salmonfly madness now; goldens, drakes, sallies, PMDs, and caddis stack up behind it for some of the best fishing of the year.