Rock creek is currently sitting at 930 CFS, about 300 CFS over this time last year. It climbed 500 CFS in this last week and dropped about 50 CFS the last two days. The fishing is still very good, but anticipate high, turbid water, poor water clarity, and rising flows day to day.

The Skwalas are winding down but still going on the creek. We’ve seen early golden stones at lower elevations, and they’ll become more numerous as the weather warms. Some abnormally early salmon flies have been seen, so we’re also anticipating an early salmon fly hatch as well. The March browns are the focal hatch at the moment, with BWOs mixed in and midges in the early morning. Running a chubby with a dropper is also a great way to fish both the dry fly bite and fish eating nymphs subsurface.

As the flows climb and water clarity becomes poorer, nymph and streamer fishing can be a great way to continue fishing effectively. Especially in early mornings or cool overcast days when the hatches will be slower to come off in the mornings. Focus on the undercut banks, backsides of boulders and bucket water where big fish will be feeding shallow. Streamers like Lynch’s Drunk-n’-Disorderly Brammer’s Skinny dipper, or McClure’s Kill Whitey are great patterns to fish those shallow pockets for big fish. For nymphs and streamers alike we opt for dark colors that contrast the muddy water better than pale colored patterns. For nymph patterns, big stoneflies are the move. Pat’s rubber legs, TJ’s or a wooly bugger are killer patterns for mimicking the big stoneflies in the creek and are much more visible than small perdigon patterns.