Rock Creek has been fishing exceptionally well, though water levels remain quite low for this time of year. The bottom section is very skinny, but everything is still very fishable. Fish that are going to stay in rock creek are going to be moving into deeper runs and pools for the winter and will be looking up. This is a great time of year to work on perfecting mends and mainting a pretty drift through deep runs. The spawn has come and gone for the season. However, there may be the couple two-three fish that are late to the party and may still be on a redd. As a general rule, assume any stationary fish in shallow water or a side channel to be spawning.

As summer’s big bugs have waned, the focus has shifted to Baetis / BWO hatches on Rock Creek. In recent weeks, the bite has centered around small olive emergers and soft-hackle patterns just before and during mid-day. Nymph rigs remain productive early in the morning, especially with black stonefly nymphs, Princes, or PTs, while streamers are working well in deeper pools or runs later in the day. Right now, Blue-Winged Olives are the focal hatch, with midges present as well. We should see a few more weeks of BWO action but once winter hits in full, dry fly options will predominantly be midges. The BWOs tend to be 16-20 in size, while the midges are generally 20 or smaller. 

Nymphing is always the dependable approach in the deeper runs. Smaller perdigons and soft hackles are excellent imitations for BWOs and midges before they hatch. When targeting deeper runs with an indicator setup, larger patterns like Double Bead Stones, Pat’s Rubber Legs, and TJ Hookers are great choices for matching the river’s stoneflies and getting down to fish holding near the bottom. Tightline, indicator, hopper-dropper, swinging, it all works well.

The streamer bite has been awesome this fall. Like previously mentioned, if you do see that late-season couple on an active redd and messinng around, we advise you let them do their business and move up to a deeper run with non-spawning fish. If you are going to target them, just get them back in the water ASAP. With that scolding out of the way, dark and heavy baitfish patterns can rile up a hungry post spawn fish in deeper water. Definetly stick to those darker leech and sculpin patterns on cloudy days. Fish aggressive patterns such as wooly headed sculpin, mini dungeons, skiddish smolt, and sparring partners. like always, swing into the shop to grab some bugs ad to ask some questions.