Rock Creek joins the Clark Fork River just 20 miles out off Missoula and is known around the world for not the big fish but the amount of fish per mile. Word on the street is its close to 4000 fish per mile of river. I woke up early yesterday morning eager to catch some fish. I drove along the river for about 40 miles and found a good stretch of river to fish. Not only is the fishing great but the views are spectacular as well.
I fished a Hopper dropper all day and it produced a lot of good fish. A Hopper with about 15 inch of 5x tippet with a copper john dropper got me these beauties.
Brookie
This guy smashed a hopper
Little Brother?
I lost a 16-17 Cuttie along the way but also caught some little Cutties. All in all it was a great day, beautiful weather and scenery. It was my first full day of hopper fishing and it wont be my last. Heres a little underwater video I got of these two browns.
Im back in Missoula now! That means the blog is back in action and its looking like its going to be a good year. I got back the 12th of aug. and have been busy moving into my new house and settling in. However I have been able to get out on the river a couple times in search of Pike. My sudden Pike addiction has been influence by Ken Capsey and Brian Price of Vermont Fly Guys. Shout out to both of you for the great flys and opening me up to a totally new fly fishing experience. Thanks guys.
Vermont Fly Guys
Yesterday morning I went out to the lower Bitterroot in search for Pike but wasn't able to find any. Today I went to the same spot but headed downstream instead. I was walking along the river bank by some still water and spotted and good size Pike. My heart immediately started beating faster and faster. I made a cast about 15 feet past the pike and stripped my streamer quickly. Then I saw a flash of the fish turning around to follow my streamer, I stripped it 2 more times and paused.. Waaam the Pike smacked the fly and I set the hook. The fish took off easily ripping through 50 feet of line, I got some line back and just when I thought I had him he took off again and again. I finally landed the fish after a solid 5 minute fight. It was hands down the biggest fish I have caught on a fly rod and arguably the most exciting. Im hooked on pike!
This summer I wasn't able to do much for fishing because I worked the majority of the time. However when I was able to get out I had some pretty good success with the brook trout and small mouth bass.
I also had to deal with fishing with my buddies who used gulp pink worms...
