The Rivers
Stillwater River
The Stillwater River usually clears from run off and becomes fishable before the Yellwostone. For that reason we can fish this river most of the summer. The clean, cold water cascading out of the Beartooth Mountains into the valley below holds great numbers of rainbow and brown trout. The average size of these fish is 12 to 13 inches with many larger fish available. We float the Stillwater in a raft, custom rigged for fishing. We split the day between wade fishing some of the better runs and fishing from the boat as we float between those runs. I am flexible, realizing that some people prefer to fish from the boat while others may prefer to do more wade fishing. We will customize our day on the river for your enjoyment. The Stillwater River has a great variety of water from smooth dry fly slicks to choppy riffles to boisterous, tumbling pocket water. It is a great river to hone your abilities as a fly angler. For those who do not want to float, wade trips are available. Floating is, however, recommended to access more water further from the public access points
Yellowstone River
The Yellowstone is the longest free flowing river in the United States. It is a big river with a wild demeanor, and a lot to offer anglers. It is typically my favorite place to be any time of year it is fishable. Most winters it freezes to the point of being unfishable from mid November to mid February. Once the ice is off enough to reach the water it can fish really good until runoff dirties it up. Runoff starts sometime in April most years. It can go through cycles of dirty and clearing water (with fishing usually being outstanding when it is clearing), but runoff is a reality between April and June. The river can clear as early as mid June or as late as late July. Mother nature has the final say in this matter. Snowpack in the mountains, air temperatures, and spring/summer rains are all factors.
It is hard to say that there is a typical day on the Yellowstone. We get some good insect hatches in the spring before runoff, and then again in the late summer and fall. These hatches are not dependable as far as timing and frequency go, but if you happen to be in the right place at the right time you will be rewarded. Good streamer fishing is usually dependent on having the right conditions, but they can happen anytime throughout the season. If all else fails, the nymph fishing in the Yellowstone will be good. From stoneflies to mayflies, caddis, midges, leaches, crawfish, and even sculpin, the Yellowstone is full of prey that can be imitated with a dead drifted fly somewhere down in the water column.
In the past few years, Spey rods appropriately sized for trout fishing have become available. Spey casting and swinging flies for trout can be a blast. The Yellowstone River is custom made for these techniques. These new Trout Spey rods have the ability to cast the largest streamers in your box, or swing tiny soft hackles through pods of feeding fish during a hatch. Catching trout on the swing is pure joy, and something I enjoy teaching people. If you want to learn how to spey cast or work on your spey casting before an upcoming steelhead trip give me a call.
Rock Creek
Rock Creek is the trout stream that runs right through Red Lodge. It is an amazing fishery with a healthy population of trout. South of Red Lodge the West Fork, and Lake Fork of Rock creek race out of the Beartooth Mountains to join the Main Fork of Rock Creek. All are great trout streams, full of 6 to 10 inch rainbow and brook trout. There is plenty of access on the Custer National Forest. I consider this to be the upper creek. All of my Rock Creek guided trips take place on what I consider the lower creek, from Red Lodge north towards Joliet. The creek is a little larger in size down here, in some states it would be called a river. The gradient flattens out a little as well. Compared to the boisterous pocket water of the upper creek, the lower creek has a more classic riffle-run-pool composition.
Although Rock Creek is an incredible fishery, it is not for everyone. First off, I will only guide one angler at a time on the creek. This provides a better quality experience for the angler. Second, for many people the wading is challenging. The runs are spread out, so you need to be able to cover some distance on rough, slippery terrain. (It has been likened to walking on greased bowling balls.) It is not impossible, lots of people can do it, but some are surprised at how tricky it is.