Big Water & Big Fish

The "Hog Hole" where Zac caught several fish in the mid-teens.

Big water has brought big Brown trout to lower Rock Creek, though the real story might be the monster resident Westslope cutthroat trout. Ron gave me a mission to see if Rock Creek was fishable and I chose to accept it.

I headed to the lower, meadow section of the creek, thinking the big water flows may have attracted fish from the Clark Fork to move and find respite on the ranch. Though the water is still high, it is only slightly off-color and fishable. The trick is to get down deep.

By drifting a combination of heavy flies, I found big Browns made it to the meadows. I landed several fish, the biggest of which is pictured,was around 15 inches, fat and healthy.

A 15-inch Brown trout caught in the meadow section on Rock Creek. It took Zac's Marathoner pattern from the bottom of a deep hole.

Moving upstream of the Cattlemen's Club, I found resident fish were still feeding actively, again in deep holes. I was getting used to catching 8 to 11-inchers, and rather lax in my hook-setting, when something big hit my fly. I lifted to set the hook, felt a few head-shakes, and saw a monster Cuttie explode to the surface.

It was as deep from back to belly as my hand is wide, and around 20 inches long! I gave the beast some slack as it headed to the raging current, shaking her head furiously. She disappeared, throwing the hook, and leaving my flies tangled in the Spruce tree branches above me.

I can take you to her...

In Wild Waters,

Zac Sexton