Rock Creek is located 25-east of Missoula, Montana off Interstate 90. Rock Creek headwaters originate from three-Mountain Ranges. The North Fork of Rock Creek and the West Fork of Rock Creek originate from the Sapphire Mountain Range. The East Fork of Rock Creek and the Middle Fork of Rock Creek originate from the Anaconda Mountain Range and the Anaconda – Pintler Wilderness Area. The Upper Willow Creek originates from the John Long Mountains. There are numerous small streams flowing into Rock Creek on its journey north to its confluence with the Clarkfork of the Columbia River. In the 1980’s Rock Creek contained roughly 2,000 Rainbow Trout per mile of stream in the lower 28-miles of Rock Creek; from Gillies Bridge downstream to the mouth of Rock Creek. In the 1990’s the Rainbow Trout population in Rock Creek plummeted to just 300 Rainbow Trout per mile of stream. This drastic decline in the Rainbow Trout population was caused by Whirling Disease and by the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks decision to halt the stocking of Hatchery Rainbow Trout into the East Fork of Rock Creek Reservoir. To this day there has been no significant increase in the Rock Creek Rainbow Trout population. However, the Native Westslope Cutthroat Trout population in Rock Creek has rebounded somewhat to fill the void of lost Rainbow Trout population. Also the non-native Brown Trout population is on the increase. The Rock Creek fishery consists of native Westslope Cutthroat Trout up to 24-inches in length, native Bull Trout up to 36-inches in length, native Mountain Whitefish up to 24-inches in length, non-native Brown Trout up to 26-inches in length, non-native Rainbow Trout up to 24-inches in length and non-native Brook Trout up to 14-inches in length. Important Entomology And Forage Fish on Rock Creek are: Stone Flies: 1. Skwala (Skwala parallela) March – April (Size 8-10-12-14) 2. Salmon Fly (Pteronarcys californica) May – July (Size 2-4-6-8) 3. Western Big Golden Stone (Calineuria californica) May – August (Size 4-6-8-10-12) 4. Western Medium Golden Brown Stone (Isoperla sp.) June – September (Size 4-6-8-10) 5. Little Yellow Stone (Alloperla pallidula) June – October (Size 12-14-16-18) 6. Little Olive Stone (Alloperla delicata) May – August (Size 12-14-16-18) 7. Winter Stone (Capina sp.) January – March (Size 14-16-18) May Flies: 1. Western Black Quill (Rhithrogenahageni) March – April (Size 12-14) 2. Early Blue-Winged Olive (Baetis tricaudatus) March – April (Size 14-16-18) 3. Late Blue-Winged Olive (Baetis parvus) June – November (Size 16-22) 4. Little Western Blue-Winged Olive (Ephemerella margarita) July – September (Size 16-22) 5. Western Green Drake (Drunella grandis) June – July (Size 10-12) 6. Pale Morning Dun (Ephemerella inermis and Ephemerella infrequens) May –September (Size 14-16-18) 7. Small Western Green Drake (Ephemerella flavilinea) June – August (Size 14-16) 8. Western Leadwing (Isonychia sicca) June – July Size (Size 10-12) 9. Dark Gray Quill (Ameletus connectus) May – June (Size 12-14) 10. White Winged Black (Tricorythodes minutus) July – October (Size 18-20) 11. Midges (Diptera / Chironomous) Caddis Flies 1. Grannom (Brachycentrus occidentalis) April – May (Size 12-14-16) 2. Green Sedge (Ryacophila sp.) April – October (Size 10-12-14-16) 3. Great Gray Spotted Sedge (Arctopsyche grandis) May – August (Size 8-10-12) 4. Little Tan Short Horn Sedge (Glossosoma sp.) June – August (Size 14-16-18) 5. Spotted Sedge (Hydropsyche sp.) July – October (Size 12-14-16) 6. Little Plain Brown Sedge (Lepidostoma pluviale) June – August (Size 14-16-18) 7. Giant Orange Sedge (Dicosmoecus sp.) September – October (Size 6-8-10-12) 8. Spruce Bud Worm Moth July – August (Size 10-12-14) Forage Fish 1. Mottled Sculpin (Cottus bairdi) Year Round (Size 3/0-2/0-1/0-2-4-6-8) 2. Slimy Sculpin (Cottus cognatus) Year Round (Size 3/0-2/0-1/0-2-4-6-8) 3. Black-Nose Dace (Rhinichthys cataractae) Year Round (Size 3/0-2/0-1/0-2-4-6-8)

Normal 0 The Bighorn River, which runs through the Crow Indian Reservation, opened to the general fishing public in 1981 from action taken by the U.S. Supreme Court. The Bighorn River in Montana begins below the Yellow Tail Dam and After-Bay. The After-Bay was constructed to hold the super saturated Nitrogen water, created by peek power generation from Yellowtail Dam, allowing the Nitrogen too dissipate before entering the Bighorn River. At times the trout below the After-Bay experience high levels of Nitrogen and the trout get Nitrogen Narcosis, the “Bends”; this can decimated the trout fishery. The Bighorn River flows northerly through a wide valley that is heavily farmed and there are irrigation diversion in the lower river divert large volumes of water from the river. The highest trout populations and fishing crowds are in the first 13-miles of river below the Yellowtail After-Bay. The species composition, Rainbow and Brown Trout, in the Bighorn River have fluctuated wildly since the 1981 trout fishing opener. The latest Rainbow Trout population decline is due to Whirling Disease infestation throughout the Bighorn River. The Bighorn River is a large western river with very few places a person can walk across the width of the river. The water is generally clear, except during run-off when water is released over Yellowtail Dam. The shoreline along the river and the many islands are filled with large Cottonwood Trees. The fishing on the river is either exceptional or it is poor. Some of the runs below a riffle-run may contain over a thousand-trout in just a few hundred-yards of river. Many of the guides on the river have their client’s fish nymphs through these large pods of trout. Fishing in this manner can get anyone into hooking fish. The reason is, the trout are stacked in the run like cordwood and while the trout is gilling for oxygen their mouths open and the tippet is pulled through their mouths and the fly inadvertently sticks the fish in the mouth. I have observed this many times while snorkeling. Normal 0 Normal 0 Normal 0 This books purpose is to provide factual data and useful information needed to experience a successful day fishing for Wild Trout in the Rocky Mountains. It is not uncommon to spend hundreds if not thousands of dollars in the pursuit of fishing for Wild Trout. This book can provide the needed information for a successful fishing trip: water temperature, water level, water turbidity, air temperature, weather conditions, daily hatches, stomach analysis from Wild Trout landed, “GDB” flies fished, fly fishing presentations, trout species, trout lengths and geographic location. An Outfitter or Guide will charge you $300.00 to as high as $500.00 for a day of fishing but by reading this book you will be able to catch Wild Trout on your own. The “GDB” Flies used to catch and land all the Wild Trout contained in this book were “Originated” and “Hand-Tied” by the Author.

Normal 0 Golden Trout Lake is located high in the Gallatin Mountain Range at over 8,000-feet above sea level. To reach the trailhead drive seven-mile north of Big Sky, Montana to the Portal Creek Road. Turn right on Portal Creek Road and drive six-mile to the Golden Trout Lake Trailhead. Golden Trout Lake lies in a cirque in a lush Alpine Forest, in a Wilderness setting. Golden Trout Lake is crystal clear, small in size and contains only Golden Trout. Springs feed Golden Trout Lake and there is an outlet the Golden Trout use for spawning.

Big Spring Creek flows threw the center of Montana and threw the town of Lewiston, Montana. Big Spring Creek fish hatchery is just upstream from Lewiston, Montana.

Normal 0 The headwaters of the Bitterroot River originate from two-major Head Waters. The East Fork of the Bitterroot River originates from the Sapphire Mountains and Anaconda Pintler Wilderness Areas. The West Fork of the Bitterroot River originates from the Bitterroot Mountains and the Selway – Bitterroot Wilderness Areas. The West Fork of the Bitterroot River was dammed in the early 1900’s creating Painted Rocks Reservoir. Below Painted Rocks Reservoir lies the tail-water fishery section of the West Fork of the Bitterroot River, which flows downstream to its confluence with the East Fork of the Bitterroot River north of the town of Conner, Montana. The East Fork of the Bitterroot River is still a free flowing stream. The Wild Fires of “2000” burned much of the timberland in the headwaters of both drainages. During spring run-off and summer thunderstorms the East Fork of the Bitterroot River turns turbid from the ash that is washed into the river from the tributaries flowing into the river. The West Fork of the Bitterroot River however remains clear, Painted Rocks Reservoir allows the headwater run-off to settle out within the reservoir before entering the West Fork of the Bitterroot River below the dam. The East Fork of the Bitterroot River confluence with the West Fork of the Bitterroot River forms the mainsteam of the Bitterroot River, which flows northerly to its confluence with the Clarkfork River outside the city of Missoula, Montana. The Bitterroot River trout fishery has experienced depravation from mankind since the early 1900’s when Marcus Daly “The Copper King” and others commissioned the building of an extensive network of irrigation canals throughout the Bitterroot Valley. The largest canal is the Big Ditch, which runs northerly over seventy-five miles in length traversing the eastside of the Bitterroot River Valley. They built large diversion dams across the Bitterroot River and diverted most of the tributaries in the Bitterroot Valley. These diversion dams dewater the Bitterroot River severely during the summer months. Most of the Bitterroot Tributaries become dry during critical spawning periods for Rainbow Trout, Westslope Cutthroat Trout, Brown Trout and Bull Trout. With these depravation problems on the Bitterroot River there are still some sections of the Bitterroot River that offer good fishing for Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout and Westslope Cutthroat Trout and to a lesser degree Bull Trout. The Bitterroot River at time offers some excellent dry fly fishing. In March and April there are Stone Flies: Skwala Stone Flies (Skwala parallela) and Winter Stone Flies (Capina sp.), May Flies: Midges (Diptera / Chironomous), Early Blue-Winged Olive (Baetis tricaudatus), Dark Gray Quill (Ameletus connectus) and Caddies Flies: Grannom (Brachycentrus occidentalis) and Green Sedge (Ryacophila sp.). In May, June, July and August there are Stone Flies: Salmon Fly (Pteronarcys californica), Western Big Golden Stone Fly (Calineuria californica), Western Medium Golden Brown Stone Fly (Isoperla sp.), Little Yellow Stone Fly (Alloperla pallidula) and Little Olive Stone Fly (Alloperla delicata); May Flies: Midges (Diptera / Chironomous), Late Blue-Winged Olive (Baetis parvus), Little Western Blue-Winged Olive (Ephemerella margarita), Western Green Drake (Drunella grandis), Pale Morning Dun (Ephemerella inermis and Ephemerella infrequens), Small Western Green Drake (Ephemerella flavilinea), Western Leadwing (Isonychia sicca) and Dark Gray Quill (Ameletus connectus); Caddis Flies: Grannom (Brachycentrus occidentalis), Green Sedge (Ryacophila sp.), Great Gray Spotted Sedge (Arctopsyche grandis), Little Tan Short Horn Sedge (Glossosoma sp.), Ring Horn Microcaddis (Leucotrichia pictipes), Spotted Sedge (Hydropsyche sp.), Little Sister Sedge (Cheumatopsyche campyla) and Little Plain Brown Sedge (Lepidostoma pluviale). In September and October there are May Flies: Late Blue-Winged Olive (Baetis parvus), Little Western Blue-Winged Olive (Ephemerella margarita), Tiny Western Olive (Pseudocloeon edmundsi), Pale Morning Dun (Ephemerella inermis and Ephemerella infrequens), Gray Drake (Siphlonurus occidentalis), White Winged Black (Tricorythodes minutus), Caddis: Giant Orange Sedge (Dicosmoecus sp.) and Midges (Diptera / Chironomous).

Normal 0 Rattlesnake Creek is a small wadeable creek which runs through the Rattlesnake Wilderness and Recreation Area for approximately 23 miles and flows into the Clarkfork River in downtown Missoula, Montana. Until 1983, Rattlesnake Creek was used as Missoula's municipal water supply. In 1940 the creek was closed to fishing above the water supply reservoir, which is located 2.5 miles upstream from the mouth. Due to an outbreak of Giardia in 1983, Missoula began using wells as its sole source of water thus allowing recreational use of the water for the first time in 45 years. In the winter of 1984-85 the Montana Fish and Game Commission opened Rattlesnake Creek to catch and release fishing above Beeskove Creek. A six-mile hike limits access to the catch and release fishing section. No vehicle travel is allowed but mountain bikers for easier access can use an old fire road. The current study on Rattlesnake Creek was designed to obtain more intensive data than otherwise possible by state or federal agencies. This report summarizes the results of research initiated in the spring of 1985 to evaluate the population dynamics of the unfished cutthroat fishery below Beeskove Creek and to evaluate the effects of special regulations in the area above Beeskove Creek. The Study Area The upper Rattlesnake Creek drainage is located 5.6 miles (8.3 km) north of Missoula in western Montana (Figure 1). The drainage encompasses approximately 81.3 square miles (21,053 ha), most of which is owned by the United States Forest Service. Rattlesnake Creek originates on the flanks of McLeod and Triangle peaks, flowing south-southwest to its confluence with the Clark Fork of the Columbia River at Missoula (Figure 1). In 23.3 miles (37.0 km), from source to mouth, the creek descends 5291.0 ft. (1613 m) for a mean gradient of 4.3%. Of the nine perennial tributaries, three (Wrangle, Lake, and High Falls creeks) originate from glacial lakes; the remaining 6 (Porcupine, East Fork of Rattlesnake, Beeskove, Pilcher, Fraser and Spring creeks) originate from springs. Numerous intermittent streams also feed Rattlesnake Creek. More than 40 lakes are located in the upper drainage mostly on the west side. Geologic studies indicate that the parent materials include argillites, quartzites, and limestone of the Precambrian Belt series as well as Cambrian shales and limestones (Nelson & Dobell,1961). The watershed is characterized by relatively high peak discharge per unit area, a disproportionately large amount from the upper elevations (Van der Poel, 1979). Rattlesnake Creek is a 3rd order stream, which flows through a fairly steep valley. The valley bottom is an open pine-larch forest; cottonwoods and shrubs line the creek. Occasionally the valley bottom opens up into small, grassy meadows. Higher in the drainage the valley is increasingly timbered and steep. A stable natural character generally persists throughout the drainage. The substrate of Rattlesnake Creek is mostly gravel and cobble with a few boulders. The average flow is approximately 45-50 cubic feet per second. Although the creek does not currently supply Missoula with water, it is primarily managed as a watershed and secondarily managed as a recreational area (USFS Management Plan, 1984). The possibility of building a small filtration plant on the creek and again using the water for Missoula's municipal water supply is being discussed. A small water company dam already exists 2.5-miles upstream from the mouth of Rattlesnake Creek. The area would be the most probable site for a filtration plant. The water company dam prevents all upstream fish migration from the Clarkfork River.

Normal 0 The Rattlesnake Creek fishery is unique due to its closure to fishing 45-years ago. Since that time, Rattlesnake Creek has been protected because it supplied Missoula, Montana with municipal water. In 1983, a 25-kilometer section of Rattlesnake Creek above the confluence of Beeskove Creek was opened to catch and release fishing; approximately 12-km immediately below this section remains closed. This study was designed to document the dynamics of an unfished trout population and their response to catch and release angling. The results will provide a point of reference for comparing trout populations in pristine systems with those in heavily impacted and managed streams. Until we understand the structure of undisturbed fisheries and their habitats, our present protection and enhancement efforts will lack both a rational context and effective direction. Objectives for the 1986 study were: 1. Document trout population abundance, size, and species composition, in two unfished sections and two fished sections of Rattlesnake Creek. 2. Evaluate the effects of catch and release fishing on the trout population in Rattlesnake Creek. 3. Document and compare changes in angler catch and pressure on Rattlesnake Creek upstream from Beeskove Creek. 4. Identify early spring and late fall movement patterns of Rattlesnake Creek trout populations. 5. Describe winter habitat used by Westslope Cutthroat Trout. Objectives This one year study was designed to collect baseline data necessary to evaluate the effects of catch and release fishing above Beeskove Creek and the population dynamics of an unfished population of Westslope Cutthroat Trout below Beeskove Creek in western Montana. The objectives for the first year were: 1. Determine wild trout species composition, distribution, size, abundance, and age in four sections of Rattlesnake Creek. 2. Document angler catch and pressure on Rattlesnake Creek upstream of Beeskove Creek. 3. Four sections of Rattlesnake Creek were studied from March, 1985 through February, 1987 to document species composition, distribution, size, and abundance of trout. The effects of catch and release fishing seasonal and diel habitat use were also evaluated. 4. Westslope Cutthroat Trout, Bull Trout, and Brook Trout were present in Rattlesnake Creek. Size and abundance of Westslope Cutthroat Trout and Bull Trout were large compared to other small, relatively infertile streams in western Montana. Catch and release angling (300 anglers per year) had no measurable effect on size and abundance of trout in Rattlesnake Creek. Twenty-one percent of all Westslope Cutthroat Trout tagged were recaptured and 68% of the Westslope Cutthroat Trout over 400-millimeters were caught and released. These and other data collected on Rattlesnake Creek indicate the extreme vulnerability of Westslope Cutthroat Trout to angling. 5. Diel and seasonal changes in Westslope Cutthroat Trout behavior and habitat use were documented. Westslope Cutthroat Trout behavior during late spring days was related to spawning. Feeding was the dominant activity during summer days and cover seeking dominated during winter days. Diel shifts were most noticeable from winter days to winter nights. Twice as many trout were seen at night under harsh winter conditions. Winter night counts correlated well with the summer day counts. Study Area The upper Rattlesnake Creek drainage is located in west central Montana, 8.3-kilometers (5.6-miles.) north of Missoula. The drainage encompasses approximately 21,053 ha (81.3-miles²), and is within the Lolo National Forest. Rattlesnake Creek originates on the flanks of McLeod and Triangle peaks, flowing south-southwest to its confluence with the Clark Fork of the Columbia River at Missoula. The creek descends 1,613-meters (5,291.0-ft) in 37.0-kilometers and has a mean gradient of 4.3%, with a gradient of 1.75% in the study sections (USFS-Lolo, 1976). There are nine perennial tributaries to Rattlesnake Creek. Wrangle, Lake, and High Falls creeks originate from glacial lakes while Porcupine, East Fork of Rattlesnake, Beeskove, Pilcher, Fraser and Spring Creeks originate from springs. More than 40 lakes are located in the upper drainage. The geologic parent material in the area includes argillite, quartzite, and limestone of the Precambrian Belt series as well as Cambrian shales and limestones (Nelson & Dobell 1961). The watershed is characterized by relatively high peak discharge per unit area (Van der Poel 1979). The general topography of the drainage is steep and mountainous. Vegetation varies from a spruce-fir forest in the upper drainage to an open pine-larch forest below Franklin Bridge. Cottonwood trees and shrubs are found in the lower riparian zone and occasionally the valley bottom opens up to small grassy meadows. Rattlesnake Creek is a 3rd order stream with a rubble-gravel bottom and an average annual discharge of 45 to 50-cubic feet per second. The Rattlesnake Creek drainage is managed primarily as a watershed and secondarily as a recreational area (USFS Management Plan 1984). Although Rattlesnake Creek is not currently used as a municipal water supply, plans of building a filtration plant and again using the water municipally are being discussed. A water company dam located 4.0-kilometers upstream from the mouth of Rattlesnake Creek would be the most probable site for a filtration plant. The 12.2-meters high dam prevents all upstream fish migration from the Clark Fork River.