Tailwater · Mixed · Montana

Red Rock River

River Livet venue image
Google Places

The Red Rock runs out of the Centennial Valley away up in the southwest corner of Montana, about as far from anything as you can get and still be on a road.

Species

A proper day on the water

River steady at a fishable height. A proper day for it.

75% confidence in this read
Water temperature for brown trout
Cool — slow
9°C est.ideal 10–16°C
0°14°28°
Why this score · for brown trout
  • Temperature8228% weight
  • Flow8022% weight
  • Clarity9518% weight
  • Feeding Time5013% weight
  • Pressure807% weight
  • Insect activity5812% weight
Conditions
Level
1.06 m
Water temp
9.0°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
17°C
Wind
S 17 km/h
Gentle breeze
Pressure
1013 hPa
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Rain · ahead
0.0 mm
No meaningful rain · next 48h

Live readings — water temperature is an estimate where the gauge does not record it.

How to fish it · for brown trout
When
Nymphing can work through most of the day.
Where
Cover mixed depths.
Method
Start with tight-line nymphs and adjust if fish rise or drift higher.
Kit
9 ft #4 rod, floating line, 12 ft tapered leader to 4–5 lb fluoro tippet.
Why this works
Good — water clarity is right today, though time of day could be better.
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
2
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Freshwater ShrimpHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Western Blue-Winged OliveHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Pale Morning DunHatch
2
3
3
2

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Gallery · 1
  1. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Montana licence
  • Remote, lightly fished, irrigation-controlled
  • Arctic grayling restoration basin — release any grayling unharmed.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
About this water

The Red Rock runs out of the Centennial Valley away up in the southwest corner of Montana, about as far from anything as you can get and still be on a road. Below Lima Reservoir it's a small, brushy tailwater holding browns and rainbows, and the wider basin is some of the most important Arctic grayling restoration country in the lower 48 — handle any grayling you meet like the rarity it is. It's remote, lightly fished, and irrigation-controlled, so the flow you get depends on what the dam's doing for the hayfields downstream.

  • Mixed
Seasons & zones
  • TroutThird Saturday of May → Last day of February
Other water nearby · 1