Sunrise Fly Shop-Big Hole River Blog

The days are finally getting longer and air temperatures are getting a bit warmer.  It has been a rather strange winter here in Southwest Montana.  We have not been pounded by the -20 degree nights and single digit day time highs, which I am not complaining about.  We all know that winter is far from over.  With all the lack of moisture around the country everyone has been asking me how the snowpack is doing in the Big Hole Valley.  Here is the current data that we have on the Montana snowpack.  

Currently the Big Hole snowpack is sitting at 88% of normal.  With three more months to gain more snowpack before runoff we are sitting rather well for good water flows this summer.  The Beaverhead River has had excellent water flows this winter to keep the trout habitat healthy for wintering fish.  The Clark Canyon Reservoir, which feeds the Beaverhead River is sitting at 93% full.  It is shaping up to be another banner year on the Big Hole and Beaverhead River.  The above photo is at Salmon Fly fishing Access and the below photo is at Brownes Bridge on the Big Hole River.    

It's time to start thinking about your next Montana fly fishing vacation this spring.  We are running our spring special again!  

3 nights lodging 2 days of guided fishing starting at only $500.00 per person from April 1st - May 15th.  Come on out and fish the first dry fly hatch of the year.   

Here is what to look for to hit the Mother's Day Caddis hatch on the famed Big Hole River.  Typically if you have had a lighter snowpack at low elevations you will have a much better chance at having a good Mother’s Day Caddis hatch.  Freestone Rivers like the Big Hole and Yellowstone are influenced dramatically by snowmelt.  If you have a small runoff from the low elevation snowpack, it will take longer for the rivers to dirty and swell from melting snow.  Another variable you will want to monitor is the actual flow of the river.  If water flows are over 2000c.f.s. at the Melrose gauge, trout will be less likely to rise to caddis on the lower and middle sections than they would at lower flows.  Mother’s Day Caddis will be fishable at high flows when you get above the Wise River on the Big Hole.  A great float for the Mother’s day Caddis is from East bank to Jerry Creek.  This section has low gradient and long slicks and undercut banks to fish caddis.  You will also find swirling back eddies where fish are feeding on the foam lines.  When flows are below 2000c.f.s. at the Melrose gauge the most prolific section with Caddis is the Divide to Melrose section.  In the tail-outs of runs and slow moving willow strewn banks you will find trout eating caddis on the surface. Flies of choice for this hatch on the Big Hole River are #12 tan slick water caddis, #12 tan Caddis Pupa, #12 peacock X Caddis.

On the Big Hole River the caddis can hatch from around May 10^th -25^th.  Stay in touch with Sunrise Fly Shop 406-835-3474 or sunriseflyshop.com to get your latest conditions on the Big Hole River’s Mother’s Day Caddis hatch or tips on planning your next Montana fly fishing vacation.   

Since we all have cabin fever come mid January in Southwest Montana.  Here is some dreaming to think about for the spring.  

The Mother’s Day Caddis hatch gets so thick on rivers like the Big Hole, and Yellowstone that you better keep your mouth closed because caddis will be flying down your throat.  When the caddis come off, it looks like another spring snowstorm during your Montana fly fishing vacation.  The Mother’s Day Caddis hatch is the last hatch before runoff clouds our rivers and we wait for Salmonflies. 

Spring fishing in Southwest Montana is filled with unpredictable weather that consists of snow, sun, clouds and rain.  The payoff for dealing with the potentially nasty weather is having days when trout eat voraciously on the surface.  As the ice leaves the rivers of Southwest Montana, Skwallas begin to emerge and anglers hit the Big Hole River for this exciting hatch.  After the explosive eats to Skwallas on the surface anglers wait patiently for the rewarding but yet finicky Mother’s Day Caddis hatch. 

The Mother’s Day Caddis hatch is a bonus hatch for anglers to hit in their lifetime.  This is because the elements that need to be in place for the hatch to occur while the trout are interested to eat on the surface depend on many factors.   These factors include water temperature between 52-55 degrees for an extended period of time, water with at least 2 feet of visibility so the trout can see the caddis on the surface, and consistent water flow. 

The holiday season is here and we wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving.  As a small business owner please take advantage of the second annual  Small Business Saturday on November 26th.  Get out in your local community and support the small business that help fuel our economy.  We will be taking phone orders on all the fly fishing products we sell at the Sunrise Fly Shop.  Give us a call anytime 406-835-3474.  

Sloughs have started to freeze over and you can feel your pulse in your hands. You strip your fly line from your reel as you barely can feel your fingertips but can’t give up the urge to find the next trout taking a streamer.  Fall has slipped into winter in Southwest Montana.  My last day on the Big Hole for the season was November 4^th.  Slow stripping and dead drifting streamers was the name of the game to get about 10 browns to eat all day, not bad for November.  With the shop closed for the season, it is now time to think about winter trips, tying flies, elk hunting, and flushing birds before it is time to gear up for 2012.  If you are going to brave the elements and fish in Southwest Montana during our frigid months; here are some tips I have received and am going to try to help prevent guides from freezing. 

One of our last clients for the season, Christine Warren heard that spraying Pam oil on your guides prevents icing from occurring.  I have yet to try it but will let you know how it works.  For some great reading from a passionate angler, check out Christine’s blog: flyfishchick.com and her new book Paddlefish.  

Loon Outdoors has come up with a new product to prevent ice from collecting on your guides.  The product is called Stanley’s Ice Off Paste . I am going to compare spray on Pam to Loon’s Ice Off Paste and will report back to you how these products work.  All anglers need to fill their winter trout fix or cabin fever, these products can make the difference in an enjoyable winter fishing experience.    

 

Big Hole Fishing Report

Feels like summer here even though it is starting to look like fall.  Cold nights and warm afternoons with high overhead sun has made for tough fishing lately.  We have been doing well nymphing the riffles with Blue Winged olives and swinging small buggers.  For about 2 hours in the afternoon we have had glory hours of hopper fishing.  In fact we have had a few over 20 inches lately on hoppers like this one above which was caught on a 6ft. 3 weight!   More of the same weather on tap for the next few days here.  Looks like the clouds will roll in early next week.    

 

Cool crisp nights and warm days.  Hmmm, how many more of these do we have left?  Get it while you can; it’s early September and it feels like fall in the morning and summer in the afternoon.  The Big Hole River is in great shape, water temperatures are staying cold.  We have Trico’s in the morning, with some PMD’s kicking around.  The afternoons have been a terrestrial game.  Look for browns sitting in skinny riffle water or grassy banks willing to eat hoppers and ants.  Spruce moths have tapered off.  You may find a few around the Jerry Creek to Dewey section.  The summer crowds are gone and late summer fishing is here!

 

Prime time right now on the Beaverhead for dry fly fishing.  Crane Fly dries in the mornings and evenings in the upper Beaverhead slick has been excellent.  The nymphing during the day has been solid with PMD nymphs on the upper river.  Below high bridge we have had excellent dry fly fishing lately. Yellow Sallies, caddis, and hoppers have been what we have been fishing on the surface below high Bridge.  The water is big down there but when you have inside bends with about 2 – 3 feet of depth with a grassy bank, you will find fish willing to eat a hopper or sally.  This river is healthy and producing some great fish lately.  Good stuff right now on the Beaverhead, I mean real good.
 

It is hard to believe that August is coming to an end soon.  Southwest Montana fishing has been heating up.  We have had hot and dry weather, which has really gotten the hopper fishing on track.  We are looking forward to a September filled with exciting hopper fishing on the Big Hole, Beaverhead and Jefferson River.  I have been on all three rivers this week.  We still have Spruce Moth’s on the Big Hole River; the upper Beaverhead has been fishing excellent on PMD nymphs with hopper and Crane Fly fishing on the surface.  The Jefferson River has been streaky on the hopper bite.  Some days they have been crushing the hopper and other days the Jefferson River can be humbling.  Fall fishing is right around the corner.  Start planning your Fall fishing trip now! 

August terrestrial hatches on the Big Hole are in full swing.  We currently have Spruce Moth's, hoppers, and flying ants.  Dry fly fishing doesn't get better than this, brown's eating Spruce Moth's and hoppers in skinny water.  We have been fishing the Big Hole from Jerry Creek all the way to Notch bottom.  You will find the Spruce Moth's from Jerry Creek down to Maiden Rock.  The Spruce Moth's are thick and the trout are lined up to eat them.  Below Melrose it has been a hopper/nocturnal stone fly game on the surface.  August flows are great right now.  We are over 600cfs in Melrose right now.  Read more about the Spruce Moth Hatch here.       

A Ro Skiff was pinned on a rock in the Maiden Rock Canyon.  The boat was stollen from the river before the owner could recover it.  If you have any information on this boat pleasecontact our shop. 

August is living up to our predicted expectations, big fish on dry flies.  This 28 inch 9lb. brown was taken on a dry fly on the Big Hole River!  This image sums up the kind of fishing right now on the Big Hole.  We have been fishing small attractor patterns in the morning and than hoppers and Chernobyl’s in the afternoons.  The current weather pattern has been favorable for good fishing.  We have had sunny cool mornings with overcast afternoons lately.  It is prime time on Southwest Montana Rivers; get out here while the catching is hot.