July 28th ’19 Beaverhead River Fishing Report

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7/28/19 Beaverhead River Fishing Report – Summer hatches still kicking, with hoppers right around the corner!

We have had guides and anglers on the Beaverhead nearly every day lately, and for good reason. The big trout just keep coming, and are seeing the river come up into summer irrigation flows. Sally nymphs down deep and heavy are producing every day, with a small PMD nymph still being a great choice.

There are certainly fish looking up for a variety of snacks on the surface, but you will need to be on your game have your eyes peeled. Nooks, crannies, corners, and foam eddies are the spots to look. Very nice trout will also be looking for hoppers, so keep an eye on that by throwing it through out the day to test the waters.

The last hour has seen a solid caddis emergence with fish looking up last dark. Likewise, streamer anglers are seeing great action early and late with enough during the day to make it worthwhile.  Crowds are down, although there are still clusters of boats and wading anglers. It is best to give people plenty of space and try to step out of the way of other folks who may have hooked a dandy and are in hot pursuit.

Afternoons have seen a lull in the nymph bite, so that is a great time to try a hopper, look for noses, and/or strip a streamer.

Give us a shout anytime for the latest – 406-835-3474

-Dan Soltau

 

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#18 Green Machine PT or Chartruese
#4 Mini Dungeon White
#10 Henneberry Hopper
#14 Flat Back Sally Nymph
#6 CH JJ Special
#8 Chubby Chernobyl (UV) (Gold) (Purple)
#16 Missing Link

#20 Compara Dun Female Trico
#8 Mojo Minnow
#14 CDC Pheasant Tail Jig
#8 Cranefly Larvae
#16 Sparkle Flag Ant Cinnamon
#20 Chubby Trico
#18 Film Critic PMD or BWO

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July 28th ’19 Big Hole River Fishing Report

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7/28/29 Big Hole Report – Dropping flows, nocturnal stones, & terrestrials

We are approaching the 500 CFS mark here in Melrose, and we are suggesting that all hard boat traffic stay below town. Rafts are useful this time of year, and allow anglers to access the upper portions of the river.

Nocturnal stoneflies are hatching on a nightly basis, and we are seeing success on the surface on a daily basis until about 9 am with larger dry flies. The caddis and pmds are dwindling, however sallies are still present. The hopper bite seems to be pairing with the nocturnal activity, and the afternoons and evenings the last few days have seen great fish looking for them.

Subsurface has still been the most consistent. Nymphing with a variegated girdle bug and/or a sally nymph has been producing. Trout are lying in the fast tailouts and riffles, with a few occupying the runs. The runs and pools are currently holding whitefish, and the action can be aggressive. Stripping a streamer has also been effective in the right spot!

We have had very sparse reports of spruce moths, and the tricos are nowhere to be seen to this point. Any day now!

Glen boat ramp update – The water is primarily going down the left channel, and the little water that is going right boat ramp channel has made for an extremely difficult, if not dangerous approach into the boat ramp channel. So, in order to use the take out, the boat must be pulled upstream to the boat ramp. As the river continues to drop, it is possible that driving down the boat ramp to the channel confluence will once again be an option like it was later in the season last year.

Holler anytime for a guide, shuttle, or latest report/update! 406-835-3474

Dan Soltau

 

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#4 Lil Kim Tan
#4 Lil Kim Copper
#6-8 Girdle Bug Coffee/Black
#8-10 Girdle Bug Olive/Brown
#8 Chubby Chernobyl (UV) (Gold) (Purple)
#12 Chubby Pink

#12 Red Copper John
#12 Silver Lightning Bug
#10 CFO Peach Chernobyl
#18 Missing Link
#16 Sparkle Flag Ant Black
#16 Sparkle Ant Cinnamon

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#4 Smokin’ Mirrors
#4 Sparkle Minnow
#4 Little Kim Copper
#6 Pat’s Stone
#6 Flash minnow
#8 Chubby Chernobyl (UV) (Gold) (Purple)
#12 Mahogany Dun

#12 Purple Rooster
#12 Red Copper John
#12 Silver Lightning Bug
#12 Bloom’s Caddis
#14 Purple Haze
#16 Split Winged BWO
#16 Blue Winged Olive Comparadun

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July 22nd 2019 Big Hole River Fishing Report

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July 23rd ’19 – Bugs and healthy, strong trout on the Big Hole.

Flows and conditions are transitioning nicely into the mid-late Summer program, and fishing has continued to be very good. Nocturnal stones are hatching, along with sallies plus a few pmds and caddis. Flows have dropped down to a flow that is best suited for rafts above Divide, and drift boats remain choice for the river below Maiden Rock.

Reports from today have been all dry fly, with a small stonefly like a chubby Chernobyl being the hot ticket. Hoppers, terrestrials, ants, caddis… Look for the early morning bite on bright summer days, and the evening on many nights.

Most of our action has been subsurface in the last week, with the fast riffles being the primary focus for river structure. Girdle bugs, a drowned PMD spinner, or a sally nymph seems to get the job done. Run your nymphs fairly shallow, with a lite amount of weight and target the water 1-3′ deep that is moving quickly. While many spots look very “trout-ey,” don’t let that fool you. The smooth runs, seams, and tailouts that hold trout for the rest of the year are home to whitefish right now.

Holler at us for the latest reports, to book a quality guide, and/or book a shuttle. 406-835-3474

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#10 Water Walker Purple
#10-12 Chubby Olive or Gold
#4 Lil Kim Copper
#16 Hippie Stomper Royal
#10 Jumpin Jack Flash
#14 Rocky Mountain Mint

#16 Psycho Prince
#12 Red Copper John
#12 Silver Lightning Bug
#14 Bloom’s Caddis
#16 Flag Ant
#14 Power Ant

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July 17th 2019 Beaverhead River Fishing Report

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July 17th ’19 Beaverhead River Report – Stellar fishing continues on the Beav!

The folks at Clark Canyon Dam have been raising the flows slowly to meet irrigation demands down river, and the flows are ideal for floating and wade fishing. We had a real gully washer yesterday which has put some mud into the river from Grasshopper Creek. PMDs are hatching, along with a bunch of yellow sallies. There are certainly fish rising in nooks and crannies, however the best action has been subsurface with a deep nymph rig setup with a pmd nymph and a sallie.

Quality over quantity has continued to be name of the game from the dam to High Bridge, and action has been hot down from there. Make sure to use plenty of weight and depth on your nymph rigs. 6′ roughly to the fly, and try keeping your split shot BELOW your fly using a tag end system. Or drop shot style. This sinks significantly better and offers enhanced sensitivity.

Small PMD dries and trico dries can fool those picky risers with a proper drift. Leader length should be at least 10′, down to 4x or 5x if 4x doesn’t fit through the eye.

406-835-3474 – Holler for the latest.

Dan Soltau

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#16 Tungsten Sunkist
#14 Kyle’s BH Yellow Sally
#4 Little Kim Copper
#4 Beldar Bugger Brown & Yellow
#18 Film Critic PMD
#18 Parachute Rusty Spinner
#8 Chubby Gold – below Grasshopper

#18 Split Case BWO & PMD
#14 Copper John Red
#16 MacGruber
#20 Compara Dun PMD
#18 Sparkle Dun PMD
#20 Trico Female

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July 17th 2019 Big Hole River Fishing Report

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July 17 ’19 – Reporting from Melrose, daily showers making for great fishing on the Big Hole

We had minor heat wave last week, and anglers getting out at the crack of dawn had excellent dry fly action along with a solid streamer bite. Cooler weather has set back in, and is here for a few more days before our next summer heat wave returns. This is great for the fishing, and that was reflected with our guide trips yesterday. Our last blast of rain has once again put the river over 1k at Glen, which is excellent news.

Fish are looking for nymphs of all sizes, with the trout primarily hanging out in the riffles with whitefish taking over the runs, pools, and tailouts. Our guides had great trout eating girdle bugs, lightning bugs, and other small mayfly nymphs. The canyon stretches have favored a caddis pupae. Sallies and golden stones are kicking around and persistence can pay off throwing the larger dry, but you better be stubborn and put good drifts towards any bankside structure. Likewise with the streamer, but it pays off big.

Rafts are the craft of choice above Maiden Rock, and drift boats are a great way to float especially from Melrose downstream. No reports on tricos, however there a few anglers who have had great success on hoppers. Mostly tan in sizes ranging from 10-14, and keep ants on the back burner. Again, presentation is critical here. Tippet to 4x and a longer leader around 9-10′, especially if wade fishing will help your cause.

Holler for the latest, we have boats out everyday and guides available along with shuttles and accommodations in Melrose. 406-835-3474.

Dan Soltau

 

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#8 Jumpin Jack Flash
#6 Sparkle Minnow
#Beldar Bugger Olive
#8 Girdle Bug Black/Coffee
#14 Kyle’s BH Yellow Sally
#14 Shuck It Jig Caddis
#16 Micro Mayfly

#16 Purple Rooster
#12 Red Copper John
#14 Silver Lightning Bug
#12-14 Bloom’s Caddis
#10 Water Walker Purple
#8 Water Walker Black
#14 Chubby Chernobyl Olive and/or Purple

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#4 Smokin’ Mirrors
#4 Sparkle Minnow
#4 Little Kim Copper
#6 Pat’s Stone
#6 Flash minnow
#8 Chubby Chernobyl (UV) (Gold) (Purple)
#12 Mahogany Dun

#12 Purple Rooster
#12 Red Copper John
#12 Silver Lightning Bug
#12 Bloom’s Caddis
#14 Purple Haze
#16 Split Winged BWO
#16 Blue Winged Olive Comparadun

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July 10th 2019 Beaverhead River Fishing Report

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July 10th ’19 – Bugs are popping and fishing has been great on the Beav!

After a great start to the summer on the Beaverhead, the great fishing continues. PMDs are hatching and the fish are gorging on the nymphs, and looking for the dry in many places. With flows just over 500, the drop shot nymph setup has been very productive.

We are starting to see more bugs towards the dam, however the best surface activity has been below Henneberry… for now. Fishing is good and traffic has not been too thick, that being said please give other anglers space in the oft congested stretches.

We have boats on the Beaverhead on a daily basis, so don’t hesitate to holler in the morning for yesterdays hot word. 406-845-3474

-Dan Soltau

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#18 Sunkist
#18 Split Case PMD
#16 MacGruber
#8 Pats Stone Tan
#16 Trigger Nymph PMD

#18 Film Critic PMD

#18 Compara Dun PMD
#12 Bloom’s Caddis
#16 Missing Link

#16 Mayhem

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July 10th 2019 Big Hole River Fishing Report

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July 10th ’19 Big Hole River Fishing Report – Excellent dry fly fishing with low traffic!

The river has held right about 1k cfs for over a week now, and the fishing has been exceptional. Trout are keying on the caddis on a daily basis, with some very nice fish looking for golden stones. PMDs are still hatching, however the fish seem to prefer the caddis style these day. That could be related to the high amount of yellow, dark, and lime sallies that are crawling around.

Streamers have continued to produce our finest trout on a daily basis, with olive tones seeming to be the most productive. They have been in a chasing mood lately so make sure to fish the fly back to the boat otherwise you are going to leave some nice fish behind.

The flows have been kind for those using hard boats, provided you stay below Divide or Maiden Rock. Anyone looking to float above Divide will want to get a raft going, otherwise it is going to be a long day on the old fiberglass drift boat.

We have been experiencing excellent whitefish activity when nymphing, so get a lightning bug in the water and hold on. Any water with more that 2′ of depth is going to be loaded with our friendly natives.

Keep a smallish stonefly dry rigged with a caddis emerger in tow and that should have you in business.

Holler at us at 406-835-3474 for the latest updates.

-Dan Soltau

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#4 Little Kim Copper
#6-8 Pat’s Stone
#8 Jumping Jack Flash
#8 Chubby Chernobyl (UV) (Gold) (Purple)
#12 Chubby Olive

#14 X Caddis
#12 Red Copper John
#12 Silver Lightning Bug
#12 Bloom’s Caddis
#16 Missing Link
#16 Para Wulff Purple

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