Fishing has been good despite the Hoot Owl restrictions that have been implemented on the Entire Big Hole River These restrictions went into effect July 17th. Hoot Owl restrictions mean that fishing is prohibited from 2:00 p.m. to midnight. We are doing guide trips from 7:00 am – 2:00 pm on the Big Hole and the fishing has remained good for our guides. This latest weekly report, we have seen this 22 inch brown and a 23 inch brown caught on our guide trips this week!
The Big Hole has nocturnal Stone flies hatching, caddis, and some PMD’s are around in the morning. Terrestrials and tricos are our next big hatch that will be starting soon. The streamer anglers are doing well in the morning hours in the shallow riffles with sculpin patterns. We are floating the Dewey Canyon and Maiden Rock Canyon stretches lately on our guide trips. It is time to get out early and adjust your fishing hours.
Recommended Flies:
- Spanish Bullet #14 (Black) (Olive)
- Thread Frenchie #14 (Olive)
- Pat’s Stone #10 (Black)
- Chubby Chernobyl Tan/pink #10
- PMD Parachute #14
Sections 2-5 of the Big Hole River (from the confluence with the North Fork of the Big Hole River to the confluence with the Beaverhead River) are open to fishing from Midnight until 2:00 p.m. for any other up to date FWP fishing restrictions that have been placed on many Montana rivers please check out this link.
