Author: sunriseflyshop

Our Big Hole River Fly Shop opens April 1st for the 2026 fishing season. Sunrise Fly Shop will be starting our 21st season in Melrose, Montana. We are thrilled to serve the local Montana fishing community and fisherman that come from around the country. It is an exciting time to be trout fishing on the Big Hole River and this year will be fantastic.

The opening day of the Big Hole River is April 1st. The entire river will be open and these fish haven’t seen imitation flies since last September. We had a bump in flows last week and the entire river is now ice free. The river flows are dropping and should be stable for the opening week of fishing. You can look for some possible dry fly fishing on the lower Big Hole with Skwalas and blue winged olives. In the middle and upper reaches we would suggest fishing nymphs and slow moving streamers. April is a wonderful time to fish the Big Hole River. We look forward to seeing familiar faces in our shop next week and all the new ones. Spring Special dates are still available the first two weeks of April. Book your trip today.

We will be running shuttles daily on the Big Hole starting April 1st. The fly shop is currently getting fully stocked for the season. We are proud to be the exclusive Yeti, Patagonia, Orvis, Winston, Marshwear Clothing, Ross Reels and Abel dealer on the Big Hole River. Our shop hours the first week will be 9:00am – 4:00pm daily, Sundays 9:00am – 3:00pm.

Recommended Flies:

• Pat’s Stone #10 (Black/Brown) (Olive)
• Jig Prince Nymph #12
• Mr. Beam #12
• Bullet Head Skwala #12
• Rocky Mountain Mint #16
• J.J. Special #10
• Mini Dungeon Black

The Spruce Moth hatch on the Big Hole has been heating up lately. The hatch is between Jerry Creek and Maiden Rock. You can find fish rising to the natural moths in the morning hours and into the afternoon. We have had fish in the 14-20 inch range rising to the Spruce Moth. Tricos are also hatching on the river but the fish seem to be more keyed into the moth lately. Some of the best technical dry fly fishing is had during this time period.

The nymph anglers have been doing well with #14 Spanish bullets, and small stone fly nymphs. Trout have been taking hoppers in the afternoon hours below Melrose. The river is easy to wade right now at these lower flows and the float anglers are still getting down the river in the Jerry Creek and Maiden Rock zones.

Sections 2-4 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.

Recommended Flies:

• Spanish Bullet Black #14
• Spruce Moth #12
• Widow Maker Moth #12
• Panty Dropper Hopper #10
• Thread Frenchie #16
• Pat’s Stone #10 (Black/Brown)
• Duracell Copper Top #16

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.

The Big Hole River Report for July 11th has had plenty of happy anglers. You will find PMD’s, Caddis, Yellow Sallies, Drakes and Nocturnal Stoneflies hatching on the river daily. Our best fishing has been from around 7:00 am until around 2:00pm depending on the afternoon warmup. Streamer anglers have also had smiles lately. the fast shallow riffles are full of sculpin lately and the fish will key into your wounded streamer pattern mimicking them. PMD emerges in the riffles are hanging fish on the line and nocturnal stonefly imitations. Flows are low for this time of the year but you can get your boat down the river in the Jerry Creek Sections, Divide, Maiden Rock, Salmonfly and Glen sections. We are not floating above Jerry Creek due to lower flows.

From the North Fork of the Big Hole down to Notch Bottom (Tony Shoonen) Access site is open with NO restrictions. if you need help understanding any of the Hoot Owl Closures in section I and IV please give us a call (406) 835-3474

Hoot owl restrictions (fishing prohibited 2:00 p.m. to midnight) are in effect for the Big Hole River – Section 1 – from Saginaw Bridge on Skinner Meadows Road to the confluence with the North Fork of the Big Hole River starting July 10.

Hoot owl restrictions (fishing prohibited 2:00 p.m. to midnight) are in effect for the Big Hole River – Section 5 – from Tony Schoonen FAS to the confluence with the Beaverhead River starting July 10.

Recommended Flies:

• Jig Frenchie #16
• Pat’s Stone Olive/brown #10
• Spanish Bullet #14
• Chubby Chernobyl #10
• PMD Comparadun #16
• Purple Craze #16
• Mini Loop Sculpin #6
• Lil Kim #6
• Dungeon Olive #6

The Big Hole fishing report has been fantastic lately. We have PMD’s, caddis, yellow sallies and Golden Stones hatching on the river. You will find trout eating dries throughout the day and the dropper fishing has been flat out fantastic. Fish have been feeding in the fast riffles mid day. We have done well with golden stone patterns and PMD dries and nymphs. Streamer anglers have been crushing fish in the riffles with sculpin patterns and minnow imitations. The overcast damp weather should continue to serve up great dry fly opportunities. We have been floating the Jerry Creek section, Divide into Maiden Rock section and the lower Big Hole sections. Summer is here and it’s your time to get out and fish.

Recommended Flies:

• Chubby Chernobyl #10 (yellow, purple, tan)
• Purple Craze #12
• Headlight Yellow Sallie #12
• PMD Comparadun #16
• Pearl Lightning Bug #12
• Pat’s Stone (Black/Brown) #8
• Jig Thread Frenchie #12
• Mini Loop Sculpin #6
• Lil’ Kim #6 (Gold, Copper)
• Sparkle Minnow (Sculpin) #6