Spring fishing has started to get good on the Big Hole River.

by sunriseflyshop

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Spring fishing has started to get good on the Big Hole River. We have had some exciting fishing the last few days. In fact the dry fly fishing is picking up on Skwalas, Blue Winged Olives and midges. We have been starting the day subsurface with nymphs and streamers and then moving to a dry dropper or a single dry in the afternoon. The Big Hole has about 3 feet of visibility and conditions are right for the skwalla hatch to continue to improve. Give us a call for up to date details 406-835-FISH(3474) or head on over for some spring fishing. The last several days the 16 – 20 inch fish have started to feed and we have seen a nice age class willing to eat the skwala.

Spring Special guided fishing details are here. Packages starting at $595 per person 

Naomi with a stellar fish from the other day on the Big Hole

Recommended Flies: #8 Mr. Beam; #10 Olive Chubby; #8 Bullet Head Skwalla; #10 Pat’s Stone (Olive/Brown); #8 San Juan Worm; #16 Shop Vac; #18 Zebra Midge; #16 Psycho May (olive); #6 Flash Minnow (Olive); #6 Smokin’ Mirrors (Black); #6 Sparkle Minnow; #4 Little Kim; #6 Screamer (Yellow) (Olive)

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Feels like winter but it’s Spring!

by sunriseflyshop

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It’s been a snowy cold start to spring in Southwest Montana. Even though the birds are churping and the days are getting longer, the guides on the rods are frozen some days and you still see the flakes of snow falling from the sky at times. We are not finding Skwallas hatching yet on the lower Big Hole. We have been throwing streamers and nymphs with some success lately. The floats we have been doing have all been on the stretches below Melrose. It is a little warmer on the stretches of river below Melrose. Water temperatures have been in the 30’s and some days creep into the 40’s, which turns on the fishing. A few ice shelves are still around but the lower Big Hole is shaping up and the fishing will be improving as things warm up to spring conditions. A bit of ice around the boat launches but we have been using Salmonfly, Brownes Bridge access and Glen lately.

Spring Special guided fishing details are here. Packages starting at $595 per person 

Recommended Flies: #10 Pat’s Stone (olive/Brown) #8 San Juan Worm (Red/Wine/Pink) #18 Zebra Midge; #6 Flash Minnow Olive; #4 Smokin’ Mirror’s J.J.; #6 Mr. Creepo Natural

Dan Soltau with a streamer eater from late last week on the Big Hole

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Beaverhead River Spring Special

by sunriseflyshop

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The Beaverhead River is one of the tailwaters in the state that remains ice free this time of year. The river is a bit off color today around Dillon. Clark canyon is 88% full right now and we haven’t even had any snowmelt entering the reservoir. This is all good news for the fishing season on the Beaverhead. Winter releases from clark canyon have also been better this year, which keeps the fish healthy. Remember if you are going to fish the Beaverhead that you must remain from Pipe Organ Bridge downstream until the 3rd Saturday of May. The upper river is closed to protect the rainbows while they spawn. It is mainly nymphing right now on the Beaverhead with midge patters, worms, and slow moving deep streamers.

Check out our Spring Special Packages here: packages starting @ $595 per person

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Even though is is officially still winter the days ….

by sunriseflyshop

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Even though is is officially still winter the days are getting longer and spring will be here soon. It has been a good winter in the Big Hole valley as far as snow is concerned. Many of the drainages are sitting around 130% of snowpack for this date in time. We will know more how our summer flows will be based on how the snowmelt occurs and spring rain/snow events. The current conditions on the Big Hole are rather winter like. Around Melrose we still have shelf ice and ice jams. The weather looks like it is gradually warming later this week. As soon as the ice melts around Melrose and south of Melrose we will start fishing. Check back for fishing reports. As soon as we hit the water we will let you know. We are all itching for some Skwala hatch fishing next month.

It’s time to start thinking about spring fishing. We have our annual Spring Special packages starting @ $595. Click here for details.

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Fall fishing continues to be very good on the Big Hole River.

by sunriseflyshop

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Fall fishing continues to be very good on the Big Hole River. We have been doing well in the Jerry Creek section, Maiden Rock section and the stretches of the Big Hole below Melrose. You will find blue winged olives, and mahogany duns on the warmer afternoon days. Nymphing has remained the best tactic lately. Some solid reports of streamer fishing have been had on the overcast days. The brown trout are spawning so please be careful not to tromp on the spawning beds.

A nice catch the other day on one of our guided trips

Sale: 

20% off Simms Freestone Boots, and Rivertek BOA Boots
Call 406-835-3474 or email us to order.

 

 Recommended Flies: #16 high vis Baetis; #16 Purple Craze; #12 Chubby Chernobyl tan/orange/Gold/Purple #18 Purple Haze; #10 Pat’s Stone Brown/Black; #16 little spanker #16 Pheasant Tail; #16 Pearl Lightning Bug; #18 Red Copper John;#16 Psycho Mayfly Olive; #14 Caddis Pupa; #6 J.J. Special; #4 Smokin’ Mirrors; #4Mr. Creepo #4 McCunnes Sculpin; #4 Mini Loop Sculpin; #6 Lil’ Kim #6 Flash Minnow

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Fall fishing has been pretty good on the Big Hole.

by sunriseflyshop

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Fall fishing has been pretty good on the Big Hole. Uncrowded waters and scenery you usually find painted on canvas has this month a must to fish in Montana. Flows on the Big Hole are excellent and the brown trout have been willing to move to streamers and nymphs lately as they get ready to spawn. We also have some hatches of Blue Winged Olives and Mahogany Duns. Look for the fish hanging out in the tail-outs of the runs and the shallow edges of the runs. Dust off that streamer box and get out for some fall fishing before winter sets into Southwest Montana.

Sale: 

20% off Simms Freestone Boots, and Rivertek BOA Boots

Call 406-835-3474 or email us to order.

 

 Recommended Flies: #16 high vis Baetis; #16 Purple Craze; #12 Chubby Chernobyl tan/orange/Gold/Purple #18 Purple Haze; #10 Pat’s Stone Brown/Black; #16 little spanker #16 Pheasant Tail; #16 Pearl Lightning Bug; #18 Red Copper John;#16 Psycho Mayfly Olive; #14 Caddis Pupa; #6 J.J. Special; #4 Smokin’ Mirrors; #4Mr. Creepo #4 McCunnes Sculpin; #4 Mini Loop Sculpin; #6 Lil’ Kim #6 Flash Minnow

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What a crazy week it has been.

by sunriseflyshop

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What a crazy week it has been. We went from a red flag warning for fire danger to a winter storm warning within 24hrs. Summer has ended and we are set up for Fall fishing. The mountains in Southwest Montana above 9,000 ft. have over a foot of snow from this past storm. Our valley had a few inches of snow on the ground this morning. With all this moisture and the outlook of more moisture next week the river is on the rise but remains clear. The float fisherman are eager to see the river rise to more sustainable flows. The brown trout are packing on the pounds for the spawn coming up in October. Look for the trout to be aggressive to streamers and nymphs. We will see Blue Winged Olive hatches and Mahogany Duns during the overcast damp days ahead.

Rutger Wilson finding some good trout during the weekend snow storm

Sale: 

25% off Winston Nexus 4 piece fly rods. We have 5 weights in Stock. $359.75
Also, 20% off Simms Freestone Boots, and Rivertek BOA Boots

Call 406-835-3474 or email us to order.

 

 Recommended Flies: #16 high vis Baetis; #16 Purple Craze; #12 Chubby Chernobyl tan/orange/Gold/Purple #18 Purple Haze; #10 Pat’s Stone Brown/Black; #16 little spanker #16 Pheasant Tail; #16 Pearl Lightning Bug; #18 Red Copper John;#16 Psycho Mayfly Olive; #14 Caddis Pupa; #6 J.J. Special; #4 Smokin’ Mirrors; #4Mr. Creepo #4 McCunnes Sculpin; #4 Mini Loop Sculpin; #6 Lil’ Kim

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Summer fishing is coming to an end and fall fishing is nearing.

by sunriseflyshop

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Summer fishing is coming to an end and fall fishing is nearing. You will still find some Tricos hatching in the morning but they are starting to fade away. The fall Blue Winged Olives and Mahogany Duns have been seen recently. Look for these hatches to improve as fall weather nears. We are still in need of some moisture to boost our river flows. We have been floating the Jerry Creek stretch, Maiden Rock and below Melrose sections of the Big Hole. The streamer fishing has picked up and we should continue to see the fish looking to chase streamers as we move into fall conditions. Our client caught this trout on the Big Hole this past week.

Sale: 

25% off Winston Nexus 4 piece fly rods. We have 5 weights in Stock. $359.75
Also, 20% off Simms Freestone Boots, and Rivertek BOA Boots

Call 406-835-3474 or email us to order.

 

 

Recommended Flies:#16 high vis Baetis; #18 comparadun trico; #18 trico spinner;  #12 Chubby Chernobyl tan/orange/Gold/Purple #18 Purple Haze; #10 Pat’s Stone Brown/Black; #16 little spanker #16 Pheasant Tail; #16 Pearl Lightning Bug; #18 Red Copper John;#16 Psycho Mayfly Olive; #14 Caddis Pupa; #6 J.J. Special; #4 Smokin’ Mirrors; #4Mr. Creepo #4 McCunnes Sculpin; #4 Mini Loop Sculpin; #6 Lil’ Kim

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Beaverhead River Fishing Report

by sunriseflyshop

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Clark Canyon Outflow is currently 435 cfs. the Beaverhead is running at a nice flow but you will have floating and submerged moss on the upper end of the river. From the dam down to high bridge is difficult to fish subsurface due to the moss. The lower stretches of the beaverhead are fishing very well on hoppers. We have done well below Henneberry and Grasshopper creek on the terrestrials. Ants, hoppers and some caddis are hatching on the beaverhead. Clarity has remained good on the beaverhead.

Recommended Flies: #18 Zebra Midge; #16 Psycho Mayfly; #18 Green Machine #18 Psycho Mayfly black; #10 Panty Dropper Hopper; #8 Romans Hopper; #10 Fat Albert; #4 Smokin’ Mirrors; #6 J.J. Special

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Fishing has remained ok on the Big Hole

by sunriseflyshop

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Fishing has remained ok on the Big Hole. The wade fisherman are happy but the float fisherman are ready for an increase in river flows. We are still floating in the Jerry Creek stretch, Maiden Rock Stretch and the Notch Bottom stretch of the Big Hole. You will find hatches of tricos in the morning and we are starting to see fall baetis in the afternoons on the upper stretches of the Big Hole. Besides the baetis, small hoppers and ants are working in the afternoon. We are also having good luck with streamers followed by a baetis nymph in the shallow riffles. Fall will soon be here and the large brown trout will be lurking around for your streamers.

Sunrise client with a brown ready for the fall season caught yesterday on the Big Hole

Sale: 

All Hatch Reels are 25% off We have 4Plus Finatics $329.95 and 5Plus Finatics $374.95 in stock. Call 406-835-3474 or email to order. 
25% off Winston Nexus 4 piece fly rods. We have 5 weights and 6 weights in Stock. $359.75 

Recommended Flies:#16 high vis Baetis #18 comparadun trico; #18 trico spinner  #12 Chubby Chernobyl tan/orange/Gold/Purple #18 Purple Haze; #10 Pat’s Stone Brown/Black; #16 little spanker #16 Pheasant Tail; #16 Pearl Lightning Bug; #18 Red Copper John;#16 Psycho Mayfly Olive; #14 Caddis Pupa; #6 J.J. Special; #4 Smokin’ Mirrors; #4Mr. Creepo #4 McCunnes Sculpin; #4 Mini Loop Sculpin

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