Big Hole River March Fishing Report

by sunriseflyshop

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Our guide boat yesterday did well.  The mornings are pretty slow due to the freezing nighttime temperatures.  Our afternoon fishing yesterday was pretty good.  The fish are eating San Juan worms and pat’s stones tight to the banks on the tail outs of the runs.  We did some nice fish on streamers on the inside bends of the runs at a dead drift pace.  Streamers of choice are Yellow Yummy’s, and sparkle minnows.  Sunny and warmer today. The fish should be more active today since it will be warmer.  Clarity is still around 2 feet.  We have another Big Hole River guide fishing today with clients so we will have more detailed fishing reports throughout the week ahead.

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Earlier this week the ice broke off the entire upper Big Hole River.

by sunriseflyshop

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Earlier this week the ice broke off the entire upper Big Hole River. We are currently in the clearing process and the river is dropping from the ice flow. Water temperatures are starting the day around 37 degrees and warming to about 42 degrees. We currently have 2 feet of visibility in the Melrose area.  We fished yesterday and it was ok, not great.  We boated about a dozen fish in 5 hours.  We have a Big Hole River guide boat out today so we will let you know how the river improves.  All sub surface fishing right now on the Big Hole.  Our best bug yesterday was a red San Juan worm and a yellow yummy streamer dead drifted tight to the banks.

Check out our Spring Special Package Rates

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Big Hole Spring Fishing Special

by sunriseflyshop

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It is time to shake off the cabin fever and enjoy some Big Hole River spring fishing. Our season kicks off soon and our Big Hole River guides are ready to take you fishing.  We will have hatches of Skwala stoneflies, and Blue Winged Olives in April and May.  Every year some of our largest fish are caught in April and May.  Timing of the Skwala hatch on the Big Hole is from April 1st – May 15th.  Spring is a time of change, so you have to monitor river flows, temperatures, and weather conditions to catch the elusive Skwala.  Experiencing a fly fishing vacation in Montana to catch this hatch is not to be missed.  This is a great time to experience trout feeding with fury, as they eat their first stoneflies of the season.

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We made it back from our hosted trip to Patagonia River guides.

by sunriseflyshop

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We made it back from our hosted trip to Patagonia River guides. We will be getting some photos up here soon to share our amazing moments down south. March is here and with it has come a winter storm.  We are having heavy snow in the Big Hole Valley tonight and we will have sub zero weather following the storm. We had a very mild February in Southwest Montana but we are lucky to have a snowpack hovering at 100%. Typically our high country in March and early April receives some of the heaviest snow of the winter season. Eric was up in Wisdom yesterday and the Big Hole is still frozen above Dickey Bridge.  Most of the ice is off the river below Dickey Bridge but we are having slush ice daily from the overnight low temperatures. Our Big Hole River guides are dreaming about the days in April when we get to throw Skwala dry flies to eager brown trout.  The Spring fishing on the Big Hole is coming soon.

Check out our Spring Special Discount Packages    

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Beaverhead River Fishing Report

by sunriseflyshop

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March is here and it is time to get your 2015 fishing license.  Don’t get fooled just yet that spring is here. We have a winer storm warning tonight and sub zero temperatures are to follow the snow storm. The tailwater quality of the Beaverhead still makes it a great winter fishery.  Remember that the Beaverhead is closed from the Dam down to Pipe Organ Bridge. It remains closed until the 3rd Saturday of May. Wading below Pipe Organ Bridge has been good with Scuds, Sow Bugs, and Zebra Midges. Some days fish have been up eating midges on the surface.  Warmer weather awaits us at the end of the week and Beaverhead River Spring fishing is around the corner.

Spring Special Packages Check out our current offers

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We have had a nice stretch of winter weather here in Southwest Montana.

by sunriseflyshop

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We have had a nice stretch of winter weather here in Southwest Montana.  You don’t get to say that too often because the wind is either blowing snow or the temperatures are sub zero.  High temperatures have been in the upper 40’s.  Don’t let the warm weather fool you though, winter is far from over. If you want to get out and wade fish find the heat of the day in the afternoon and nymph some tail outs with your basic prince nymphs, San Juan’s and Pat’s Stones.  I would get out there now before the next cold snap and snow.  The Big Hole river snowpack is currently 108% of average.  We are sitting well right now but we will not complain if mother nature brings us some healthy snow storms the next three months to boost our snowpack even more. We are gearing up for our hosted trip in February to Patagonia River Guides. Our Big Hole River guides are itching to get back on the water this Spring.

 

 

 

The Big Hole River at Brownes Bridge Fishing Access Site

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Beaverhead River Fishing Report

by sunriseflyshop

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The temperatures this winter have been up and down.  We have had bitter cold sub zero weather and then warm spells with unseasonable weather.  Currently, we are in a nice stretch of weather with air temperatures reaching 40 degrees in the afternoons.  It has been a good time to get out and wipe the dust off the fly rods and wade fish some runs on the Beaverhead. Your basic nymph box is all you need right now to have some success. For the most part the trout are in winter mode and they will be active only during the heat of the day for about 2 hours in the afternoon.  Things are looking up for the spring season on our Southwest Montana fly fishing waters.  Snowpack in the Beaverhead drainage could use a boost but we have plenty of drainages that feed the Beaverhead with snowpack in the 90% – 100% range. Even though we still have a lot of winter left here in Southwest Montana we are itching for spring fishing on the Beaverhead.  Check out our current Spring fishing packages.  

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Happy New Year on the Big Hole River

by sunriseflyshop

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We would like to wish everyone a happy new year and may this 2015 trout season be the best for everyone. We have had a good start to the Big Hole River snowpack.  The upper basins in the Big Hole valley are sitting at about 120% of normal snowpack. We still have a lot of winter left but this is a good start to our water supply for the summer.  The Big Hole is pretty iced over right now.  You will find your best luck nymphing the deeper holes near springs.

We are currently gearing up for our hosted trip to Patagonia River Guides.  We will be heading South for the month of February with our clients to fish with PRG. We look forward to keeping everyone posted on the fishing in Southwest Montana in 2015.

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October continues to produce some great fishing on the Big Hole.

by sunriseflyshop

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October continues to produce some great fishing on the Big Hole.  We are having peak fall colors on the river and the brown trout have matching colors of the cottonwoods and willows. Nymphing and streamers are the game on the Big Hole right now.  In the bright sun the last several days nymphing has been the ticket.  We have overcast weather today and for the  next several days so the streamers will turn on again.  For streamers I suggest J,J.’s, Trevor Sculpin’s, Mini loop Sculpin’s and Sparkle Minnows.  Please respect the spawning brown trout and do not step on the spawning beds.

Flies:  #12 Chubby Chernobyl Yellow/Purple/Black; #10 Purple Haze; #16 Baetis Cripple; #16 Rocky Mountain Mint, #10 Pat’s Stone, #18 Silver Lightning Big, #18 Micro Mayfly, #16 Red Copper John #16 Bat Man Nymph orange/brown: #8 RL Stone; #6 J.J. Special #6 Coffey Bugger; #4 Bad Boy #  10 Copper/Pearl Zonker   #4 Mini Look Sculpin, #4 Trevor’s Sculpin

FALL SALE:  25% – 50% OFF SELECT CLOTHING TILL THE END OF THE SEASON CALL FOR DETAILS

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Big Hole River Fall Fishing Report

by sunriseflyshop

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Fall fishing is here and you better get your streamer box out for the next several days.  Overcast, rain, and some rising water flows will get the brown trout chasing streamers very well.  The Big Hole is running gin clear right now.  Don’t let the rising water from the rain intimidate you.  We have been doing well with the mini loop sculpins, Trevor’s Sculpins, Sparkle minnows, and J.J.’s.  Baetis, and Mahogany Duns are hatching in locations in the canyon and lower river.  Nymphing has been solid with Pat’s Stones, #18 Red Copper John’s, Silver Lightning bugs, and Micro Mayflies.

Flies:  #12 Chubby Chernobyl Yellow/Purple/Black; #10 Purple Haze; #16 Baetis Cripple; #16 Rocky Mountain Mint, #18 Trico Spinner, #18 Trico Comparadun, #10 Pat’s Stone #12 Red Copper John #16 Bat Man Nymph orange/brown: #8 RL Stone; #6 J.J. Special #6 Coffey Bugger; #4 Bad Boy #  10 Copper/Pearl Zonker   #4 Mini Look Sculpin, #4 Trevor’s Sculpin

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