Runoff Fishing Report

by sunriseflyshop

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We all know the Big Hole can fish well during runoff but you can always have some tough days. As we move into the month of May we will have high water and off color water but we also catch the largest brown trout of the year in May on the Big Hole River. The Big Hole is currently on the rise but we have 18 inches of clarity on the banks. In the month of May we will have mother’s day caddis and great streamer fishing. If the weather stays warm look for the mother’s day caddis to hatch in the next 10 days. We will keep you posted on the progress of the caddis. Right now we are throwing streamers, and various nymphs.  The dry fly fishing has been spotty but great at times. We still have skwalas up river and march brown’s. Conditions in May change quickly so feel free to give us a call or stay hooked to our reports.

Flies: #8 Mr. beam Skwala, #10 Bullet Head Skwala, #10 Pat’s Stone Brown/Green #8 San Juan Worm, Bellyache Minnoe Olive #8 Sparkle Minnow, #4 Yellow/Black Beldar; #10 Prince Nymph: #12 Flashback pheasant Tail 

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Here come the clouds that we have been waiting for.

by sunriseflyshop

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Here come the clouds that we have been waiting for.  Fishing has been ok lately, but inconsistent at times. The change is weather this week should get the fishing back on track. We still have Skwala stoneflies and March browns hatching but on the bright sunny days the fish have not been willing to stay on the surface feeding all day. Our best dropper in the morning and afternoons has been a size #10 olive/brown pat’s stone. For dry flies a #10 bullet head skwalla and #10 Mr. Beam has been our best pattern.  Don’t let the rising water on the hydrograph fool you.  The clarity is around 2 1/2 feet and the increase of flows will get the fish on the banks, which is a good thing right now for dry fly fishing.

Flies: #8 Mr. beam Skwala, #10 Bullet Head Skwala, #10 Pat’s Stone Brown/Green #8 San Juan Worm, Bellyache Minnoe Olive #8 Sparkle Minnow, #4 Yellow/Black Beldar

Dave Leta with a nice Big Hole Rainbow

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Great Spring Conditions

by sunriseflyshop

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With the Big Hole flowing at about 1000cfs in Melrose, water clarity of more than two feet, and forecasted highs in the low 60’s, this coming week should produce perfect spring fishing conditions. Since the snowstorm we had come through on the 15th, the top water Skwala fishing below the Divide FAS has slowed down compared to last week, but yesterday’s reports indicate that the March Brown fishing has really started to pick up.  Above Divide they are still hitting the Skwala pretty well, but with gauge at Wise River reading only 800cfs, the upper river is quite a bit skinnier than we usually see this time of year. When we dropping below the surface we have been throwing Pat’s Rubber Legs, San Juan Worms, and any large Mayfly attractor pattern (like a Copper John or a Pheasant Tail).

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The Skwala Hatch is Here

by sunriseflyshop

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With the mild spring weather we have been experiencing, the skwalas have arrived a little early this year, and because of that we have had great skwala dry fly fishing this week.  Throwing smaller skwala patterns into slower moving water near the banks has been producing a lot of fish.  The best dry fly action has been from Divide down to Notch Bottom, but we have also been fishing the upper river with good success.  The dry fly fishing on the upper river has definitely been slower than it has been on the lower sections, but throwing a dropper has kept us in fish all day.

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March Skwala Update

by sunriseflyshop

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We had a significant warm up yesterday, which got the water temperatures into the mid 40’s.  I spotted two adult skwalas on the water and it was go time.  The skwala hatch has started on the Big Hole.  From 2:00 yesterday till about 4:30 we had some nice dry fly fishing.  The big fish were not rising but plenty of small fish were looking up.  I would still give it some time for the big fish to key into the dry fly. This is the earliest we have ever seen skwala activity on the Big Hole. I would stick to droppers in the morning and then around 2:00 you can fish a single dry fly today unless the wind kicks up like it is supposed to. the visibility is still around 2 1/2 feet.

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Big Hole River Spring Update

by sunriseflyshop

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Warm weather on tap today.  It is supposed to hit 70 degrees this afternoon.  After the cold week and the warm weather for the next few days the Skwala nymphs should start moving towards the banks.  We have gotten some dumb fish on top with Skwalas but it is still early.  We have been fishing dry dropper rigs all week and we have done very well on the Pat’s stone dropper and worm as a dropper.  Occasionally we have had eats on top but we are still not in full swing on the Big Hole River skwala hatch.  Your best window of opportunity right now is from about 11:00 am till 5:00 pm.  Streamers have also been working for our Big Hole River guides.  You will need to dead drift the streamers for your best results since the water is in the upper 30’s to lower 40’s.  Flows are stable at the moment and the visibility is around 2 1/2 feet.

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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.

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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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