Beaverhead River

Beaverhead River

Enjoy a Guided Fly Fishing Float Trip on the Beaverhead River in Southwest Montana

Experience the Beaverhead with the Best Guides in Southwest Montana

Sunrise Fly Shop offers half-day and full day fly fishing float trips by our experienced fishing guides on the Beaverhead River. Less than 30 minutes from the Sunrise Fly Shop, the Beaverhead River is the second blue ribbon trout stream in our backyard. Having both a freestone river and a tailwater fishery within such close proximity makes our destination extremely unique. These two fisheries provide us with fishable water throughout the entire fishing season.

Southwest Montana tailwaters are typically known for two things: Huge trout and a lot of them. The Beaverhead River is no exception. The Beaverhead River is undoubtedly one of the finest tailwater fisheries in the United States and it is known as one of the top fly fishing destinations in Southwest Montana. Be sure to schedule a day for a fly fishing float trip with one of our guides on the Beaverhead River on your next fly fishing vacation to Southwest Montana.

The Beaverhead River Flow

The Beaverhead River flows north out of the Clark Canyon Reservoir, through the town of Dillon, and continues its meandering course until it meets with Big Hole River just north of Twin Bridges, helping to form the Jefferson River. And our fly fishing guides know every inch of the river. The Beaverhead River is a small, intimate river that produces some of the most prolific hatches a fly fishing angler can ever hope to see. With thousands of trout per mile and rarely more than 70 feet from bank to bank, the Beaverhead River is literally stacked with big trout. From blanketing caddis hatches to the blizzard-like PMD hatch to the technical trico spinner fall, the constant water temperature of the Beaverhead River and consistent summer flows make this one of the best fly fishing rivers in Montana. A Sunrise Fly Shop guide will show you the fly fishing techniques that are sure to catch you that big brown you have been dreaming of.

Characteristics of the Beaverhead River

It is the tailwater characteristics of the Beaverhead River that allow it to produce abundant hatches of Mayflies, Caddis, Yellow Sallies, Pale Morning Duns, Crane flies and terrestrials. With the cold, clear water flowing out of Clark Canyon Reservoir, the trout have a healthy environment that leads to trophy sizes as well as large populations. Make sure to visit our fly shop for the most complete selection of flies for the Beaverhead River. Like several other rivers in Southwest Montana, the Beaverhead is a headwater of the Missouri River.

Beaverhead River Trout and Insects

The Beaverhead River is known for its population of very large Browns and Rainbows, attracting fly fishers from all over. The Beaverhead’s constant cold-water provided by the reservoir’s outflow, coupled with the generally silt-free nature of the water and stable summertime flows create an ideal habitat for aquatic insects. This phenomenal insect habitat produces millions of bugs, which translates to spectacular hatches throughout the summer. With so much food in the river, the trout can’t help but get big. If you are looking for the hardest fighting rainbows in Montana, let one of our experienced fly fishing guides show you the tricks on the Beaverhead River.

So, whether you are planning on nymphing the Axel Hole or casting PMD patterns to sipping browns in the Slick, this Blue-Ribbon gem is one of the best Southwest Montana fly fishing rivers and a must-see for your next fly fishing vacation. Let an experienced fly fishing guide from Sunrise Fly Shop take you on a float trip you will not soon forget!

Experience the Beaverhead for Yourself

Whether you are planning on nymphing the Axel Hole or casting PMD patterns to sipping browns in the Slick, this Blue-Ribbon gem is one of the best Southwest Montana fly fishing rivers and a must-see for your next fly fishing vacation. Let an experienced fly fishing guide from Sunrise Fly Shop take you on a float trip you will not soon forget!

Fish the Beaverhead with Sunrise Fly Shop on your Next Vacation to Southwest Montana

Sunrise Fly Shop is the premier fly fishing guide service and fly shop in Southwest Montana. Based in Melrose, we offer everything from half day guided fly fishing float trips down the Beaverhead River, to customized multi-day Southwest Montana fully guided fly fishing vacations. We offer all-inclusive fly fishing packages and float trips on the Beaverhead River to help make your Southwest Montana fly fishing vacation as easy to plan and enjoy as possible, And at our fully stocked fly fishing shop on the banks of the Big Hole River, we provide the biggest variety of top-of-the-line equipment, fly fishing supplies, fishing flies, and experienced guides in the area. Our experienced Beaverhead River fly fishing guides are doing float trips down the Beaverhead nearly every day. Contact Us today for more information on our Beaverhead River fly fishing guide service and to plan your next fly fishing vacation to Southwest Montana.

Seasons on the Beaverhead River

Expand any of the seasons below to view specific details about the river and hatches for the given season.

Spring: April 1 – June 1

Hatches: Midges, Blue Winged Olives, Caddis

During the Spring, when other rivers are struggling with rising, off-color water the Beaverhead is a great option. Because the Beaverhead River is a stable tailwater, it is likely to have clear and low water. It is common to find Midges as well as Blue Winged Olives hatching in April, providing anglers opportunities to find fish holding in skinny water sipping on these spring hatches. Our guides will ensure a stealthy approach to increase the chances of scoring that big brown or rainbow.

The most noteworthy hatch in the spring on the Beaverhead is the Mother’s day Caddis. This snowstorm-like hatch generally begins during the first week of May and lasts for about a week. During the Mother’s Day Caddis hatch, Pipe Organ Fishing Access to Barrett’s is a great spring float trip with one of our guides on the Beaverhead River. Call Sunrise Fly Shop now to ensure you have a guided float trip reserved!

Summer: June 1 – September 1

Hatches: Blue Winged Olives, Pale Morning Duns, Yellow Sallies, Hoppers, Crane Flies, Caddis, Tricos

Summer hatches on the Beaverhead are abundant, consistent, and diverse. Some of the thickest Pale Morning Dun and Yellow Sallie hatches in the Western United States are found on the Beaverhead River. During the early part of the summer fish begin to key in on both PMD and Yellow Sallies. These two hatches will continue into July with amazing regularity, providing anglers with one of the most consistent trout fisheries in Montana. As much as the Beaverhead is known as a nymph fishery, during both the PMD and the Yellow Sallie hatches, the section of the Beaverhead below the High Bridge Fishing Access can produce some of the best dry fly fishing of the year.

In late August and into September the Beaverhead produces a unique hatch that you will not find on many western rivers. The Beaverhead’s Crane Fly hatch is special in that to attract trout to your fly, you must skate these large dry flies on the surface and drag them across the water. This unusual technique will entice both browns and rainbow to chase your fly and attack it aggressively on the surface.

Fall: September 1 – November 1

Hatches: Pale Morning Duns, Tricos, Hoppers, Crane Flies, Blue Winged Olives

As the summer starts to wind down in Southwest Montana, the trico fishing on the Beaverhead starts to pick up. On the cooler mornings of September and early October you can find tricos hatching on the upper Beaverhead. Every morning as the trico spinners begin to fall, the massive fish that live between the Clark Canyon Dam and High Bridge FAS come to the surface to feed on this abundant tiny mayfly. Because of it’s technical nature, catching and landing a trophy Beaverhead trout on a trico dry fly is one of the most rewarding accomplishments a fly fisherman may every have.