Big Hole River Fishing Report

The fishing remains lights out on the Big Hole.

by sunriseflyshop

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The fishing remains lights out on the Big Hole. We have several hatches to discuss on this report. You will find Golden Stones, PMD’s, Green Drakes, and Caddis from Jerry Creek all the way down to the lower end of the Big Hole. If you are still wanting to chase some Salmonflies head up river. We still have Salmonflies from Sportsman’s down to the Jerry Creek area. Along with Salmonflies on the upper river you will find PMD’s, Green Drakes, and Caddis. Flows have bumped a little bit due to some overnight rain. This will not put the fishing off. Clarity remains around 3 feet on the river. We have also had stellar streamer fishing lately. In the fast shallow riffles we have been fishing mini loop sculpins, #4 Lil’ Kim copper, and #6 sparkle minnows.

Recommended Flies: #8 Chubby Chernobyl; #12 Purple Haze; #12 Film Critic; #14 Comparadun; #14 Cripple Copper; #12 Pearl Lightning Bug; #12 Red Copper John; #8 Pat’s Stone Black; #4 Lil’ Kim; #4 Sculpzilla; #6 Sparkle Minnow; #6 Mini Loop Sculpin

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The fishing remains lights out on the Big Hole.

by sunriseflyshop

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The fishing remains lights out on the Big Hole. We have several hatches to discuss on this report. You will find Golden Stones, PMD’s, Green Drakes, and Caddis from Jerry Creek all the way down to the lower end of the Big Hole. If you are still wanting to chase some Salmonflies head up river. We still have Salmonflies from Sportsman’s down to the Jerry Creek area. Along with Salmonflies on the upper river you will find PMD’s, Green Drakes, and Caddis. Flows have bumped a little bit due to some overnight rain. This will not put the fishing off. Clarity remains around 3 feet on the river. We have also had stellar streamer fishing lately. In the fast shallow riffles we have been fishing mini loop sculpins, #4 Lil’ Kim copper, and #6 sparkle minnows.

 

Recommended Flies: #8 Chubby Chernobyl; #12 Purple Haze; #12 Film Critic; #14 Comparadun; #14 Cripple Copper; #12 Pearl Lightning Bug; #12 Red Copper John; #8 Pat’s Stone Black; #4 Lil’ Kim; #4 Sculpzilla; #6 Sparkle Minnow; #6 Mini Loop Sculpin

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June 1st is the start of the Salmonfly Season here on the Big Hole.

by sunriseflyshop

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June 1st is the start of the Salmonfly Season here on the Big Hole. The bugs have not hatched yet but they are getting close on the lower river. We have been having stellar fishing on the Salmonfly nymphs lately. #4 Pat’s stones in the shallow fast riffle water has been very good lately. We are also having good luck with streamers. Copper Zonkers; #4 Lil Kim olive/copper. The Salmonflies should hatch soon on the lower Big Hole below Melrose. When we have some first sightings of the bugs we will let you know.

Client Al Range with a beauty Big Hole Brown caught recently

Recommended Flies : #6 San Juan Worm; #12 Pheasant Tail #12 Prince Nymph; #4 Pat’s Stone Brown/Orange; #12 CDC Caddis #14 Caddis Pupa; #14 X Caddis; #4 Smoking’ Mirrors; J.J. Special #10 Sparkle Minnow; #4 Sunrise Sculpzilla  #6 Yellow Zonker  #6 Copper Zonker

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Dropping water conditions has the entire river fishing well again.

by sunriseflyshop

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Dropping water conditions has the entire river fishing well again. The streamer fishing has been fantastic lately. You will also have some caddis still around and some drakes. The fish have been willing to chase the streamers pretty well lately. More overcast and wet conditions are in the forecast. It’s the perfect time to get the big fish to move to your fly.

SUNRISE FLY SHOP IS HIRING: Shuttle drivers, starting June 1st. Please call to enquire about the position. 406-835-3474 

Recommended Flies : #6 San Juan Worm; #12 Pheasant Tail #12 Prince Nymph; #10 Pat’s Stone Brown/Green; #12 CDC Caddis #14 Caddis Pupa; #14 X Caddis; #10 Mr. Beam Skwala #10 Bullet Head Skwala #8; #4 Smoking’ Mirrors; J.J. Special #10 Sparkle Minnow; #4 Sunrise Sculpzilla  #6 Yellow Zonker 

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Feels like the coastal Northwest here lately.

by sunriseflyshop

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Feels like the coastal Northwest here lately. We have received several inches of liquid precipitation in the valley and mountain snow lately. The river has taken a steep rise lately. The clarity in the the river has remained good @ around 2 feet of visibility. The wet weather has put an end to the caddis hatch. You will find some drakes and Blue Wings hatching in the moist weather. Mostly subsurface action right now. We are fishing streamers, stone fly nymphs and worms. Our Big Hole River guides have been able to catch fish even in the rising water volume. Look for the soft inside bends on the river to catch fish right now. All of this wet weather bodes well for our water flows this summer.

Recommended Flies : #6 San Juan Worm; #12 Pheasant Tail #12 Prince Nymph; #10 Pat’s Stone Brown/Green; #12 CDC Caddis #14 Caddis Pupa; #14 X Caddis; #10 Mr. Beam Skwala #10 Bullet Head Skwala #8; #4 Smoking’ Mirrors; J.J. Special #10 Sparkle Minnow; #4 Sunrise Sculpzilla  #6 Yellow Zonker

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Big Hole Rive Spring Fishing Report

by sunriseflyshop

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We experienced a dramatic change in weather last week.  After a week of record high heat and rising river flows, we had a massive cold-front move in and deliver colder temps, rain, sleet, snow and wind.  Once the front passed and a more stable low-pressure system settled in, the water dropped and cleared, and the Big Hole River trout really started eating.  Reports from our guides have been solid, with most fish being caught on dead drifted yellow streamers, Pat’s Rubber Legs, and San Juan Worms.  A number of BWO’s and Drakes have been hatching over the last few days, but the trout don’t seem to be keyed in on the May Flies quite yet.

Below are a couple of nice fish landed over the last couple days.

Recommended Flies : #6 San Juan Worm; #12 Pheasant Tail #12 Prince Nymph; #10 Pat’s Stone Brown/Green; #10 Mr. Beam Skwala #10 Bullet Head Skwala #8 J.J. Special #10 Sparkle Minnow; #4 Sunrise Sculpzilla  #6 Yellow Zonker

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Where to go and what to fish is always the question in the morning at the shop.

by sunriseflyshop

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Where to go and what to fish is always the question in the morning at the shop. Well, the good news is that the entire Big Hole River is fishing well. Clarity is over 2 feet and the river has the perfect tea color right now. Stable flows and some hatches out there are making for active fish during the day. We have Blue Winged Olives hatching in the afternoon and March Brown mayflies. Streamers have been working well in the melrose area stripped off the banks. On the upper Big Hole we have mainly been fishing San Juan Worms and dead drifted zonkers. Look for the Mother’s Day Caddis to start popping this week on the lower Big Hole if water temperatures warm back up into the lower 50’s.

Sunrise Fly Shop guides getting clients the famed Big Hole trout this week

Recommended Flies : #12 Pheasant Tail #12 Prince Nymph; #10 Pat’s Stone Brown/Green;  #6 San Juan Worm; #10 Mr. Beam Skwala #10 Bullet Head Skwala #8 J.J. Special #10 Sparkle Minnow; #4 Sunrise Sculpzilla  #6 Yellow Zonker

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Rain in the valley the last 36 hours and snow in the high country.

by sunriseflyshop

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Rain in the valley the last 36 hours and snow in the high country. We are going to have a moist week here on the Big Hole. Flows look like they are stabalizing for now but that can change quickly. Visibility has been around 18 inches. We have been guiding on the upper Big Hole the last several days and fishing has been ok. We have been able to catch some very nice fish. Some browns up to 24 inches have been caught by our clients. Streamers and worm droppers are the best recipe for the trout right now. You will find some blue winged olives and march brown mayflies but the fish are not really interested in them. The worm hatch should continue to get better this week with the amount of precipitation we are receiving. Things are busy in our Big Hole River fly shop. We are the exclusive dealer of Simms, Patagonia, Scientific Angler, Fishpond, Costa Sunglasses, Winston Fly Rods, Hatch Reels and Lamson on the Big Hole.

Sunrise Fly Shop Client with a 24 inch brown caught on the Big Hole three days ago with our guide staff

Recommended Flies : #12 Prince Nymph; #10 Pat’s Stone Brown/Green;  #6 San Juan Worm; #10 Mr. Beam Skwala #10 Bullet Head Skwala #8 J.J. Special #10 Sparkle Minnow; #4 Sunrise Sculpzilla  #6 Yellow Zonker

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You can’t ask for better April weather then this.

by sunriseflyshop

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You can’t ask for better April weather then this. Grab the flip flops and maybe leave the waders at home. The Big Hole River is still holding with 18 inches of visibility and no dramatic rise in water flows yet. This could all change but we will have to wait and see. It is always hard to predict what will happen in the next few days in the Spring. I can tell you right now the river is fishing ok and it is producing some nice fish lately. Mainly subsurface action. You will find some March brown mayflies out and some Skwalas. We have been sticking subsurface with nymphs and streamers. Our our guide trips have been up river around East Bank and down in the Maiden Rock Canyon lately. Grab the sunscreen and your favorite pair of shades and have fun on the river. 

Our Client caught this brute on the Big Hole this week

Recommended Flies : #12 Prince Nymph; #10 Pat’s Stone Brown/Green;  #6 San Juan Worm; #10 Mr. Beam Skwala #10 Bullet Head Skwala #8 J.J. Special #10 Sparkle Minnow; #4 Sunrise Sculpzilla

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The entire Big Hole river is dropping in flow and clearing.

by sunriseflyshop

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The entire Big Hole river is dropping in flow and clearing. We have about 18 inches of visibility on the upper Big Hole. You will have a nice opportunity the next several days for good fishing on the Big Hole. Subsurface fishing will be your best option right now. Slow moving streamers off the banks, almost a dead drift and nymphs. Our best nymphs have been pink S.J. worms, and red S.J. worms. Water temperatures today are pretty cold but that will improve Sunday and Monday. It’s a good springtime opportunity to get out there and fish the next several days.

Recommended Flies : #12 Prince Nymph; #10 Pat’s Stone Brown/Green;  #6 San Juan Worm; #10 Mr. Beam Skwala #10 Bullet Head Skwala #8 J.J. Special #10 Sparkle Minnow; #4 Sunrise Sculpzilla

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