Category: Big Hole River Fishing Report

As we move to the end of July on the Big Hole River we continue to have good fishing and we are catching some stellar fish. You will find nocturnal stoneflies hatching and Pale Morning Duns in the morning hours. The afternoons have been heating up on some days and on other days we have had cloud cover and excellent fishing. Prospecting with a chubby Chernobyl or ant has brought up some very nice fish lately. We are also fishing dropper rigs with stone fly nymphs and small various jig mayfly patterns. Streamer anglers have enjoyed the morning fishing in the shallow riffles with sculpin patterns. We have not seen spruce moths or tricos yet, but these bugs will be our next major hatch on the Big Hole River. We continue to have smiling faces on the river and happy folks. If you are looking to book a trip we are running a 15% August discount for packages with lodging and fishing. Give us a call to inquire 406-835-3474.

Section 3 on the Big Hole is open with no restrictions. Section 3 is from Dickie Bridge to lower Maiden Rock FWP. This FWP Maiden Rock is out of the canyon. Please call if you have any questions. Section 1,2,4 and 5 on the Big Hole are on Hoot Owl Restrictions. This means you can only fish from Midnight to 2:00pm daily on these sections of the river.

Fly Recomendations:

• Plan B #8
• Chubby Chernobyl #10 Olive/Gold
• Parachute Ant #16
• Purple Craze #16
• Jig Napoleon #16 Olive
• Jig Frenchie #16
• Pat’s Stone $10 Olive/Brown/Black
• Jig Bullet Black #16
• Mini Loop Sculpin #4 Olive
• Lil’ Kim #6 Olive

The Big Hole fishing has continued to be good for us this week. We have been hitting the water early for some great nocturnal stonefly action on dry flies. Mid morning we are seeing PMD’s and drakes with a few caddis scattered around. The afternoon fishing has consisted of dry/dropper or double nymph rigs in the fast shallow riffles. Hopper season is right around the corner for us on the Big Hole River. We continue to see nice brown trout and rainbows everyday on guide trips. We currently have some openings for guide trips the last week of July. Give us a call to book your trip!

Currently Section 5: which is the last 15 miles of the Big Hole from Tony Shoonen FAS (Notch Bottom ) to the confluence of the Jefferson River is On Hoot Owl Fishing restrictions. This means you can only fish from Midnight to 2:00 pm daily. All of the other sections of the Big Hole currently do “not” have any restrictions. Please give us a call if you have any questions 406-835-3474.

Recommended Flies:

• Chernobyl Ant #8 Tan/Black
• Chubby Chernobyl #10 Cinnamon
• Purple Craze #14
• Brindle Chute #16
• Blow Torch #14
• Jig Napoleon #16 Olive
• Jig Lightning Bug #14
• Spanish Bullet #14

The fishing on the Big Hole River continues to impress us this month. We have had great dry fly fishing in the morning and into the early afternoon hours. Golden Stone’s, PMD’s and caddis are hatching on the Big Hole. The shallow riffles have produced some great trout lately. You will find trout feeding on PMD’s in the mid morning in the flats and stoneflies in the riffles. Flows remain good on the Big Hole and the trout are happy. Streamer fishing in the shallow riffles have been good as well as caddis in the evening hours.

The Divide FAS boat ramp is currently closed for more construction. You can use the boat ramp at the Divide Campground. Please park your vehicle outside the campground when using the Divide Campground boat ramp. We would be happy to answer any questions 406-835-3474.

Recommended Flies:

• #10 Chubby Chernobyl Tan
• #14 Bloom’s Caddis
• #14 Brindle Chute
• #16 Comparadun PMD
• #16 Jig Blowtorch
• #16 Duracell Jig
• #16 Pearl Lightning Bug

Summer weather is finally here on the Big Hole River. We are enjoying the great water flows and quality fishing lately. As of this morning the clarity on the Big Hole River is 4 feet and the river is dropping in flows to around 2,300 cfs in Melrose. We are seeing hatches of golden stone’s, pale morning duns, caddis, and some drakes. Dry fly fishing on PMD’s and stone flies has been solid lately. We have been doing a lot of dry/dropper fishing in the riffles. Various PMD nymph droppers and stoneflies have been working well. Streamer fishing in the shallow riffles and during cloudy periods of the day and evening hours has produced fantastic fish. It is wonderful time to enjoy fishing on the Big Hole River. Guides and lodging are available for select dates this month. Call to inquire about guide trips and lodging 406-835-3474.

The Divide FAS boat ramp is currently closed for more construction. You can use the boat ramp at the Divide Campground. Please park your vehicle outside the campground when using the Divide Campground boat ramp. Some new emergency fishing regulations were announced. Here is a link to the changes that FWP has made. We would be happy to answer any questions 406-835-3474.

Recommended Flies:

• #8 Chubby Chernobyl Cinnamon
• #14 Brindle Chute
• #12 Purple Craze
• #8 Water Walker Purple
• #14 Jig Frenchie
• #12 Jig Hot Spot
• #14 Jig Pearl Lightning Bug
• #12 Red Copper John
• #8 Pat’s Stone Black

We have just experienced an odd cold front the last few days. We even had snow in the high country last night, which was a rude awakening for the Summer solstice. It looks like more cool weather on tap with a warmup coming later this weekend. Golden Stones, Salmonflies, PMD’s and Caddis are hatching on the Big Hole River. You will find the stone flies willing to emerge once we have a few warm days and the water temperatures reach the mid 50’s. Streamer fishing has remained strong during these high flows. Water clarity this morning was 4 feet and will improve as long as flows continue to drop.

The Divide FAS boat ramp is currently closed for more construction. You can use the boat ramp at the Divide Campground. Please park your vehicle outside the campground when using the Divide Campground boat ramp. Some new emergency fishing regulations were announced. Here is a link to the changes that FWP has made. We would be happy to answer any questions 406-835-3474.

Fly Recommendations:

• #4 Cat Puke
• #4 Flutter Bug
• #6 Water Walker Black
• #6 Half Down Salmonfly 
• #4 Double Stack Chernobyl Orange
• #6 Pat’s Stone Orange/brown
• #6 Sparkle Minnow J.J.
• #6 Tungston Pancora
• #4 Dungeon Yellow/Black
• #14 Hot Spot
• #12 Blowtorch

The Big Hole River has been fishing very well lately. The Salmonflies are in full force and dry fly fishing has been fantastic when conditions align correctly. We have had good dry fly fishing from Jerry Creek down to Melrose on Salmonflies and golden stones. You will find the hatch all the way up to Eastbank at this point. It looks like the heavy rainfall is behind us. We have clarity around 3 feet as of this morning and it should continue to improve as long as we don’t receive more heavy rain. Now is the time to hit the Salmonfly hatch!

The Jerry Creek boat ramp is open! We are pleased that we have this access available. Divide Boat ramp is still under construction and closed but you can launch your boat at the Divide Campground boat ramp. Please park your vehicle outside the Campground if you use the Ramp at the Divide Campground. 

Recommended Flies:

• #4 Cat Puke
• #4 Flutter Bug
• #6 Water Walker Black
• #6 Half Down Salmonfly 
• #4 Double Stack Chernobyl Orange
• #4 Pat’s Stone Orange/brown
• #6 Sparkle Minnow J.J.
• #6 Tungston Pancora
• #4 Dungeon Yellow/Black

The Big Hole River Salmonfly Hatch is in full swing! We have seen the big bugs from Melrose up into the Maiden Rock Canyon and into the Dewey Canyon. Dry fly fishing around Maiden Rock on Salmonflies was excellent yesterday and it should continue all week. We have been getting rain but the entire river is currently dropping in flows, which will make the trout happy. Conditions can change quickly if we get too much rain up in the headwaters of the Big Hole. The old saying, “you don’t know until you go” is a true player when we are getting rain and snowmelt in June. Clarity in the Big Hole today was 3 feet and will remain good unless we get rain and increased flows.

The Jerry Creek boat ramp is now open! We are pleased that we now have this access available. Divide Boat ramp is still under construction and closed but you can launch your boat at the Divide Campground boat ramp. Please park your vehicle outside the Campground if you use the Ramp at the Divide Campground.

Recommended Flies:

• #4 Cat Puke
• #4 Flutter Bug
• #6 Water Walker Black
• #6 Half Down Salmonfly
• #4 Double Stack Chernobyl Orange
• #4 Pat’s Stone Orange/brown
• #6 Sparkle Minnow J.J.
• #6 Tungston Pancora
• #4 Dungeon Yellow/Black