Category: Big Hole River Fishing Report

Winter is finally in full swing in Southwest Montana. our freestone rivers are locked up and frozen and some of the tailwaters have fishing opportunity. Snowpack is hovering around 110% for the Big Hole and Beaverhead drainages. We still have a lot of winter left and it is way to early to predict river flows for Spring 2022.

Job Posting:

Sunrise Fly Shop in Melrose, MT is looking to hire experienced fly fishing guides for the upcoming season. Sunrise Fly Shop is a unique kind of fly shop. We are energetic, enthusiastic, and provide exceptional customer service. We are passionate about the sport and are in the fishing industry because we love it. The staff at Sunrise Fly Shop loves to fish. Even though we guide hundreds of days a year, we can’t wait to fish ourselves. We are looking for individuals with a similar mindset.

We need professional, hard-working, team-oriented people with a passion for fly fishing, the outdoors, and hospitality. Guides can expect to work 100 to 130 days during the guide season. Proficiency rowing a boat is required.

• Provide fun, professional, safe, and entertaining fishing trips on the Big Hole, Beaverhead, Jefferson, and Upper Clark Fork Rivers.
• Own their own gear, including drift boater raft, rods, reels, and terminal tackle.
• First-Aid certification
• Montana Guide License
• Keep accurate logs of all trips and have a willingness to learn and follow the Big Hole and Beaverhead Special Use Rules and Regulations
• Willingness to work a demanding schedule with long hours for our entire season (usually April through October)

Please email your resume and cover letter to: [email protected]

Fishing has been improving on the Big Hole river. The longer nights and colder evenings has brought the water temperatures down and gotten the fish more active. We are having good hopper and ant fishing in the afternoons. The mornings are filled with Trico’s and various jig nymphs keeping us hooked up. You can also strip a sculpin in the pools and catch some nice ones.

The Big Hole remains open with no restrictions from Dickie Bridge to Maiden Rock FWP (also known as lower Maiden Rock or Dead Zone) 

River Restriction and Closures:

• From the Saginaw Bridge of the Big Hole to Dickie Bridge is closed due to low flows. We will update you when this section re opens.
• From Maiden Rock FWP (also known as lower Maiden Rock or Dead Zone ) down to the confluence with the Beaverhead River is closed due to low flows.

October Fishing Special 3 nights lodging and 2 days guided fishing $750 per person based on double Occupancy. Give us a call to book 406.835.3474

Water Temperatures on the Big Hole are in great shape. We have had a massive cool down and the night time temperatures have helped the river cool off. We are having trico’s, hoppers and ants as our favorite recipe for dry flies. Our best nymphs have been various jig thread flies. Best fishing hours remain around 9 am – 3pm. The Divide access site is back open for anglers to use.

The Big Hole remains open with no restrictions from Dickie Bridge to Maiden Rock FWP (also known as lower Maiden Rock or Dead Zone) 

River Restriction and Closures:

• From the Saginaw Bridge of the Big Hole to Dickie Bridge is closed due to low flows. We will update you when this section re opens.
• From Maiden Rock FWP (also known as lower Maiden Rock or Dead Zone ) down to the confluence with the Beaverhead River is closed due to low flows. When this re opens we will let you know.

Fishing has been tough lately. The cool down and hopefully moist weather this week should have the larger brown trout looking to eat during the day. We have trico’s hatching and terrestrials. Flying ants and hoppers are keeping people hooked up after the trico hatch. If we get a significant cool down this week streamers will come into play again. I would throw an olive or black sculpin in the deeper pools or up into the riffles.

 

The Big Hole River remains open to fishing with no restrictions from Dickie Bridge to Lower Maiden Rock FWP (Dead Zone)

Closures and Restrictions:

Until further Notice: Divide fishing access and campground is closed due to being used as a campground for fire crew.

• Full River Closure from the Headwaters to Dickey Bridge due to low flows.
• Full River Closure from Maiden Rock FWP ( or known as Dead Zone ) to the Beaverhead confluence. We are asking all anglers to stop fishing once the river hits 68 degrees on any section of the river.

Fishing has been tough some days for our guides and good some days. We have Trico’s hatching, flying ants and hoppers. Water is remaining cold in the mornings and some days heating up to critical levels. Please stop fishing if the water temperature hits 68 degrees in the afternoon. We are expecting a nice cool down early next week.

 

The Big Hole River remains open to fishing with no restrictions from Dickie Bridge to Lower Maiden Rock FWP (Dead Zone)

Closures and Restrictions:

Hoot Owl Restrictions mean that you can fish from Midnight till 2:00pm. The Hoot Owl closure starts at 2:00pm and ends at Midnight each day.

Until further Notice: Divide fishing access and campground is closed due to being used as a campground for fire crew

Full River Closure from the Headwaters to the North Fork Road near Wisdom due to low flows.

Hoot Owl Restriction from the North Fork Road to Dickie Bridge

Hoot Owl Restriction from Lower Maiden Rock FWP ( or known as Dead Zone ) to Notch Bottom (Tony Shoonen Access)

Full River Closure from Notch Bottom (Tony Shoonen) downstream to the Beaverhead confluence.

We are asking all anglers to stop fishing once the river hits 68 degrees on any section of the river.

Fishing has been been getting a bit better here on the Big Hole River. We have had some rain and more is in the forecast. Hatches of Trico’s, PMD’s and terrestrials are keeping us hooked up on the surface. We have some flying ant’s and hoppers for the terrestrials. Spruce Moth’s have not been hatching this year in the abundance that we are used to seeing. You will still find some Spruce Moth’s in the Jerry Creek to Divid Section.

The Big Hole River remains open to fishing with no restrictions from Dickie Bridge to Lower Maiden Rock FWP (Dead Zone)

Closures and Restrictions:

Until further Notice: Divide fishing access and campground is closed due to being used as a campground for fire crew

Full River Closure from the Headwaters to the North Fork Road near Wisdom due to low flows.

Hoot Owl Closure from the North Fork Road to Dickie Bridge

Hoot Owl Closure from Lower Maiden Rock FWP ( or known as Dead Zone ) to Notch Bottom (Tony Shoonen Access)

Full River Closure from Notch Bottom (Tony Shoonen) downstream to the Beaverhead confluence.

We are asking all anglers to stop fishing once the river hits 68 degrees on any section of the river.

 

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Fishing has been good some days and tough at times. We are seeing the start of the Trico hatch on the Big Hole River. You will find scattered PMD’s in the morning along with the Trico’s. Hoppers and ants are also taking fish on the surface lately. Flows are well below average and water temperature closures and low flow closures are in place on certain sections of the river.

Full River Closure from the Headwaters to the North Fork Road near Wisdom due to low flows.

Hoot Owl Closure from the North Fork Road to Dickie Bridge

Hoot Owl Closure from Lower Maiden Rock FWP ( or known as Dead Zone ) to Notch Bottom (Tony Shoonen Access)

Full River Closure from Notch Bottom (Tony Shoonen) downstream to the Beaverhead confluence

The river remains open to fishing with no restrictions from Dickie Bridge to Lower Maiden Rock FWP (Dead Zone)

We are asking all anglers to stop fishing once the river hits 68 degrees on any section of the river.

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We are in a massive heat wave here in Montana. Fishing has been good from about 7:00 am – 2:00pm. After 2:00 pm the heat takes over on all our rivers. We have seen good hatches of PMD’s, caddis, and yellow sallies in the mornings. Sculpin patterns in the shallow fast riffles has been good. We also are swinging soft hackle nymphs and producing nice fish in the riffles.

Please give us a call for the latest up to date conditions as fire danger changes and fishing restrictions might change 406-835-3474

 

Dickie Bridge down to Lower Maiden Rock or as we know it Dead Zone or FWP Maiden Rock is open to fishing 24 hours a day. We still suggest resting this section if water temperatures exceed 68 degrees.

Section II: North Fork BHR to Dickie Bridge: Hoot Owl Restriction

 MFWP Maiden Rock (Lower Maiden Rock or known as Dead Zone) to the Confluence of the Jefferson River : Hoot Owl Restriction

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The Big Hole River has been fishing well in the early morning and till about 2:00pm. The afternoon water temperatures due to low flows and scorching air temperatures have made for tough afternoons. Some closures are in effect, which are listed below. Please do not fish the river when water temperatures exceed 68 degrees.  We have had great hatches of PMD’s, Yellow Sallies and caddis on the Big Hole. Nocturnal Stone flies have also shown up and has made for some great early  morning dry fly fishing. Nymphing the shallow riffles has produced some great trout lately for our guides. Have a great holiday weekend and remember to keep your fishing to the coolest parts of the day in Southwest Montana.

Dickie Bridge down to Lower Maiden Rock or as we know it Dead Zone or FWP Maiden Rock is open to fishing 24 hours a day. We still suggest resting this section if water temperatures exceed 68 degrees.

Section II: North Fork BHR to Dickie Bridge: Hoot Owl Restriction

 MFWP Maiden Rock (Lower Maiden Rock or known as Dead Zone) to the Confluence of the Jefferson River : Hoot Owl Restriction

 

Hoot Owl restricts fishing during the hottest part of the day, 2pm-midnight, in order to protect the fishery.

Please call us for more information if you need it. 406-835-3474.

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#4 Mini Loop Sculpin
#4 Lil’ Kim (Olive)
#8 Pat’s Stone
#12 Chubby Chernobyl (UV) (Gold) (Purple)
#12 Hot Spot Purple

#12 Purple Rooster
#12 Red Copper John
#12 Silver Lightning Bug
#12 Bloom’s Caddis
#14 Purple Haze
#16 PMD Comparadun

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The Big Hole River has been fishing very well lately. We have Salmonflies from just above Jerry Creek down to Divide Bridge. You will see Golden Stone’s, PMD’s, Yellow Sallies and Caddis hatching river wide. It is dry fly season and we have been enjoying it! We have been fishing double dry fly rigs or dry dropper rigs most of the day. Stone fly activity has been the best from Jerry Creek down to Maiden Rock. below Melrose you will find more fish keying into PMD’s and Yellow Sallies. We have had some good streamer fishing in the evening or early morning hours. Don’t be afraid to chuck a few streamers in the shallow riffles during the daytime.

 

We have a few prime dates next week with Sunrise Lodging availability. Give us a call for your lodging needs 406-835-3474

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#4 Flutter Bug (Black/Orange)
#4 MFC Water Walker (Brown/Orange)
#6 Chubby Norman
#6 Pat’s Stone (Brown/Black)
#4 Deep Cleaner (Black/Brown)
#8 Chubby Chernobyl (Gold)
#12 Purple Haze

# 12 Jig Lightning Bug
#12 Jig Duracell
#12 Bloom’s Caddis
#6 Slider Bugger
#6 Sparring Partner (Brown/Yellow)

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