Category: Beaverhead River Fishing Report

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The flows are up out of Clark Canyon Reservoir. Today the outflow is 600cfs. They will be matching the inflow with the outflow starting tomorrow. Clark Canyon Reservoir is 100% full, which is great news for spring fishing and summer fishing on the Beaverhead River. Fishing has been good below Pipe Organ bridge. With the increased flow the worm fishing has been the ticket. With the burst of cold water to the system hatches have been bleak. Streamers and nymphing san juan worms has been the best source of protein for the fish. Remember if you are going to fish the Beaverhead that you must remain from Pipe Organ Bridge downstream until the 3rd Saturday of May. The upper river is closed to protect the rainbows while they spawn.

Spring Special guided fishing details are here. Packages starting at $595 per person 

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Sunrise Fly Shop guide Andy Barkley with a nice brown from the Beaverhead recently

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The Beaverhead River is one of the tailwaters in the state that remains ice free this time of year. The river is a bit off color today around Dillon. Clark canyon is 88% full right now and we haven’t even had any snowmelt entering the reservoir. This is all good news for the fishing season on the Beaverhead. Winter releases from clark canyon have also been better this year, which keeps the fish healthy. Remember if you are going to fish the Beaverhead that you must remain from Pipe Organ Bridge downstream until the 3rd Saturday of May. The upper river is closed to protect the rainbows while they spawn. It is mainly nymphing right now on the Beaverhead with midge patters, worms, and slow moving deep streamers.

Check out our Spring Special Packages here: packages starting @ $595 per person

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Clark Canyon Outflow is currently 435 cfs. the Beaverhead is running at a nice flow but you will have floating and submerged moss on the upper end of the river. From the dam down to high bridge is difficult to fish subsurface due to the moss. The lower stretches of the beaverhead are fishing very well on hoppers. We have done well below Henneberry and Grasshopper creek on the terrestrials. Ants, hoppers and some caddis are hatching on the beaverhead. Clarity has remained good on the beaverhead.

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The Beaverhead continues to fish very well for us. The Outflow from Clark Canyon Reservoir is 619cfs. You will find hatches of PMD’s some yellow sallies and the trico’s will be hatching any day now. Nymphing has been getting tough below the dam due to moss. Once you get below High Bridge the nymphing is much easier due to the lack of moss in that section of the river. You will find some flying ants along stretches of the Beaverhead River. We currently do not have any restrictions on the beaverhead River from the dam down to Barretts. 

Sale: 

All Hatch Reels are 25% off We have 4Plus Finatics $329.95 and 5Plus Finatics $374.95 in stock. Call 406-835-3474 or email to order. 
25% off Winston Nexus 4 piece fly rods. We have 5 weights and 6 weights in Stock. $359.75 

Recommended Flies:#18 Zebra Midge; #18 Split Back PMD; #18 Crack Back PMD; #18 Trigger Nymph; #16 Mustang Sallie; #16 Kyle’s Yellow Sallie; #18 Comparadun PMD; #16 Purple Haze; #14 CDC Caddis

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Fishing has gotten pretty good on the Beaverhead River lately. The dry fly fishing has been excellent in the afternoons with PMD’s and Yellow Sallies. In the evening hours you will have a tremendous caddis hatch. Nymphing has been producing very nice fish. The flows on the Beaverhead are not wader friendly right now. The outflow from Clark Canyon reservoir is 690cfs. 

Recommended Flies: #18 Split Back PMD; #18 Crack Back PMD; #18 Trigger Nymph; #16 Mustang Sallie; #16 Kyle’s Yellow Sallie; #18 Comparadun PMD; #16 Purple Haze; #14 CDC Caddis

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We are lucky to have the Beaverhead River in our backyard. Unlike the Big Hole, the Beaverhead is running clear below the dam. The tough part is that the river is rising daily. Once they stop raising the flows out of the reservoir and stabilize the river it will fish more consistently. We have been guiding on it daily and some days have been better then others. Today the outflow is 494 cfs, which is a great floating lever. We have done well on nymphs and streamers.

Recommended Flies: #18 Ray Charles; #16 Scud Tan; #18 Zebra Midge; #12 San Juan Worm; #18 Sow Bug Tan/Pink; #18 Micro Mayfly #18 Split Back PMD

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The upper Beaverhead River opened today for the general fishing season in Montana. The outflow from Clark Canyon Reservoir is only 114cfs this morning. the wade anglers are thrilled but the drifters will have a hard time below high Bridge. Not much for hatches right now on the Beaverhead. You will do best with sow bugs, scuds, and midge larva. Traffic will be busy there this weekend but should thin out by the week. If you want that tug from a trophy trout head down to the Beaverhead. If you are looking to take your drift boat on the Beaverhead at these low flows you will find it better to drift on the lower stretches. 

Recommended Flies: #18 Ray Charles; #16 Scud Tan; #18 Zebra Midge; #12 San Juan Worm; #18 Sow Bug Tan/Pink; #18 Micro Mayfly

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