Category: Big Hole River Fishing Report

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September 1st Big Hole River Fishing Report – Happy September, folks! Bringing in trico pods, picky hopper eaters, and ants.

We have been fielding a bunch of calls regarding the various closures on the upper and lower Big Hole, however in the stretches that are prime during this time of year, all is well. The upper Big Hole River section has a low flow closure on it which is set in place to protect the fish at the lowest of flows. It is not an uncommon closure. Likewise for the lower river closure below Notch Bottom. While those stretches are prime for spring and early summer conditions, they also see lower activity later in the summer and many of the fish move around the river system to find more suitable habitat. Its what they do!

From Jerry Creek down to Glen, we are seeing river conditions best suited for the raft. We are recommending that hard boats float Browns to Glen or Glen to the Notch.  We are seeing a million hoppers all over, and anglers looking to get into hopper eaters will want to fish ahead of the boat with small tan or pink hopper of a longer than usual leader. An ant or a small trico off the back is not a bad idea at all. When using this technique, it can more important to cover plenty of ground as after the first nice trout is caught in a spot, it is uncommon others will come to the surface after all the commotion.

The “best” reports we are getting are those of small pods of trout wolfing trios in the river above maiden rock up to around Dickie Bridge. There are odd reports of spruce moths so it isn’t a bad idea to use one a first fly in a double dry setup. An ant, or mid size parachute such as the Purple Craze would be a good choice. The midday doldrums see fish wanting, if anything at all, a small mayfly nymph or a variegated girdle bug. We are sticking with the dry dropper most of the time on our guided trips, with both choices seeing action.

It can be tough to run a deeper nymph rig right now, however we are having great success with a properly present sculpin or minnow imitation, with a smaller dropper streamer or large nymph. Running these through the speedy tail outs and riffles can pay dividends with the big healthy browns that are typically tough this time of year.

We have guides available, shuttles daily, and the latest word. Give us a shout anytime, 406-835-3474.

-Dan Soltau

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#4 Sparkle Minnow
#4 Lil Kim Tan
#8 Lil Kim Silver
#12 Bloom’s Spruce Moth
#10 Chubby Chernobyl Olive
#18 Hamburgler Beetle

#12 Purple Craze
#12 CDC Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail
#20 C-UM Trico
#20 Double Wing Trico
#20 Trico Spinner
#12 Purple PMX
#16 Sparkle Flag Ant

#12 CDC Prince

#10 Morrish Hopper

#10 Girdle Bug Olive/Brown

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8/19/2019 – Big Hole River Fishing Report – Flows dropped after major rain event, river in great shape.

Last week we saw a beautiful run of cool weather, and also an impressive amount of rain for August. After almost a 300 CFS increase in flow, the water temps went down big time and have led to great fishing. The slight murk in the water had the fish keeping an eye out for worms, along with streamers. Anglers minding the details have also had shots at big trout eating dries, however it hasn’t been easy.

Nocturnal and golden stoneflies have continued to hatch, hoppers are lining the banks, and ants are fooling trout. The trico hatch/spinner fall had been hatching later in the morning, but with the weather pattern warming up we are anticipating them to go back to the early-early morning program. Unfortunately, the spruce moths have been relatively quiet, with reports of heavy activity up in the high country lakes. It is possible that they come down with this next warm spell, so keep checking back.

Small, sparse nymphs have been effective, along with the timeless classic girdle bug. Especially the variegated versions. Streamer fishing, while not always a common tactic this time of the year, is a great way to tag a big brown in the faster water. The trout have still favored the fast water, varying between heavy seams, faster runs, or the shallow riffles themselves. Do not forget about the speedy tail outs either!

Our guide staff has been on the river every day, and they and our guests have had the river to themselves. Now is great time to check the Big Hole out on foot, and also a good idea to get the raft out. Hard boats will definitely be doing some grinding/sliding, and we strongly recommend staying below Melrose. There are a few tight corners with tree limbs coming into play between Melrose and Brownes, and also Glen to Notch Bottom. Flows have receded to the point that floaters can once again drive down to the convergence below the ramp at Glen, avoiding the death march drag back to the ramp.

We have openings on the guide sheet, and excellent conditions to fish the Big Hole. Now is a great time to get a guide for the canyon stretches as well. We have seen some truly large trout moving around lately. Including a few in the net!  Holler anytime for a shuttle, a guide, or the latest report. 406-835-3474.

-Dan Soltau

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#4 Smoke & Mirrors JJ Special
#4 Little Kim Tan/Gold
#8-10 Girdle Bug Olive/Brown
#8 Girdle Bug Tan/Brown
#8 Chubby Chernobyl Tan
#8 Club Sandwich Hopper

#14 CDC Prince Nymph
#14 Big Spanker Olive
#14 Cow Killer Ant
#16 Hamburgler
#20 Clear Wing Trico
#20 Double Wing Trico
#20 Compara Dun Female Trico

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8/9/2019 – Big Hole River Fishing Report – Favorable weather, solid flows, thick tricos, and quiet spruce moths (so far).

August has started off solid on the Big Hole. Traffic has been fairly quiet, and those looking to dial in their dry fly game have been rewarded. Large trout have patrolling edges looking for tricos, ants, your odd spruce moth, and hopper. It isn’t for the faint of heart, however they can be had with a proper presentation from a proper distance.

There has been a hoot owl restriction put on the lower Big Hole below Notch Bottom, and for the last two weeks it has been a tough section to fish. Many of the trout have moved up into other haunts with cooler, healthier water. Wait for another period of cool nights before heading lower.

Hard boats are doing ok from Melrose to Glen, but it is for sure raft season in these parts. Folks looking to hit the spruce moths will want to focus on the river from Jerry Creek to Melrose, and that could happen any day however it hasn’t been anything to note thus far. Stripping or dragging a sculpin or minnow has been paying dividends through the faster stretches of river right now, and keying in on those areas with fast moving water is critical.

The quality of the brown trout lately has been remarkable and they have not been easy to catch. It can really pay to hire a guide this time of the year, so feel free to give us a shout and let us show you the Big Hole. Shuttles, gear, reports, guides… give us a call! 406-835-3474

Dan Soltau

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#6 Mini Loop Sculpin Tan
#6 Mini Loop Sculpin Olive
#8 Little Kim Silver
#10 Girdle Bug Olive & Brown
#4 Jewel Thief Silver
#20 C-U-M Trico
#20 Pearl Butt Trico

#18 Sparkle Flag Ant
#12 Red Copper John
#12 Silver Lightning Bug
#12 Bloom’s Spruce Moth
#18 Hippie Stomper Brown

#20 Para Trico Spinner

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8/2/19 – Big Hole River Report – Tricos are hatching, no significant spruceys yet, healthy trout!

August is here and we have snuck underneath the 500 CFS mark, with 460 CFS in Melrose this morning. Tricos are hatching best top high, with a decent amount of PMDS and a few other mayflies still hatching. Water temps dipped to 61 last night, the coolest in over a week. We have seen some really nice brown trout as of late, very thick and healthy.

Anglers looking for surface activity will want to get an early start, and/or stick around until the last hour or so of light. A small caddis/sally with a trico in tow will be a good start, and if you have eagle eyes a single trico is ideal. With the sallies, larger mayflies, and your odd caddis kicking around, a micro chubby, trude, or wulff can fool nice trout and makes for a good lead fly with small trico cluster or ant behind it.

We are experiencing consistent actions using a small sculpin with a caddis style nymph as your second fly. Primarily focusing on the riffles and faster portions of the river. Look for the speedier tailouts and riffle zones to produce trout.

We will keep everyone posted on the moths, and we are expecting to see many more once this next little heat wave moves through. Historically speaking, that is what gets them down to the river and we have been getting daily storms which seems to keep them up high in the trees.

Hard boats are still viable below Melrose, and anything up is best suited for an inflatable. Holler anytime for a guide, shuttle, or the latest word fro the water. 406-835-3474.

Dan Soltau

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#10 Water Walker – Peanut

#10 Water Walker – Olive

#18 Missing Link

#16 Sparkle Flag Ant

#20 Peacock Cluster

#20 Hi Vis Trico Spinner

#16 Micro Chubby Olive

#CFO Chernobyl Peach

#10 Morrish Hopper

#4 Lil Kim Copper

#8 Mojo Minnow

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7/28/29 Big Hole Report – Dropping flows, nocturnal stones, & terrestrials

We are approaching the 500 CFS mark here in Melrose, and we are suggesting that all hard boat traffic stay below town. Rafts are useful this time of year, and allow anglers to access the upper portions of the river.

Nocturnal stoneflies are hatching on a nightly basis, and we are seeing success on the surface on a daily basis until about 9 am with larger dry flies. The caddis and pmds are dwindling, however sallies are still present. The hopper bite seems to be pairing with the nocturnal activity, and the afternoons and evenings the last few days have seen great fish looking for them.

Subsurface has still been the most consistent. Nymphing with a variegated girdle bug and/or a sally nymph has been producing. Trout are lying in the fast tailouts and riffles, with a few occupying the runs. The runs and pools are currently holding whitefish, and the action can be aggressive. Stripping a streamer has also been effective in the right spot!

We have had very sparse reports of spruce moths, and the tricos are nowhere to be seen to this point. Any day now!

Glen boat ramp update – The water is primarily going down the left channel, and the little water that is going right boat ramp channel has made for an extremely difficult, if not dangerous approach into the boat ramp channel. So, in order to use the take out, the boat must be pulled upstream to the boat ramp. As the river continues to drop, it is possible that driving down the boat ramp to the channel confluence will once again be an option like it was later in the season last year.

Holler anytime for a guide, shuttle, or latest report/update! 406-835-3474

Dan Soltau

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#4 Lil Kim Tan
#4 Lil Kim Copper
#6-8 Girdle Bug Coffee/Black
#8-10 Girdle Bug Olive/Brown
#8 Chubby Chernobyl (UV) (Gold) (Purple)
#12 Chubby Pink

#12 Red Copper John
#12 Silver Lightning Bug
#10 CFO Peach Chernobyl
#18 Missing Link
#16 Sparkle Flag Ant Black
#16 Sparkle Ant Cinnamon

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#4 Smokin’ Mirrors
#4 Sparkle Minnow
#4 Little Kim Copper
#6 Pat’s Stone
#6 Flash minnow
#8 Chubby Chernobyl (UV) (Gold) (Purple)
#12 Mahogany Dun

#12 Purple Rooster
#12 Red Copper John
#12 Silver Lightning Bug
#12 Bloom’s Caddis
#14 Purple Haze
#16 Split Winged BWO
#16 Blue Winged Olive Comparadun

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July 23rd ’19 – Bugs and healthy, strong trout on the Big Hole.

Flows and conditions are transitioning nicely into the mid-late Summer program, and fishing has continued to be very good. Nocturnal stones are hatching, along with sallies plus a few pmds and caddis. Flows have dropped down to a flow that is best suited for rafts above Divide, and drift boats remain choice for the river below Maiden Rock.

Reports from today have been all dry fly, with a small stonefly like a chubby Chernobyl being the hot ticket. Hoppers, terrestrials, ants, caddis… Look for the early morning bite on bright summer days, and the evening on many nights.

Most of our action has been subsurface in the last week, with the fast riffles being the primary focus for river structure. Girdle bugs, a drowned PMD spinner, or a sally nymph seems to get the job done. Run your nymphs fairly shallow, with a lite amount of weight and target the water 1-3′ deep that is moving quickly. While many spots look very “trout-ey,” don’t let that fool you. The smooth runs, seams, and tailouts that hold trout for the rest of the year are home to whitefish right now.

Holler at us for the latest reports, to book a quality guide, and/or book a shuttle. 406-835-3474

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#10 Water Walker Purple
#10-12 Chubby Olive or Gold
#4 Lil Kim Copper
#16 Hippie Stomper Royal
#10 Jumpin Jack Flash
#14 Rocky Mountain Mint

#16 Psycho Prince
#12 Red Copper John
#12 Silver Lightning Bug
#14 Bloom’s Caddis
#16 Flag Ant
#14 Power Ant

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July 17 ’19 – Reporting from Melrose, daily showers making for great fishing on the Big Hole

We had minor heat wave last week, and anglers getting out at the crack of dawn had excellent dry fly action along with a solid streamer bite. Cooler weather has set back in, and is here for a few more days before our next summer heat wave returns. This is great for the fishing, and that was reflected with our guide trips yesterday. Our last blast of rain has once again put the river over 1k at Glen, which is excellent news.

Fish are looking for nymphs of all sizes, with the trout primarily hanging out in the riffles with whitefish taking over the runs, pools, and tailouts. Our guides had great trout eating girdle bugs, lightning bugs, and other small mayfly nymphs. The canyon stretches have favored a caddis pupae. Sallies and golden stones are kicking around and persistence can pay off throwing the larger dry, but you better be stubborn and put good drifts towards any bankside structure. Likewise with the streamer, but it pays off big.

Rafts are the craft of choice above Maiden Rock, and drift boats are a great way to float especially from Melrose downstream. No reports on tricos, however there a few anglers who have had great success on hoppers. Mostly tan in sizes ranging from 10-14, and keep ants on the back burner. Again, presentation is critical here. Tippet to 4x and a longer leader around 9-10′, especially if wade fishing will help your cause.

Holler for the latest, we have boats out everyday and guides available along with shuttles and accommodations in Melrose. 406-835-3474.

Dan Soltau

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#8 Jumpin Jack Flash
#6 Sparkle Minnow
#Beldar Bugger Olive
#8 Girdle Bug Black/Coffee
#14 Kyle’s BH Yellow Sally
#14 Shuck It Jig Caddis
#16 Micro Mayfly

#16 Purple Rooster
#12 Red Copper John
#14 Silver Lightning Bug
#12-14 Bloom’s Caddis
#10 Water Walker Purple
#8 Water Walker Black
#14 Chubby Chernobyl Olive and/or Purple

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#4 Smokin’ Mirrors
#4 Sparkle Minnow
#4 Little Kim Copper
#6 Pat’s Stone
#6 Flash minnow
#8 Chubby Chernobyl (UV) (Gold) (Purple)
#12 Mahogany Dun

#12 Purple Rooster
#12 Red Copper John
#12 Silver Lightning Bug
#12 Bloom’s Caddis
#14 Purple Haze
#16 Split Winged BWO
#16 Blue Winged Olive Comparadun

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