Big Hole River Fall Fishing Report

by sunriseflyshop

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We had our first dusting of snow in the high country a couple days ago.  Fall is in the air and we have a great stretch of weather ahead of us.  Cool mornings, and warm afternoons are on tap for the next several days.  We have been nymphing in the mornings, and throwing dry flies in the afternoons.  In the morning a size #16 Silver Lightning bug, #16 Psycho May flies, #16 pheasant tails, and #18 red copper John’s have been producing nice fish.  In the afternoon you will find baetis hatching, and Mahogany duns.  #14 grey rocky mountain mint’s and #16 split wing Blue wing’s have been our dries of choice.  The Big Hole River Flow still remain above average for this time of year.

Flies:  #12 Chubby Chernobyl Yellow/Purple/Black; #10 Purple Haze; #16 PMD Cripple; #16 Rocky Mountain Mint, #18 Trico Spinner, #18 Trico Comparadun, #10 Pat’s Stone #12 Red Copper John #16 Bat Man Nymph orange/brown: #8 RL Stone; #6 J.J. Special #6 Coffey Bugger; #4 Bad Boy #  10 Copper/Pearl Zonker

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The willows on the Big Hole River have a tint of yellow …..

by sunriseflyshop

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The willows on the Big Hole River have a tint of yellow on the tips and the cotton woods are not far off from changing to the autumn gold color.  The flows have dropped but we are still above historic averages on the Big Hole.  The hatches are starting a little later in the morning due to the cool fall mornings.  We are seeing Trico’s around 10:30 in the morning and the spinner fall before noon.  The afternoon air temperature has been warm and the fish have been actively eating in the riffles.  Ants, hoppers, and baetis nymphs have been working in the afternoons.  Rain and cooler weather in the middle of this week should make for some great streamer fishing and baetis hatches.

Rob Ware with another great Big Hole Brown

Flies:  #12 Chubby Chernobyl Yellow/Purple/Black; #10 Purple Haze; #16 PMD Cripple; #16 Rocky Mountain Mint, #18 Trico Spinner, #18 Trico Comparadun, #10 Pat’s Stone #12 Red Copper John #16 Bat Man Nymph orange/brown: #8 RL Stone; #6 J.J. Special #6 Coffey Bugger; #4 Bad Boy #  10 Copper/Pearl Zonker

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There is a slight hint of fall in the air.

by sunriseflyshop

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There is a slight hint of fall in the air.  In fact I broke out the waders yesterday and you will need them today.  The overcast weather has produced some fantastic dry fly fishing.  We have Tricos, big PMD’s and some baetis out there right now.  We did well with a #12 mahogany cripple yesterday  and #10 Rocky Mountain Mint.  The streamer fishing has started to pick up just like it should with the cooler overcast weather.  Small flying ant’s have also been getting fish on the surface.  Great flows and good fishing right now on the Big Hole.  Our Big Hole River guides have been fishing the Divide sections and also down to Notch bottom.

Client Rob Ware with a nice Big Hole Brown

Flies:  #12 Chubby Chernobyl Yellow/Purple/Black; #10 Purple Haze; #16 PMD Cripple; #16 Rocky Mountain Mint, #18 Trico Spinner, #18 Trico Comparadun, #10 Pat’s Stone #12 Red Copper John #16 Bat Man Nymph orange/brown: #8 RL Stone; #6 J.J. Special #6 Coffey Bugger; #4 Bad Boy #  10 Copper/Pearl Zonker

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Big Hole River Fly Fishing Report

by sunriseflyshop

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Heavy rain over the last 4 days has the river on a nice bump in flows.  The river has remained clear and fishing well above Melrose.  Below Melrose a couple creeks have put the river off color.  The clarity below Melrose has improved this morning and should fish fine today below Melrose.  We have Trico’s hatching in the morning and then we are moving to hoppers, Ant’s and Beetles in the afternoon.  Nymphs that have been working are #10 girdle bugs, #16 Red Copper John’s, #18 Zebra Midges, #16 Batman nymphs.  Still no Spruce Moth’s, it is looking like we will not have a Spruce Moth hatch this year on the Big Hole River.  Time to get your hard boat back out.  The flows are fantastic on the Big Hole.

Flies:  #10 Chubby Chernobyl Yellow/Purple/Black; #8 Rogue Stone golden, #10 Purple Haze; #16 PMD Cripple; #16 Rocky Mountain Mint, #18 Trico Spinner, #18 Trico Comparadun, #10 Pat’s Stone #12 Red Copper John #16 Bat Man Nymph orange/brown: #8 RL Stone; #6 J.J. Special #6 Coffey Bugger; #4 Bad Boy #  10 Copper/Pearl Zonker

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Big Hole River August Fishing Report

by sunriseflyshop

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Fishing remains good on the Big Hole River.  The hatches are a bit in a transition period on the Big Hole River.  PMD’s are waning and we are moving into Trico’s and Hoppers.  We are starting to see Trico’s on the lower Big Hole River and below Melrose.  Hopper fishing has also started to pick up on the lower Big Hole River.  Hatches in the Maiden Rock Canyon have been bleak.  We have done very well on nymphs in the Canyon but dry fly fishing has been poor.  Look for the dry fly fishing to pick up this week.  We should see more trico’s around and the hoppers are starting to bounce around the grassy banks.  We have not seen any Spruce Moth’s yet.  If we are going to get a Spruce Moth hatch we should see them in the next ten days.  Our Big Hole River Guides will will keep you posted.

A lower Big Hole River Rainbow

Flies:  #10 Chubby Chernobyl Yellow/Purple/Black; #8 Rogue Stone golden, #10 Purple Haze; #16 PMD Cripple; #16 Rocky Mountain Mint, #18 Trico Spinner, #18 Trico Comparadun, #10 Pat’s Stone #12 Red Copper John #16 Bat Man Nymph orange/brown: #8 RL Stone; #6 J.J. Special #6 Coffey Bugger; #4 Bad Boy #  10 Copper/Pearl Zonker

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Big Hole River Montana Fishing Report

by sunriseflyshop

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We are back to clear blue skies and the fishing continues to be very good.  We have PMD’s, Yellow Sallies, Nocturnal Stone flies and caddis hatching.  Your best dry fly fishing with the clear skies will be in the morning with PMD’s.  Mid day we have been doing very well in the riffle runs on #8 Pat’s Stones and #14 Copper John’s and Batman Nymphs.  We have a nice cool down from the summer heat tomorrow.  The Big Hole River flows remain excellent and our guides have been coming back each day with great success.

Scott Lewis with a nice 20 inch brown caught on the Big Hole Yesterday

Flies:  #10 Chubby Chernobyl Yellow/Purple/Black; #8 Rogue Stone golden, #10 Purple Haze; #16 PMD Cripple; #10 Rocky Mountain Mint, #10 Pat’s Stone #12 Red Copper John #16 Bat Man Nymph orange/brown: #8 RL Stone; #6 J.J. Special #6 Coffey Bugger; #4 Bad Boy #  10 Copper/Pearl Zonker

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Big Hole River Montana Fishing Report

by sunriseflyshop

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The Big Hole River is in perfect July shape.  We have great water flows and the hatches have been stellar.  The morning PMD fishing has been fantastic.  Fish have been looking up from daybreak till about 2 o’clock.  #10 Purple haze’s and Rocky Mountain Mint’s have been the dry flies our guides have been knocking them out with.  In the afternoon after the hatches taper off we have done well with a Golden stone dry and either a #10 Pat’s Stone dropper or a #10 Kyle’s PMD nymph.  You will have PMD’s, Drakes, and Golden Stones on the water.  We are starting to see some nocturnal stonefly shucks so we are not far off from some fantastic dawn fishing on big Chernobyl dry flies.

Big Hole River Nocturnal Stone Fly Shucks above Melrose

Flies: #8 Golden Cat Puke, #8 Rogue Stone golden, #10 Purple Haze  #8 Chubby Chernobyl #16 PMD Cripple black/gold#10 Rocky Mountain Mint, #10 Pat’s Stone #12 Red Copper John #16 Bat Man Nymph orange/brown: #8 RL Stone; #6 J.J. Special #4 Coffey Bugger; #4 Bad Boy #4 Yellow Zonker

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Dry Fly Smorgasbord

by sunriseflyshop

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The Big Hole River has dropped below 2500cfs and the river temperatures are bumping up into the low 60’s.  These river conditions are ideal for July dry fly fishing.  PMDs, Drakes, Yellow Sallies, Caddis and Golden Stones are currently hatching, and the dry fly fishing has been really good.  You may not see all of the those bugs on every stretch every day, but with such a variety of bugs out, you can expect to find something hatching.  Also, now that the Salmonfly hatch has ended, the massive crowds we were seeing in mid to late June are all gone.  So if you are looking for great dry fly fishing to help you celebrate the 4th of July, come on over to the Big Hole River.

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Hatches, hatches and more hatches.

by sunriseflyshop

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Hatches, hatches and more hatches.  The Salmonflies are tapering off but we have great dry fly fishing right now on the Big Hole.  Our hatches consist of Golden Stones, PMD’s, Caddis, and Drakes.  The dry fly fishing during the overcast days has been excellent.  Our Big Hole River guides have been on the upper Big Hole, Canyon sections, and the lower river.  We have had good reports on all sections of the River.  The flows are stable and the fish are looking up.  The Golden Stones dry fly fishing has been great in the Canyon.

A Big Hole Golden Stone

Flies: #4 Cat Puke, #4 Rogue Stone, #4 Fluttering Stone, #10 Purple Haze  #8 Chubby Chernobyl #16 PMD Cripple black/gold#10 Rocky Mountain Mint, #8 San Juan Worm; #4 Pat’s Stone #12 Red Copper John #16 Bat Man Nymph orange/brown: #8 RL Stone; #6 J.J. Special #4 Coffey Bugger; #4 Bad Boy #4 Yellow Zonker

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The willows were drooping over from the weight of the Salmonflies yesterday.

by sunriseflyshop

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The willows were drooping over from the weight of the Salmonflies yesterday.  It is going to be a great day out there.  We have Salmonflies, Golden Stones, Caddis, PMD’s and Drakes hatching.  The best Salmonfly hatch on the Big Hole is currently from Jerry Creek all the way down to Melrose.  We have had good reports today in the Maiden Rock Canyon and the Dewey Canyon with great success on the Salmonfly dry flies.  With the dropping water, and warming trend the river will continue to fish very well. 

Guide Rick Rossi and Rob Ware with a fabulous Big Hole Brown

Flies: #4 Cat Puke, #4 Rogue Stone, #4 Fluttering Stone, #10 Purple Haze  #8 Chubby Chernobyl #16 PMD Cripple black/gold#10 Rocky Mountain Mint, #8 San Juan Worm; #4 Pat’s Stone orange/brown: #8 RL Stone; #6 J.J. Special #4 Coffey Bugger; #4 Bad Boy #4 Yellow Zonker

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