Here come the clouds that we have been waiting for.

by sunriseflyshop

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Here come the clouds that we have been waiting for.  Fishing has been ok lately, but inconsistent at times. The change is weather this week should get the fishing back on track. We still have Skwala stoneflies and March browns hatching but on the bright sunny days the fish have not been willing to stay on the surface feeding all day. Our best dropper in the morning and afternoons has been a size #10 olive/brown pat’s stone. For dry flies a #10 bullet head skwalla and #10 Mr. Beam has been our best pattern.  Don’t let the rising water on the hydrograph fool you.  The clarity is around 2 1/2 feet and the increase of flows will get the fish on the banks, which is a good thing right now for dry fly fishing.

Flies: #8 Mr. beam Skwala, #10 Bullet Head Skwala, #10 Pat’s Stone Brown/Green #8 San Juan Worm, Bellyache Minnoe Olive #8 Sparkle Minnow, #4 Yellow/Black Beldar

Dave Leta with a nice Big Hole Rainbow

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Big Hole River March Fishing Report

by sunriseflyshop

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Our guide boat yesterday did well.  The mornings are pretty slow due to the freezing nighttime temperatures.  Our afternoon fishing yesterday was pretty good.  The fish are eating San Juan worms and pat’s stones tight to the banks on the tail outs of the runs.  We did some nice fish on streamers on the inside bends of the runs at a dead drift pace.  Streamers of choice are Yellow Yummy’s, and sparkle minnows.  Sunny and warmer today. The fish should be more active today since it will be warmer.  Clarity is still around 2 feet.  We have another Big Hole River guide fishing today with clients so we will have more detailed fishing reports throughout the week ahead.

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We have had a nice stretch of winter weather here in Southwest Montana.

by sunriseflyshop

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We have had a nice stretch of winter weather here in Southwest Montana.  You don’t get to say that too often because the wind is either blowing snow or the temperatures are sub zero.  High temperatures have been in the upper 40’s.  Don’t let the warm weather fool you though, winter is far from over. If you want to get out and wade fish find the heat of the day in the afternoon and nymph some tail outs with your basic prince nymphs, San Juan’s and Pat’s Stones.  I would get out there now before the next cold snap and snow.  The Big Hole river snowpack is currently 108% of average.  We are sitting well right now but we will not complain if mother nature brings us some healthy snow storms the next three months to boost our snowpack even more. We are gearing up for our hosted trip in February to Patagonia River Guides. Our Big Hole River guides are itching to get back on the water this Spring.

 

 

 

The Big Hole River at Brownes Bridge Fishing Access Site

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Happy New Year on the Big Hole River

by sunriseflyshop

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We would like to wish everyone a happy new year and may this 2015 trout season be the best for everyone. We have had a good start to the Big Hole River snowpack.  The upper basins in the Big Hole valley are sitting at about 120% of normal snowpack. We still have a lot of winter left but this is a good start to our water supply for the summer.  The Big Hole is pretty iced over right now.  You will find your best luck nymphing the deeper holes near springs.

We are currently gearing up for our hosted trip to Patagonia River Guides.  We will be heading South for the month of February with our clients to fish with PRG. We look forward to keeping everyone posted on the fishing in Southwest Montana in 2015.

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October continues to produce some great fishing on the Big Hole.

by sunriseflyshop

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October continues to produce some great fishing on the Big Hole.  We are having peak fall colors on the river and the brown trout have matching colors of the cottonwoods and willows. Nymphing and streamers are the game on the Big Hole right now.  In the bright sun the last several days nymphing has been the ticket.  We have overcast weather today and for the  next several days so the streamers will turn on again.  For streamers I suggest J,J.’s, Trevor Sculpin’s, Mini loop Sculpin’s and Sparkle Minnows.  Please respect the spawning brown trout and do not step on the spawning beds.

Flies:  #12 Chubby Chernobyl Yellow/Purple/Black; #10 Purple Haze; #16 Baetis Cripple; #16 Rocky Mountain Mint, #10 Pat’s Stone, #18 Silver Lightning Big, #18 Micro Mayfly, #16 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   #4 Mini Look Sculpin, #4 Trevor’s Sculpin

FALL SALE:  25% – 50% OFF SELECT CLOTHING TILL THE END OF THE SEASON CALL FOR DETAILS

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Big Hole River Fall Fishing Report

by sunriseflyshop

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Fall fishing is here and you better get your streamer box out for the next several days.  Overcast, rain, and some rising water flows will get the brown trout chasing streamers very well.  The Big Hole is running gin clear right now.  Don’t let the rising water from the rain intimidate you.  We have been doing well with the mini loop sculpins, Trevor’s Sculpins, Sparkle minnows, and J.J.’s.  Baetis, and Mahogany Duns are hatching in locations in the canyon and lower river.  Nymphing has been solid with Pat’s Stones, #18 Red Copper John’s, Silver Lightning bugs, and Micro Mayflies.

Flies:  #12 Chubby Chernobyl Yellow/Purple/Black; #10 Purple Haze; #16 Baetis 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   #4 Mini Look Sculpin, #4 Trevor’s Sculpin

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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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