Streamer Bite

by sunriseflyshop

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We have started the spring-time roller coaster on the Big Hole.  Fishing has picked up for us and we are starting to see some nice fish caught again.  We had a good report below Melrose yesterday and I think it will fish well today.  Clarity is around 2 feet today.  We had two boats up river yesterday and they both did well on streamers.  If you are a streamer junky, now is the time to get out there.  We have been doing well with a moderate to slow strip from the banks.

Flies: #8 Mr. Beam; #10 Bullet Head Skwala; #8 Rogue River Skwala  #8 San Juan Worm; #10 Pat’s Stone Olive/Brown: #8 RL Stone; #18 Zebra Midge; #6 J.J. Special #4 Coffey Bugger; #4 Bad Boy #4 Yellow Zonker

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Sub Surface Action

by sunriseflyshop

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Fishing had been good but the reports from today have not been so good.  We had a bump in flows last night and yesterday.  The Big Hole is dropping again but the push of water last night reduced visibility in the river.  We are looking at around 18 inches of visibility.  I would stick to subsurface tactics right now.  Dead drifting streamers and Pat’s Stones will be your best option right now. As conditions improve we will let you know.

Guide Boats lined up at the shop ready to take clients fishing. Have you booked your Spring Special yet?

Flies: #8 Mr. Beam; #10 Bullet Head Skwala; #8 Rogue River Skwala  #8 San Juan Worm; #10 Pat’s Stone Olive/Brown: #8 RL Stone; #18 Zebra Midge; #6 J.J. Special #4 Coffey Bugger; #4 Bad Boy #4 Yellow Zonker

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Perfect Spring Conditions

by sunriseflyshop

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The Big Hole River is in prime condition and is fishing amazingly well.  Even though we haven’t seen a lot of adult Skwallas, the fish are looking up and eating Skwalla patterns on the surface.  And if you are willing to drop a nymph off of your dry fly, the action becomes even more intense.  If that wasn’t enough, fish are also chasing yellow and brown streamers.  Spring fishing couldn’t be better!

Below is a fish that our client Woody caught yesterday.

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Great Spring Fishing Is Back!

by sunriseflyshop

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The Big Hole has come back into shape and is fishing really well.  The flow is down to 1850cfs and the water temperature is getting up into the mid 40’s.  Fish have been eating streamer, nymphs and dries.  Yellow Streamers, Stonefly Nymphs and San Juan Worms have been the best flies.  We have been getting a few fish to eat on top, but the great spring Skwalla fishing is yet to come.  With the way the water is warming up, we could be seeing the Skwallas as early as this weekend.  Below is a fish caught today in the Maiden Rock Canyon.

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Dropping and Turning Tea Colored

by sunriseflyshop

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The ice has broken off the entire length of the Big Hole River and the river is starting to drop and clear.  We have 18 inches of visibility in Melrose and the river is turning the Big Hole tea color, which means it is about time to get back out there and fish.  We will have boats on the river tomorrow and we will be able to give you a precise report when we hear from our Big Hole River guides.  The Melrose gauge has dropped below 4000cfs and all up river gauges are on the drop.  It should be a good week of fishing on the Big Hole.

Flies: #8 Mr. Beam; #10 Bullet Head Skwala; #8 Rogue River Skwala  #8 San Juan Worm; #10 Pat’s Stone Olive/Brown: #8 RL Stone; #18 Zebra Midge; #6 J.J. Special #4 Coffey Bugger; #4 Bad Boy #4 Yellow Zonker

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Break-Up Continues

by sunriseflyshop

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As the ice on the Big Hole continues to melt, break-up, and flow downriver, the River remains swollen and off color.  As of 4:00pm on 4/11/14, the flow at the Melrose gauge is 4090cfs and there is about a foot of visibility.  A few ice-jams remain on the upper river, but a majority of them have flushed downstream in the last 24 hours.  A lot of ice and snow still remains in the upper river valley, but with the forecast calling for cooler temperatures for the next several days, the melting of ice and snow should slow down.

As long as there are not any more major pushes of water from a breaking ice-jam, the river should start to drop and clear.

Below is a photo taken just above the East Bank Fishing Access on Thursday night.

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The Ice is Breaking

by sunriseflyshop

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Things are not good on the Big Hole right now.  The ice is breaking on the upper Big Hole, which has caused the river to rise and it is very off color.  We have 18 inches of visibility here in Melrose and the fish are in shock.  Things will improve but today is not a good day to be fishing.  This is only the valley snow and river ice that is causing the poor conditions.  This happens every year and it is actually happening like it should.  We are not having any major ice jams and the river is breaking up slowly and as it should.  This is not high mountain snow runoff just the low valley melt. We will keep you posted on the Big Hole River fishing report as conditions improve.

Flies: #8 Mr. Beam; #10 Bullet Head Skwala; #8 Rogue River Skwala  #8 San Juan Worm; #10 Pat’s Stone Olive/Brown: #8 RL Stone; #18 Zebra Midge; #6 J.J. Special #4 Coffey Bugger; #4 Bad Boy #4 Yellow Zonker

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Clear to Dirty

by sunriseflyshop

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Well, the river made a big change last night that we did not want to see.  Warmer temperatures yesterday has brought the river on the rise and we went from clear water yesterday and great fishing to about 18 inches of visibility this morning.  It will be a tough day today.  I would prospect with a Yellow Zonker and San Juan worms.  The upper Big Hole is still frozen above Sportsman’s and with the warm weather the Big Hole River’s ice is breaking and causing the river to rise and be off color.  We will let you know what the Big Hole River Fishing report is after our guides get back tonight.

Flies: #8 Mr. Beam; #10 Bullet Head Skwala; #8 Rogue River Skwala  #8 San Juan Worm; #10 Pat’s Stone Olive/Brown: #8 RL Stone; #18 Zebra Midge; #6 J.J. Special #4 Coffey Bugger; #4 Bad Boy #4 Yellow Zonker

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The Big Hole River fishing reports from our guides has remained pretty good.

by sunriseflyshop

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The Big Hole River fishing reports from our guides has remained pretty good.  We are starting to see a few Skwala’s on the lower Big Hole River.  On the soft tail outs of the runs tight to the banks is where you will get your dry fly Skwala eats.  With the warmer weather on tap today and tomorrow look for the dry fly fishing to improve.  The dropper fishing off the dry fly has been straight silly lately.  We have had 30 to 40 fish days on the dropper.  We are moving some fish on the streamer lately.   

Flies: #8 Mr. Beam; #10 Bullet Head Skwala; #8 Rogue River Skwala  #8 San Juan Worm; #10 Pat’s Stone Olive/Brown: #8 RL Stone; #18 Zebra Midge; #6 J.J. Special #4 Coffey Bugger; #4 Bad Boy

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Fishing Well in the Afternoons

by sunriseflyshop

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Fishing has remained pretty good underneath the surface.  The morning fishing has been slow.  With the cold nights the fish seem to be getting active around 11:00 a.m. and the river continues to fish well till about 5:30 p.m.  Flows have been fluctuating around 550cfs.  We have had some nemouras hatching and midges hatching during the afternoon hours.  The nymphs of choice have been San Juan Worms, Pat’s Stones and midges.  The Skwala hatch has not started yet.  It looks like we will get a warm up early next week, which will get the Skwala nymphs moving towards the banks.  Our best fishing has been below Melrose in either the Melrose to Brownes section or Brownes to Notch sections. Stay in touch with more Big Hole River fishing reports and Big Hole River Skwala hatch updates.

Flies: #8 San Juan Worm; #10 Pat’s Stone Olive/Brown: #8 RL Stone; #18 Zebra Midge; #6 J.J. Special #4 Coffey Bugger;

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