Big Hole River Fishing Report

Big Hole River Heats Up

by sunriseflyshop

Fishing Has been ok on the Big Hole River lately. We find ourselves in the dog days of summer during this scorching heat wave we are having in Montana and in other parts of the country. You will find PMD’s hatching in the mornings and then you will have to go to an attractor dry fly and nymphs in the late morning/early afternoon hours. We have not seen any trico’s on the river yet but the hatch will be coming soon. Some hoppers are starting to click around the banks so look for the hopper fishing to pick up soon. Sculpin patterns in the riffles have been good in the morning hours and PMD soft hackle nymphs swinging through the riffles.

Recommended Flies:

  • Chubby Chernobyl #12
  • Comparadun PMD #16
  • Purple Craze #16
  • Mcgrubber #16
  • Spanish Bullet #16
  • Thread Frenchie #16
  • Mini Loop Sculpin #6
  • Trevors Sculpin #6

Hoot Owl restrictions prohibit fishing each day between 2 p.m. and midnight in the following sections of the Big Hole River:

  • From the North Fork of the Big Hole to Saginaw Bridge FAS to Dickie Bridge FAS
  • From the confluence of the Beaverhead River to FWP’s Maidenrock FAS (Lower Maiden Rock)

From Dickie Bridge down to FWP’s Maidenrock FAS (Lower Maiden Rock) is open to fishing all day. Even though this section is open all day please take water temperature readings and if the water temperature exceeds 68 degrees please stop fishing for the day. If these restrictions confuse you, please give us a call and we can clarify the locations. 406-835-3474.

Beaverhead Fishing Heat Wave

by sunriseflyshop

The upper Beaverhead is is still holding strong with good fishing. We have been doing the best from the dam down to Pipe Organ Bridge. Flows out of Clark Canyon Reservoir are currently up to 804 cfs. Wade fishing spots are tough right now but drift boat fishing is ideal at these flows. The river clarity is a bit off right now but that can be a day to day affair from outflows out of Clark Canyon Reservoir. We have had some PMD dry fly fishing the morning in the slick. Nymphing has been consistent in the upper Beaverhead. We have done well with various PMD Nymphs.

Fly Recommendations:

  • Hunchback Infrequence PMD #18
  • Split Back PMD #18
  • Barr’s Emerger #18
  • Tungsten Sunkist #18
  • Bubble Back PMD #18
  • Micro Mayfly #16
  • Comparadun PMD #18
  • Split Wing PMD #18

Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction from the mouth of the river (Near twin Bridges to Selway Park in Dillon

From the mouth to Selway Park FAS at Dillon

The hoot-owl fishing restriction, which prohibits fishing each day between 2 p.m. and midnight, will go into effect at 2:00 p.m. Friday, July 29 for the Beaverhead River from the mouth to Selway Park FAS at Dillon. Maximum daily water temperatures on the Beaverhead River at USGS gauge 06023100 Beaverhead River near Twin Bridges exceeded 73 degrees for three consecutive days, satisfying angling restriction and fishing closure criteria. This restriction will remain in effect until lifted by FWP administrative action in consultation with the Big Hole Watershed Committee, or until September 15.

Big Hole River Fishing Report

Big Hole River At It’s Finest

by sunriseflyshop

The Big Hole River has been fishing fantastic lately. The hatches on the Big Hole River consist of PMD’s, Caddis, Golden Stone’s and Nocturnal stoneflies. Sculpin patterns have been working well in the fast riffles. We are focusing our fishing from morning hours till about 3:00pm for the prime fishing. Sections that have been fishing the best are from Jerry Creek down to Melrose.

Recommended Flies:

  • Chubby Chernobyl #10 (Yellow, UV Tan)
  • Purple Craze #14
  • Brindle Chute #14
  • PMD Cripple #16
  • Bloom’s Caddis #14
  • Jig Thread Frenchie #14
  • Jig Duracell #14
  • Pearl Lightning Bug #16
  • Pat’s Rubber leg #10
  • Lil Kim Olive #4
  • Mini Loop Sculpin #4
Beaverhead River Fishing Report

Beaverhead River Fishing Well

by sunriseflyshop

The Beaverhead River has been fishing fantastic this last week. We have been fishing from the Dam down to Barretts and the fishing has been consistent. You will find fish rising to PMD’s in the mornings, especially in the slick. We have yellow sallies and summer stones from High Bridge down to Barretts. Clark Canyon Reservoir outflows are 510 cfs this morning. You will have good wade fishing at these flows and excellent float fishing on the Beaverhead River.

Recommended Flies:

  • Split back PMD #18
  • Crack Back PMD #18
  • Hunchback PMD #18
  • Barr’s Emerger #18
  • Captive Dunn PMD #18
  • Ray Charles Pink #18
  • McGrubber PMD #16
  • Comparadun PMD #16
  • Parachute Adams PMD #18
  • Chubby Chernobyl #12 (Gold)
  • Plan B #8

Big Hole River Fishing Report

Dry Fly Season on The Big Hole River

by sunriseflyshop

Fishing on the Big Hole River has been fantastic lately. We have had great dry fly fishing and tremendous hatches throughout the day. You will find Golden Stones, PMD’s, Caddis, Green Drakes and Yellow Sallies throughout the river system. River flows are at ideal levels right now for float fishing. We have been fishing a golden stone dry fly with a PMD cripple behind it and the rod has stayed bent. Stretches of the river that have been the best are as follows: East Bank all the way down to Notch Bottom on the Big Hole has been our best float sections. Look for the fishing to continue to be great through the weekend.

Recommend Flies:

  • Chubby Chernobyl (Orange) (Yellow) (Cinnamon) #8, #10
  • PMD Cripple #14
  • PMD Comparadun #14
  • Purple Craze #14
  • Brindle Chute #14
  • Yellow Sallie #14
  • Jig Duracell #14
  • Jig Hot Spot #14
  • Jig Blowtorch #14
  • Copper John (Red) #14
  • Lil’ Kim #4
  • Sparkle Minnow J.J. #6

Big Hole River Fishing Report

Prime Fishing On the Big Hole

by sunriseflyshop

Summer dry fly fishing on the Big Hole River has been good lately. We have hatches of Golden Stones, PMD’s, Caddis, drakes and summer stones. Pick your dry fly hatch and run with it. The evenings or early morning dry fly action on golden stones has been fantastic this week. The nymph fisherman have been hanging fish all day in the fast shallow riffles and are having opportunities in deeper seems. We have had good reports with the streamer anglers with J.J. Sparkle minnows, Lil’ Kim’s in olive and Mini Loop Sculpins in natural. Water flows are hovering just under 2,000 cfs here in Melrose. Our best fishing stretches have been from Jerry Creek down to Notch Bottom.

Recommend Flies:

  • Chubby Chernobyl #8 (Gold) (Purple) (UV Tan)
  • PMD Comparadun #16
  • Purple Craze #12, #14
  • Comparadun Purple #16
  • Brindle Chute #12
  • CDC Caddis #12
  • Bloom’s Caddis #14
  • Copper John Red #14
  • Lightning Bug Pearl #14
  • Pat’s Rubber Legs #8
  • Mini Loop Sculpin
  • J.J. Sparkle Minnow #4
  • Lil Kim #4 Olive/tan
  • Barely Legal Olive

Beaverhead River In Prime Shape

by sunriseflyshop

The Beaverhead river is in perfect summer shape heading into the holiday week. Clark Canyon outflows are 580cfs today. We have been seeing the first of the PMD hatch on the upper Beaverhead and clouds of Yellow Sallies around Henneberry access site. You will also find handfuls of Golden Stone’s around grasshopper access area. The flows right now are excellent for the floater and good for the wade angler. From the Dam down to Henneberry fishing access has been our best fishing.

Recommended Flies:

  • Split Back PMD #18
  • Crack back PMD #18
  • Mayhem PMD #18
  • Comparadun PMD #18
  • Micro Mayfly #16
  • Psycho Prince #18
  • McGrubber PMD #16
  • Thread Frenchie #18
Big Hole River Fishing Report

Hatches Galore on The Big Hole

by sunriseflyshop

Fishing has come into great shape on the Big Hole River. Salmonflies are still hatching about 5 miles above Jerry Creek and you will find them down to about Divide Bridge. The Golden Stones are pretty thick in the Jerry Creek to Maiden Rock Canyon stretch. Along with the stoneflies you will find yellow sallies, PMD’s and caddis hatching on the river. Prospecting with a double dry has been working well for us. We have been throwing a salmonfly or golden stone and then a yellow sally dry fly behind it. The streamer anglers have had good reports as well, J.J. Sparkle Minnows, and brown/yellow Barely Legals have kept fish chasing to the boat. The Big Hole will just continue to be in prime shape this week as the river drops in flows and stabilizes.

Suggested Flies:

  • Cat Puke #4
  • Chubby Chernobyl (Orange) (Yellow) (Purple) #6
  • Flutter Bug Golden #6
  • Water Walker (Black) (Brown) #4
  • Water Walker Golden #6
  • Head Light Sally #12
  • Purple Haze #12
  • Barely Legal #6
  • Sparkle Minnows J.J. #4
  • Sparring Partner Brown trout #4
Big Hole River Fishing Report

Salmonflies On The Big Hole River

by sunriseflyshop

The Big Hole River is quickly coming into prime shape. Our peak runoff is behind us and that means……Salmonflies! Yes, Salmonflies are here! Currently, we are seeing the big bugs in the Maiden Rock Canyon. River flows are quickly dropping and fishing was excellent today and the next several days we will have Salmonfly dry fly fishing. We have also seen PMD’s, golden stones and some yellow sallies on the water. Streamer anglers have done well lately with yellow/brown streamers. It is time for the best hatch of the year. The Big Hole has 4 feet of visibility and with the flows dropping this could be an amazing hatch.

Recommended Flies:

  • Flutter Bug (Salmonfly) #4
  • Cat Puke #4
  • Half Down Salmonfly #4
  • Chubby Chernobyl #6 (Purple) (Orange) (Golden)
  • Chubby Norman #6, #8
  • Water Walker #6 (Black) (Brown)
Beaverhead River Fishing Report

Hatches Are Coming Soon

by sunriseflyshop

The Beaverhead River has been fishing well some days and rather tough other days. We have seen no lack of crowds on the Beaverhead due to most of the freestone rivers running high. The Clark Canyon Reservoir outflow today is 318 cfs. Wade fisherman are happy with these low flows. We have had our best fishing from the Dam down to Grasshopper Creek. You will find Grasshopper Creek running muddy, so fishing is tough below there. Pretty soon we will see the first of the PMD hatch. Currently, we are doing best nymphing with PMD’s, Blue Winged Olives and sow bugs.

Recommended Flies:

Soft Hackle Sow Bug #16

Scud (Orange) #16

Splitback PMD #18

Micro Mayfly (Olive) #16

Barr’s Emerger (PMD) #18