The flows on the upper Big Hole are stable and the flow around Melrose are on a slight increase today.

by sunriseflyshop

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The flows on the upper Big Hole are stable and the flow around Melrose are on a slight increase today. We have been fishing on the stretches above the Wise River on the Big Hole and around Melrose. Clarity is around 3 feet and the fishing has been pretty good. We have had hatches of Mother’s Day Caddis on the stretches around Melrose and the upper Big Hole has had hatches of March Brown’s, gray drakes, and blue winged olives. We did an evening float below Melrose last night and streamer fishing was very good. On the upper river we have been fishing streamers, worms, and some gray drake dries in the back eddies. It should be a great weekend on the Big Hole coming up!

Sunrise Fly Shop Client Dustin with a Big Hole Brown from yesterday

Recommended Flies: #10 Gray Drake; #12 X Caddis; #8 Mr. Beam; #10 Olive Chubby; #8 Bullet Head Skwalla; #10 Pat’s Stone (Olive/Brown); #8 San Juan Worm; #6 Flash Minnow (Olive); #6 Smokin’ Mirrors (Black); #6 Sparkle Minnow; #4 Little Kim; #6 Screamer (Yellow) (Olive)

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Beaverhead River Fishing Report

Beaverhead River Fishing Report

by sunriseflyshop

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Outflows from Clark Canyon Reservoir continue to be over 600cfs. Clark Canyon reservoir is 100% full and we will have a fabulous water year on the Beaverhead. We have been fishing from Pipe Organ bridge downstream. You will find caddis hatching on the river. Sub surface we have been using caddis nymphs, and san juan worms. Grasshopper creek is off color so fishing below that has been tough. From pipe organ bridge down stream is crowded since it is one of the few places in Montana with clear water. We have also been getting them on streamers. The J.J. has been the streamer of choice lately on the beaverhead.

Remember if you are going to fish the Beaverhead that you must remain from Pipe Organ Bridge downstream until the 3rd Saturday of May. The upper river is closed to protect the rainbows while they spawn.

Spring Special guided fishing details are here. Packages starting at $595 per person 

 

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Sunrise guide Rutger Wilson with a recent trout from the Beaverhead River

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he Big Hole River is almost entering flood stage in Melrose.

by sunriseflyshop

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The Big Hole River is almost entering flood stage in Melrose. With the heavy rain predicted the next couple days I would think the river will continue to climb. It is downright dangerous to float the Big Hole unless you are well above the Wise River. If you must get out and float (which I suggest you stay home and tie flies) I would do a stretch around Mudd Creek or Fishtrap. Fishing has been tough lately and it won’t get better until the flows drop. We will keep you posted when conditions improve. Even though the river is high and off color we have managed to get some good fish lately but we aren’t catching many.

Spring Special guided fishing details are here. 3 night 2 day fishing Packages starting at $595 per person 

Robert Harp with a fantastic Big Hole Brown caught a couple days ago on the Big Hole River

Recommended Flies: #8 Mr. Beam; #10 Olive Chubby; #8 Bullet Head Skwalla; #10 Pat’s Stone (Olive/Brown); #8 San Juan Worm; #6 Flash Minnow (Olive); #6 Smokin’ Mirrors (Black); #6 Sparkle Minnow; #4 Little Kim; #6 Screamer (Yellow) (Olive)

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The Big Hole is coming back into fishable shape.

by sunriseflyshop

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The Big Hole is coming back into fishable shape. We had a stellar day yesterday and it should continue to improve as long as the river keeps dropping. We are doing the best with streamers, san juan worms and stone fly nymphs. The weather looks stable and the river should continue to improve. We currently have 18 inches of visibility. We have not found too much for dry fly fishing. With increases in water temperatures over the next few days you should fins some hatches of March browns, skwallas and blue winged olives.

 Our client caught a nice brown yesterday on the Big Hole River

Recommended Flies: #8 Mr. Beam; #10 Olive Chubby; #8 Bullet Head Skwalla; #10 Pat’s Stone (Olive/Brown); #8 San Juan Worm; #16 Shop Vac; #18 Zebra Midge; #16 Psycho May (olive); #6 Flash Minnow (Olive); #6 Smokin’ Mirrors (Black); #6 Sparkle Minnow; #4 Little Kim; #6 Screamer (Yellow) (Olive)

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We are in a nice spring window of fishing at the moment.

by sunriseflyshop

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We are in a nice spring window of fishing at the moment. With this said, anything can happen to change the fishing since we have a tremendous snowpack this year. Currently we have a foot of visibility on the Big Hole and it is fishing ok. We have done the best sub surface with streamers and nymphs. You might find some fish up eating march brown’s and sqwallas but for the most part the fish have been feeding underneath for us. Nice spring weather on tap for the next few days and currently the river is somewhat stable.

Spring Special guided fishing details are here. 3 nights lodging 2 days guided fishing packages starting at $595 per person 

 Sunrise guide Lee Coyle with a nice Big Hole brown caught yesterday

Recommended Flies: #8 Mr. Beam; #10 Olive Chubby; #8 Bullet Head Skwalla; #10 Pat’s Stone (Olive/Brown); #8 San Juan Worm; #16 Shop Vac; #18 Zebra Midge; #16 Psycho May (olive); #6 Flash Minnow (Olive); #6 Smokin’ Mirrors (Black); #6 Sparkle Minnow; #4 Little Kim; #6 Screamer (Yellow) (Olive)

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Beaverhead River Fishing Report

by sunriseflyshop

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The flows are up out of Clark Canyon Reservoir. Today the outflow is 600cfs. They will be matching the inflow with the outflow starting tomorrow. Clark Canyon Reservoir is 100% full, which is great news for spring fishing and summer fishing on the Beaverhead River. Fishing has been good below Pipe Organ bridge. With the increased flow the worm fishing has been the ticket. With the burst of cold water to the system hatches have been bleak. Streamers and nymphing san juan worms has been the best source of protein for the fish. Remember if you are going to fish the Beaverhead that you must remain from Pipe Organ Bridge downstream until the 3rd Saturday of May. The upper river is closed to protect the rainbows while they spawn.

Spring Special guided fishing details are here. Packages starting at $595 per person 

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Sunrise Fly Shop guide Andy Barkley with a nice brown from the Beaverhead recently

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Some warm weather the last several days has the mid to low elevation snow …..

by sunriseflyshop

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Some warm weather the last several days has the mid to low elevation snow melting and has caused the river to gain a large volume of water. Today the river has leveled off for the moment on the upper river gauges. We might get a window of good fishing the next few days on the upper Big Hole since the melting will stop due to the cold winter like conditions today. River clarity is the main concern for us right now. We need improving water conditions to get the fish eating. We will keep you posted and hopefully the fishing improves.

Spring Special guided fishing details are here. 3 nights lodging 2 days guided fishing packages starting at $595 per person 

Recommended Flies: #8 Mr. Beam; #10 Olive Chubby; #8 Bullet Head Skwalla; #10 Pat’s Stone (Olive/Brown); #8 San Juan Worm; #16 Shop Vac; #18 Zebra Midge; #16 Psycho May (olive); #6 Flash Minnow (Olive); #6 Smokin’ Mirrors (Black); #6 Sparkle Minnow; #4 Little Kim; #6 Screamer (Yellow) (Olive)

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The Big Hole is on the drop, which is great news.

by sunriseflyshop

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The Big Hole is on the drop, which is great news. As far as clarity goes it is starting to improve. Up around east Bank we had about 18 inches of visibility and around Melrose we had about a foot of clarity today. We should see this clarity improve as the river drops. No guarantees that the fishing will be good this weekend but at least it looks like improving conditions to be able to catch fish. We will keep you posted.

Spring Special guided fishing details are here. Packages starting at $595 per person 

Recommended Flies: #8 Mr. Beam; #10 Olive Chubby; #8 Bullet Head Skwalla; #10 Pat’s Stone (Olive/Brown); #8 San Juan Worm; #16 Shop Vac; #18 Zebra Midge; #16 Psycho May (olive); #6 Flash Minnow (Olive); #6 Smokin’ Mirrors (Black); #6 Sparkle Minnow; #4 Little Kim; #6 Screamer (Yellow) (Olive)

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It’s spring and conditions can change quickly for the better or worse

by sunriseflyshop

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It’s spring and conditions can change quickly for the better or worse. Yesterday conditions changed for the worse. The upper Big Hole ice off event is currently underway. Ice is breaking up on the upper Big Hole, which has turned the river to about only a foot of visibility and the water temperatures have dropped significantly. We will keep you updated when conditions improve. It should be a few days before the river starts to clear up.

Spring Special guided fishing details are here. Packages starting at $595 per person 

Notice: SALMONFLY FISHING ACCESS WILL BE CLOSED FRIDAY, APRIL 13th TO REPAIR THE CATTLE GUARD

Recommended Flies: #8 Mr. Beam; #10 Olive Chubby; #8 Bullet Head Skwalla; #10 Pat’s Stone (Olive/Brown); #8 San Juan Worm; #16 Shop Vac; #18 Zebra Midge; #16 Psycho May (olive); #6 Flash Minnow (Olive); #6 Smokin’ Mirrors (Black); #6 Sparkle Minnow; #4 Little Kim; #6 Screamer (Yellow) (Olive)

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Spring fishing has started to get good on the Big Hole River.

by sunriseflyshop

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Spring fishing has started to get good on the Big Hole River. We have had some exciting fishing the last few days. In fact the dry fly fishing is picking up on Skwalas, Blue Winged Olives and midges. We have been starting the day subsurface with nymphs and streamers and then moving to a dry dropper or a single dry in the afternoon. The Big Hole has about 3 feet of visibility and conditions are right for the skwalla hatch to continue to improve. Give us a call for up to date details 406-835-FISH(3474) or head on over for some spring fishing. The last several days the 16 – 20 inch fish have started to feed and we have seen a nice age class willing to eat the skwala.

Spring Special guided fishing details are here. Packages starting at $595 per person 

Naomi with a stellar fish from the other day on the Big Hole

Recommended Flies: #8 Mr. Beam; #10 Olive Chubby; #8 Bullet Head Skwalla; #10 Pat’s Stone (Olive/Brown); #8 San Juan Worm; #16 Shop Vac; #18 Zebra Midge; #16 Psycho May (olive); #6 Flash Minnow (Olive); #6 Smokin’ Mirrors (Black); #6 Sparkle Minnow; #4 Little Kim; #6 Screamer (Yellow) (Olive)

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