Beaverhead River Fall Fishing Update

by sunriseflyshop

The Beaverhead has been fishing pretty tough lately. Clark Canyon outflows are set to winter flows already due to the reservoir being only 26% full. The Winter Clark Canyon Reservoir outflows are down to 25 cfs. In response to these low flows Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks has closed the Beaverhead from the Dam down to Pipe Organ Bridge. This closure will remain into affect all fall.

The Beaverhead River is open to fishing from Pipe Organ Bridge down to the Mouth (Confluence to Big Hole). Flows are low in these sections and are better for the wade angler. Floating any of the stretches below Pipe Organ is not recommended due to low flows. You will find Blue Winged Olives hatching and a few hopper opportunities in the afternoons.

Recommended Flies:

  • Split Back BWO #18
  • Micro Mayfly #16
  • Bubble Back BWO #18
  • Spanish Bullet Olive #16
  • Jig Frenchie Blue #18
  • Green machine #18
  • J.J. Special #6
  • Sparkle Minnow J.J. #6
  • Lil Kim’ #6
Big Hole River Fishing Report

Searching for Rising Fish

by sunriseflyshop

The Big Hole has been tough some days for our guides and fishing well on other days. We are still seeing good Trico hatches in the mornings. You can hunt sipping trout on the surface during the spinner fall. After the trico hatch we have been prospecting the riffles with a spruce moth, hopper or ant pattern with a paragon dropper nymph off the back. We are seeing a tremendous amount of hoppers in the valley this August. Flows remain low and well below average for this time of the year. We have some hoot owl closures on sections and some full fishing closures on some sections of the Big Hole. Below is all the information on fishing restrictions. Section 3 remains open all day. This section is from Dickey Bridge down to Maiden Rock FWP (Lower Maiden Rock).

Recommended Flies:

  • Spruce Moth #12
  • YFG Spruce Moth #12
  • Bloom’s Spruce Moth #12
  • Comparadun Trico #18
  • Trico Spinner #18
  • Chernobyl Ant #8
  • Morrish Hopper #8
  • Fat Albert #8
  • Pat’s Rubber Leg #10 (Black)
  • Spanish Bullet #16 (Black)
  • Thread Frenchie #16 (Black/Olive)

Fishing Restrictions/Closures:

  • Section 1 Closed – Saginaw Bridge on Skinner Meadows Road to North Fork Big Hole River mouth
  • Section 4 Closed – From FWP’s Maiden Rock FAS (Lower Maiden Rock) to Tony Shoonen FAS (Notch)
  • Section 5 Closed – Tony Schoonen FAS (Notch) to confluence with Jefferson River

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

  • Section 2 Hoot Owl – From the North Fork of the Big Hole to Dickie Bridge FAS

Section 3 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.

Clark Canyon Reservoir Update

by sunriseflyshop

The Beaverhead River has been fishing very tough lately. Outflows from Clark Canyon Reservoir are 450cfs and dropping daily. The difficult fishing is due to how low Clark Canyon Reservoir has been. Currently the reservoir is 29% full. The outflow into the Beaverhead River is dirty and extremely mossy. The outflow from Clark Canyon is also warm water since the reservoir has turned over. Between the extremely poor clarity and the moss mats on the surface, fishing has been very difficult. Hopefully conditions improve soon and we have a better report next week.

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
Big Hole River Fishing Report

Tricos and Spruce Moths

by sunriseflyshop

Fishing continues to be ok on the Big Hole. The Big Hole Valley is still seeing higher than normal temperatures, but with strong trico hatches we have had good dry fly fishing in the mornings. After the trico spinner fall ends, we have been using spruce moths and hoppers with a variety of different droppers. Black Spanish Bullets and Pat’s Rubber Legs have been the most consistent droppers. With the hot weather continuing, the river temps are getting quite warm in the afternoon and Hoot Owl restrictions are still in place. Also, because of low flows, two sections of the Big Hole are closed for fishing until the reopen criteria is met.

Recommended Flies:

  • Spruce Moth #12
  • YFG Spruce Moth #12
  • Bloom’s Spruce Moth #12
  • Comparadun Trico #18
  • Trico Spinner #18
  • Chernobyl Ant #8
  • Morrish Hopper #8
  • Fat Albert #8
  • Pat’s Rubber Leg #10 (Black)
  • Spanish Bullet #16 (Black)
  • Thread Frenchie #16 (Black/Olive)

Full Fishing Closures on the Big Hole River

  • Section 1 Closed – Saginaw Bridge on Skinner Meadows Road to North Fork Big Hole River mouth
  • Section 5 Closed – Tony Schoonen FAS (Notch) to confluence with Jefferson River

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

  • Section 2 Hoot Owl – From the North Fork of the Big Hole to Dickie Bridge FAS
  • Section 4 Hoot Owl – From FWP’s Maiden Rock FAS (Lower Maiden Rock) to Tony Shoonen FAS (Notch)

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.

Big Hole River Fishing Report

Big Hole Spruce Moth Hatch

by sunriseflyshop

Fishing has been good the last few days and should continue as we are seeing good hatches. We have Spruce Moth’s from Jerry Creek down to Maiden Rock (BLM). We also have been seeing tricos hatching around 10:00 in the morning from Maiden Rock (BLM) down to Glen. You can hunt rising fish with Spruce Moth’s and then switch to Trico’s in the morning. The Spruce Moth’s have been hitting the water throughout the entire day from Jerry Creek down to Maiden Rock (BLM). On the Lower River we are starting to see hopper activity in the afternoons. We have been catching nice trout against the grassy undercut banks. Remember on the lower Big Hole you have to be done fishing at 2:00pm due to Hoot Owl Closures.

Recommended Flies:

  • Spruce Moth #12
  • YFG Spruce Moth #12
  • Bloom’s Spruce Moth #12
  • Comparadun Trico #18
  • Trico Spinner #18
  • Chernobyl Ant #8
  • Morrish Hopper #8
  • Fat Albert #8
  • Spanker #16
  • Spanish Bullet #16 (Black)
  • Thread Frenchie #16 (Black/Olive)
  • Hoot Owl restrictions prohibit fishing each day between 2 p.m. and midnight in the following sections of the Big Hole River:
    • From Saginaw Bridge on Skinner Meadow Road 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. 

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