April Fishing Is Here

The Big Hole River is in good fishing shape today and should continue to be throughout the upcoming week as long as you can find the warmer and calmer days too fish. Last week we had ice flows from the upper Big Hole, which put the fishing off. The entire river is now ice free and we are fishing the lower stretches of the Big Hole for our best fishing. We have 2-3 feet of visibility and it is improving. The river is on the drop, which means the trout will be comfortable to feed. You will find hatches of midges and the Skwala’s are close to hatching on the lower Big Hole. Our best fishing has been with pat’s stoneflies sub surface and mayfly nymphs. A few streamer anglers had a good day yesterday with black/brown buggers in the tail out of pools. Our best hours of fishing is during the warmest times of the day, so typically the afternoons. A channel is blocked below Brownes bridge with a down tree, so please call us for the latest floating information on how to get around the blocked channel. Floater passage is allowed through a different channel. Our shop hours and schedule for the week of April 3rd – 9th is listed below.

April 3rd hours: 9:00am – 3:00 pm

April 4th: – Closed

April 5th: – Closed

April 6th – 9th hours: 9:00 am – 4:00pm

Winter Update and Job Posting

Winter is finally in full swing in Southwest Montana. our freestone rivers are locked up and frozen and some of the tailwaters have fishing opportunity. Snowpack is hovering around 110% for the Big Hole and Beaverhead drainages. We still have a lot of winter left and it is way to early to predict river flows for Spring 2022.

Job Posting:

Sunrise Fly Shop in Melrose, MT is looking to hire experienced fly fishing guides for the upcoming season. Sunrise Fly Shop is a unique kind of fly shop. We are energetic, enthusiastic, and provide exceptional customer service. We are passionate about the sport and are in the fishing industry because we love it. The staff at Sunrise Fly Shop loves to fish. Even though we guide hundreds of days a year, we can’t wait to fish ourselves. We are looking for individuals with a similar mindset.

We need professional, hard-working, team-oriented people with a passion for fly fishing, the outdoors, and hospitality. Guides can expect to work 100 to 130 days during the guide season. Proficiency rowing a boat is required.

  • Provide fun, professional, safe, and entertaining fishing trips on the Big Hole, Beaverhead, Jefferson, and Upper Clark Fork Rivers.
  • Own their own gear, including drift boater raft, rods, reels, and terminal tackle.
  • First-Aid certification
  • Montana Guide License
  • Keep accurate logs of all trips and have a willingness to learn and follow the Big Hole and Beaverhead Special Use Rules and Regulations
  • Willingness to work a demanding schedule with long hours for our entire season (usually April through October)

If interested please email your resume and cover letter to: [email protected]

Sunrise Fly Shop Winter Update

Winter is finally in full swing in Southwest Montana. our freestone rivers are locked up and frozen and some of the tailwaters have fishing opportunity. Snowpack is hovering around 110% for the Big Hole and Beaverhead drainages. We still have a lot of winter left and it is way to early to predict river flows for Spring 2022.

Job Posting:

Sunrise Fly Shop in Melrose, MT is looking to hire experienced fly fishing guides for the upcoming season. Sunrise Fly Shop is a unique kind of fly shop. We are energetic, enthusiastic, and provide exceptional customer service. We are passionate about the sport and are in the fishing industry because we love it. The staff at Sunrise Fly Shop loves to fish. Even though we guide hundreds of days a year, we can’t wait to fish ourselves. We are looking for individuals with a similar mindset.

We need professional, hard-working, team-oriented people with a passion for fly fishing, the outdoors, and hospitality. Guides can expect to work 100 to 130 days during the guide season. Proficiency rowing a boat is required.

  • Provide fun, professional, safe, and entertaining fishing trips on the Big Hole, Beaverhead, Jefferson, and Upper Clark Fork Rivers.
  • Own their own gear, including drift boater raft, rods, reels, and terminal tackle.
  • First-Aid certification
  • Montana Guide License
  • Keep accurate logs of all trips and have a willingness to learn and follow the Big Hole and Beaverhead Special Use Rules and Regulations
  • Willingness to work a demanding schedule with long hours for our entire season (usually April through October)

Please email your resume and cover letter to: [email protected]

Big Hole River Fishing Report

Fishing has been improving on the Big Hole river. The longer nights and colder evenings has brought the water temperatures down and gotten the fish more active. We are having good hopper and ant fishing in the afternoons. The mornings are filled with Trico’s and various jig nymphs keeping us hooked up. You can also strip a sculpin in the pools and catch some nice ones.

The Big Hole remains open with no restrictions from Dickie Bridge to Maiden Rock FWP (also known as lower Maiden Rock or Dead Zone) 

River Restriction and Closures:

  • From the Saginaw Bridge of the Big Hole to Dickie Bridge is closed due to low flows. We will update you when this section re opens.
  • From Maiden Rock FWP (also known as lower Maiden Rock or Dead Zone ) down to the confluence with the Beaverhead River is closed due to low flows.

October Fishing Special 3 nights lodging and 2 days guided fishing $750 per person based on double Occupancy. Give us a call to book 406.835.3474

Big Hole River Fishing Report

Water Temperatures on the Big Hole are in great shape. We have had a massive cool down and the night time temperatures have helped the river cool off. We are having trico’s, hoppers and ants as our favorite recipe for dry flies. Our best nymphs have been various jig thread flies. Best fishing hours remain around 9 am – 3pm. The Divide access site is back open for anglers to use.

The Big Hole remains open with no restrictions from Dickie Bridge to Maiden Rock FWP (also known as lower Maiden Rock or Dead Zone) 

River Restriction and Closures:

  • From the Saginaw Bridge of the Big Hole to Dickie Bridge is closed due to low flows. We will update you when this section re opens.
  • From Maiden Rock FWP (also known as lower Maiden Rock or Dead Zone ) down to the confluence with the Beaverhead River is closed due to low flows. When this re opens we will let you know.

Big Hole River Fishing Report

Fishing has been tough lately. The cool down and hopefully moist weather this week should have the larger brown trout looking to eat during the day. We have trico’s hatching and terrestrials. Flying ants and hoppers are keeping people hooked up after the trico hatch. If we get a significant cool down this week streamers will come into play again. I would throw an olive or black sculpin in the deeper pools or up into the riffles.

 

The Big Hole River remains open to fishing with no restrictions from Dickie Bridge to Lower Maiden Rock FWP (Dead Zone)

Closures and Restrictions:

Until further Notice: Divide fishing access and campground is closed due to being used as a campground for fire crew.

  • Full River Closure from the Headwaters to Dickey Bridge due to low flows.
  • Full River Closure from Maiden Rock FWP ( or known as Dead Zone ) to the Beaverhead confluence. We are asking all anglers to stop fishing once the river hits 68 degrees on any section of the river.

Beaverhead River Fishing Report

Clarity has diminished on the Beaverhead River due to Clark Canyon Reservoir being only 30% full and the reservoir has turned over. Flows this morning out of the reservoir are 350cfs and dropping. The only luck we have had lately is on hoppers on the Beaverhead. You might also have some luck on Trico’s near the dam. Fishing has been tough and hopefully improves for us. The clarity needs to improve out of the reservoir before things get better.

No fishing restrictions above Tash Bridge to the Dam

Fishing Restrictions on the Beaverhead:

From the mouth to Hwy 91 S (Tash) downstream Hoot Owl fishing Restrictions

The hoot-owl fishing restriction, which prohibits fishing each day between 2 p.m. and midnight, will be in effect on portions of the Beaverhead River from the mouth to Hwy 91 S (Tash).

Big Hole River Fishing Report

Fishing has been tough some days for our guides and good some days. We have Trico’s hatching, flying ants and hoppers. Water is remaining cold in the mornings and some days heating up to critical levels. Please stop fishing if the water temperature hits 68 degrees in the afternoon. We are expecting a nice cool down early next week.

 

The Big Hole River remains open to fishing with no restrictions from Dickie Bridge to Lower Maiden Rock FWP (Dead Zone)

Closures and Restrictions:

Hoot Owl Restrictions mean that you can fish from Midnight till 2:00pm. The Hoot Owl closure starts at 2:00pm and ends at Midnight each day.

Until further Notice: Divide fishing access and campground is closed due to being used as a campground for fire crew

Full River Closure from the Headwaters to the North Fork Road near Wisdom due to low flows.

Hoot Owl Restriction from the North Fork Road to Dickie Bridge

Hoot Owl Restriction from Lower Maiden Rock FWP ( or known as Dead Zone ) to Notch Bottom (Tony Shoonen Access)

Full River Closure from Notch Bottom (Tony Shoonen) downstream to the Beaverhead confluence.

We are asking all anglers to stop fishing once the river hits 68 degrees on any section of the river.

Big Hole River Fishing Report

Fishing has been been getting a bit better here on the Big Hole River. We have had some rain and more is in the forecast. Hatches of Trico’s, PMD’s and terrestrials are keeping us hooked up on the surface. We have some flying ant’s and hoppers for the terrestrials. Spruce Moth’s have not been hatching this year in the abundance that we are used to seeing. You will still find some Spruce Moth’s in the Jerry Creek to Divid Section.

The Big Hole River remains open to fishing with no restrictions from Dickie Bridge to Lower Maiden Rock FWP (Dead Zone)

Closures and Restrictions:

Until further Notice: Divide fishing access and campground is closed due to being used as a campground for fire crew

Full River Closure from the Headwaters to the North Fork Road near Wisdom due to low flows.

Hoot Owl Closure from the North Fork Road to Dickie Bridge

Hoot Owl Closure from Lower Maiden Rock FWP ( or known as Dead Zone ) to Notch Bottom (Tony Shoonen Access)

Full River Closure from Notch Bottom (Tony Shoonen) downstream to the Beaverhead confluence.

We are asking all anglers to stop fishing once the river hits 68 degrees on any section of the river.