Big Hole River Fishing Report

by sunriseflyshop

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Spring fishing has been very good recently on the Big Hole River. Water temperatures are in the low 50’s, which means skwallas are hatching. River flows are currently around 1,000cfs and clarity is great. We have seen the skwalla hatch move up into the Maiden Rock Canyon. Our guides were able to fish single dry flies this week and bring up plenty of fish on skwallas. We are also seeing March brown mayflies and midges. We have been floating the Maiden Rock Canyon stretch and reaches below Melrose. For most up to date information please give us a call as spring conditions can change quickly.

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#8 MFC Water Walker Skwalla
#8 Mr. Beam Skwalla
#10 Hot Spots Parra Wolf Brown
#8 Pat’s Stone
#6 Flash minnow
#8 Chubby Chernobyl (Olive)

#12 Purple Rooster
#12 Jig CDC Pheasant Tail
#12 Silver Lightning Bug
#16 Split Winged BWO
#16 Blue Winged Olive Comparadun

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Big Hole River Fishing Report

by sunriseflyshop

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The Big Hole River is in great spring time shape. Clarity is 3 feet today and fishing has been good. We have had Skwalla dry fly fishing in the afternoons below Melrose. As the water warms we should see skwalla activity up in the Maiden Rock Canyon any day now. We have been fishing a skwalla dry with about a 2 foot dropper in the morning and then fishing single dries in the afternoons below Melrose. Above Melrose it is mainly still a nymph and streamer game. Our best streamers have been dark colors and getting them on the bottom of the run. Time to get out there while this good spring opportunity is upon us.

 

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#4 Slider Bugger Black
#4 Sparrign Partner Brown
#4 Barely Legal
#8 Pat’s Stone
#6 Flash minnow
#8 Chubby Chernobyl (Olive)
#10 Bullet Head Skwala

#12 Jig Pheasant Tail
#12 Silver Lightning Bug
#18 Purple Haze
#16 Split Winged BWO
#16 Blue Winged Olive Comparadun

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Big Hole River Fishing Report

by sunriseflyshop

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Big Hole Fishing Report

Fishing has picked up on the Big Hole. We are in a great window of spring fishing for the next several days. We have a stable weather pattern and the river has dropped and cleared. Fishing around Melrose has been good. We have not had dry fly fishing but the streamer bite and nymph action has been very productive. Look for the slower seems and edges of banks and you will find the fish. Our best streamers have been dark colored and the yellow favorites for the Big Hole. A few skwallas are still kicking around but we will be waiting for Caddis on the lower river soon.

COVID-19 Phase 1 Social Distancing and Sanitization Regulations

In accordance with the directives of both the State of Montana and Silver Bow County, below are the rules for entering the fly shop

  1. No customers with COVID-19 symptoms may enter the fly shop
  2. Only 3 customers may be in the fly shop at one time
  3. Mandatory to practice 6-foot social distancing guidelines while in the fly shop
  4. All customers must sanitize their hands using our provided sanitizer before entering the shop
  5. Before touching any flies, please get a pair of rubber gloves from an employee
  6. You are welcome to try on any clothing, but please let us know so that we can sanitize the product when you are finished
  7. Please wear a facial mask
  8. Restrooms will temporarily be unavailable to the public
  9. Fishing Licenses have to be purchased online. Click Here to purchase

We have a Pick-Up window for customers that would prefer doing take-out orders

Thank you for your cooperation. Together, we will make it through these difficult times

Currently we are in Phase 1 Business Requirements 

  • A 14 day quarantine for non resident business travelers will remain in effect. If residents or non residents leave the state of Montana and then come back into Montana they are required to self isolate and quarantine for 14 days before being able to visit a retail store or go on a guided fishing trip. Once the ongoing quarantine travel restriction requirements have been met, guides and outfitters may offer their services provided they adhere to social distancing guidelines and sanitation protocols.  Governor Bullock said “While we love our visitors, we would ask that you not come visit while Montanans are watching out for one another by staying at home. This is important not only to protect our health care system, but also to protect against the spread of COVID-19. As of today, travel from another state or country is the most common known source of COVID-19 infections in Montana. I am asking anyone who is in Montana and has recently traveled from another state or country to do the right thing and self-quarantine for 14 days,” The Directive applies both to Montana residents and non-residents entering the state for non-work-related purposes.
  • In establishments where customers wait in a line, non-household customers should remain physically distanced.
  • Physical Distancing of 6 feet must be maintained between non-congregate customers. This will require the reduction in capacity of our fly shop down to 3 customers at a time.
  • Customer and employees must sanitize their hands before entering the retail store.

Phase 1 and 2 Recreational Guidelines

  • Public lands, fishing access sites, and parks are encouraged to continue to provide outdoor recreation opportunities for local and regional users provided that users can adhere to strict social distancing guidelines and facilities follow frequent sanitizing protocols. Areas that cannot practicably implement social distancing requirements or sanitation needs will remain closed. Limited campground offerings, group-use facilities and playgrounds, may be opened at the discretion of local and state managers. Local, state and federal officials are strongly encouraged to coordinate on all reopening decisions. Guides and outfitters may offer services consistent with any ongoing quarantine travel restrictions provided they adhere to social distancing guidelines and sanitation protocols. Visitors should check the status of any closures and restrictions before traveling.

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#4 Smokin’ Mirrors
#4 Sparkle Minnow
#4 Walter’s Weakness
#8 Pat’s Stone
#6 Flash minnow
#8 Chubby Chernobyl (Olive)
#12 March Brown

#12 Purple Rooster
#12 Red Copper John
#12 Silver Lightning Bug
#18 Jiggy Worm
#14 Purple Haze
#16 Blue Winged Olive Comparadun

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Shop Opens Monday April 27th

by sunriseflyshop

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On Wednesday, Montana Governor Steve Bullock announced that the state of Montana is going to follow a 3-phase guideline to reopen the economy. Part of that guideline stated that nonessential businesses would be allowed to reopen at a limited capacity on Monday, April 27th.

Sunrise Fly Shop will be opening its doors for the first time this season on Monday, April 27th. Because of the fallout of the global pandemic, we will be operating within our Governor’s guidelines for this changed retail environment. We will have guidelines outside of or shop for customers to follow when coming into the shop. We will also have curbside pick and a pick up window on our porch for online orders or phone orders 406-835-3474.

The plan that the Governor has set into motion will start with Stage 1 of a 3-stage process. Stage 1 will have the strictest guidelines. As we move through the phases to reopen the economy, some rules will be relaxed.

Phase 1 Business Requirements 

  • A 14 day quarantine for non resident business travelers will remain in effect. If residents or non residents leave the state of Montana and then come back into Montana they are required to self isolate and quarantine for 14 days before being able to visit a retail store or go on a guided fishing trip. Once the ongoing quarantine travel restriction requirements have been met, guides and outfitters may offer their services provided they adhere to social distancing guidelines and sanitation protocols.  Governor Bullock said “While we love our visitors, we would ask that you not come visit while Montanans are watching out for one another by staying at home. This is important not only to protect our health care system, but also to protect against the spread of COVID-19. As of today, travel from another state or country is the most common known source of COVID-19 infections in Montana. I am asking anyone who is in Montana and has recently traveled from another state or country to do the right thing and self-quarantine for 14 days,” The Directive applies both to Montana residents and non-residents entering the state for non-work-related purposes.
  • In establishments where customers wait in a line, non-household customers should remain physically distanced.
  • Physical Distancing of 6 feet must be maintained between non-congregate customers. This will require the reduction in capacity of our fly shop down to 3 customers at a time.
  • Customer and employees must sanitize their hands before entering the retail store.

Phase 1 and 2 Recreational Guidelines

  • Public lands, fishing access sites, and parks are encouraged to continue to provide outdoor recreation opportunities for local and regional users provided that users can adhere to strict social distancing guidelines and facilities follow frequent sanitizing protocols. Areas that cannot practicably implement social distancing requirements or sanitation needs will remain closed. Limited campground offerings, group-use facilities and playgrounds, may be opened at the discretion of local and state managers. Local, state and federal officials are strongly encouraged to coordinate on all reopening decisions. Guides and outfitters may offer services consistent with any ongoing quarantine travel restrictions provided they adhere to social distancing guidelines and sanitation protocols. Visitors should check the status of any closures and restrictions before traveling.

We are looking forward to opening on Monday, and we will ensure that we are taking all the precautions necessary to help stop the spread of COVID -19.

Big Hole Report

Currently the Big Hole is of color and not fishing well. The upper river’s ice has broken free and the river is on the rise and dirty. This is the valley floor and low elevation snowpack melting. Once we get this out of the way fishing will be very good. We will keep you posted when the river is clearing and dropping in flows. It is time to head over to the tailwater fisheries in our state.

Beaverhead River Fishing Report

The Beaverhead River is fishing well below Pipe Organ Bridge. Grasshopper Creek is muddy causing the Beaverhead to be off color and not fishing well.

The only clear and fishable water right now is from Pipe Organ Bridge down to where Grasshopper Creek enters the Beaverhead. Call us anytime

Please enjoy our customer appreciation coupon on our online store. Use code: “THANKYOU” at checkout for 20% off on your order.  

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Big Hole & Beaverhead River Fishing Report

by sunriseflyshop

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The Big Hole River got muddy last week due to warm spring like weather. The upper river ice started to break up and caused the visibility to diminish. This week we are seeing freezing temperatures and some snow. The river has dropped and is clearing. We should have a good window coming up for fishing before the next significant warm up, which might bump the flows and create poor clarity. You will find the Skwalla fishing productive the next few days and leading into the weekend. Streamer fishing will also be good in the afternoons. our preferable color is olive, yellow or natural.

The beaverhead River is fishing well. Remember you can only fish below Pip Organ Bridge until the 3rd Saturday of May. We are seeing Blue Winged Olive hatches, Midge activity and decent streamer fishing.

The store front is closed due to our Governors order during this pandemic, but you can purchase merchandise and flies online. Call us anytime as well. We are here to help and we can arrange flies being picked up when you come to the Big Hole or we can ship them to your house.  Shuttles are also not being run at this time due to the Governor’s order. So when you come to fish you will have to bring a shuttle rig with you.

Check out our Essential Gear Raffles! Purchase your raffle slots for an opportunity win amazing fishing gear and apparel. 10% of the money from every raffle will be donated to the UNICEF Disaster Relief Fund. https://shop.sunriseflyshop.com/raffle-ticket-1997056/

On April 7th Governor Steve Bullock extended the directives he issued to protect Montanans from COVID-19 by slowing the spread of the virus in Montana. The directives now go through April 24th

The extension covers the closure of nonessential businesses, the stay at home order, school closures, on-premises dining and beverage operations, eviction and foreclosure suspensions and the mandatory 14-day self-quarantine for travelers coming into Montana for non-work-related travel.

You can still give us a call and place an order 406-412-3463 or shop our online store www.sunriseflyshop.com  We will ship orders and also arrange a pickup for merchandise if you are heading to the Big Hole. where you will find a great assortment of Patagonia, Simms, Abel, Ross, Scott, Winston, and so much more. If you don’t see the exact fly you are looking for online, please give us a call. We have over 500 different fly patterns in stock and we can help you find what you are looking for.

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Big Hole Flies                                Beaverhead Flies

#4 Smokin’ Mirrors
#10 Black Magic Skwalla
#4 Little Kim Copper
#10 Pat’s Stone
#6 Mini Dungeon
#10 Chubby Chernobyl Olive
#12 Mr. Beam Skwalla

#18 Midge Cluster
#18 Zebra Midge
#16 Ninch’s Pill Popper
#10 San Juan Worm

#8 J.J. Special
#16 Split Winged BWO
#16 Blue Winged Olive Comparadun

[/eye_text][/eye_column][eye_column data_width=”5″][eye_image align=”right” caption=”Buy your Streamers before you hit the river on our online store ” link=”https://shop.sunriseflyshop.com/flies/streamers/”]2449|https://www.sunriseflyshop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/galloups-mini-dungeon-articulated-streamer-yellow.jpg|full[/eye_image][/eye_column][/eye_row][eye_row data_width=”container” data_padding_row=”50px,15px,0,15px” data_margin_row=”0,0″ data_equal_height=”true”][eye_column data_width=”4″][eye_image align=”right” caption=”Shop our selection of Skwalla Patterns online” link=”https://shop.sunriseflyshop.com/flies/dry-flies/”]2450|https://www.sunriseflyshop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/mr-beam-dry-fly-olive-8.jpg|full[/eye_image][/eye_column][eye_column data_width=”4″][eye_image align=”right” caption=”Purchase a raffle slot for your chance to win awesome gear ” link=”https://shop.sunriseflyshop.com/raffle-ticket-1997056/”]2454|https://www.sunriseflyshop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/scott.jpg|full[/eye_image][/eye_column][eye_column data_width=”4″][eye_image align=”right” caption=”Shop our Sale now on new Spring 2020 gear ” link=”https://shop.sunriseflyshop.com/patagonia-sale/”]2455|https://www.sunriseflyshop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/PatagoniaInsta.jpg|full[/eye_image][/eye_column][/eye_row]

Book your Spring Special Trip

by sunriseflyshop

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Spring will be here before you know it. Come fish some of our first hatches of the season. Spring in Montana means longer days, warmer weather, and the start of the fishing season. When it comes to trout fishing, April and May really don’t get the recognition they deserve. If you are willing to throw on an extra layer and hit the water, you are likely to be rewarded with some of the finest fishing of the year.

With Skwala hatches, BWO, Mother’s Day Caddis, and arguably the best streamer fishing of the year, the spring has something to offer every angler. Book a Spring fishing trip with Sunrise Fly Shop and experience the magic of Spring in Montana for yourself.

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Big Hole River Fishing Report

Fish On! In the Big Hole River

by sunriseflyshop

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Flows on the Big Hole are starting to come up daily due to some snowmelt but not enough to put the fishing down. Fishing has been pretty darn good lately even with the slight bump in flows. Clarity remains around 4 feet. We have some skwalas around and March Brown mayflies. Our Big Hole River guides have been fishing on the upper Big Hole, Canyon stretches and the lower Big Hole. All three sections of the Big Hole has been fishing well. Water temperatures are hitting the magic number of 50 degrees lately, which has gotten the streamer junkies excited. We have done well on black, olive, and tan streamers. As we all know, conditions this time of year can change quick. Give us a call for up to date information. 406-835-3474.

Book your Spring Special fishing package today! 

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Recommended Flies: #10 Water Walker Olive; #8 Mr. Beam; #12 Parachute Adam’s; #8 T.J. Hooker; #8 Pat’s Stone; #12 Prince Nymph; #10 Squirmy Worm; #8 San Juan Worm Pink/Red #6 Smokin’ Mirrors Black; #6 Flash Minnow Yellow; #6 She Deamon;  Sex Dungeon Black/Yellow/White

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The Skwala Hatch is Here

by sunriseflyshop

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With the mild spring weather we have been experiencing, the skwalas have arrived a little early this year, and because of that we have had great skwala dry fly fishing this week.  Throwing smaller skwala patterns into slower moving water near the banks has been producing a lot of fish.  The best dry fly action has been from Divide down to Notch Bottom, but we have also been fishing the upper river with good success.  The dry fly fishing on the upper river has definitely been slower than it has been on the lower sections, but throwing a dropper has kept us in fish all day.

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