Big Hole River Fly Fishing Report
Latest Big Hole River Reports
- Spring has Sprung On The Big Hole River
We have had some fantastic spring weather for the most part on the Big Hole lately. We are just getting through a cold snap today and then we are back to good fishing conditions. The river is stable and visibility is around 3 feet. We have had great nymph fishing and the occasional afternoon with good Skwalla dry fly fishing. You should be able to prospect the slow grassy banks this weekend with skwalla dry flies and do well. We have seen the better dry fly conditions on the lower stretches of the Big Hole River.
The trout have looked very healthy so far this spring. You will find some blue winged olives and March brown mayflies scattered throughout the river system. The streamer anglers are having good reports in the afternoons. Some days we have seen fish chasing and some days they have wanted slower moving streamers off the bottom. It is a wonderful time to get your spring fishing in before the high elevation runoff hits. We have a snowpack around 90% of normal for this date in time. The water conditions are shaping up to be very good this season. Spring Special Packages are still available. Book your trip today.
Recommended Flies:
- Bullet Head Skwalla #10
- Chubby Chernobyl Olive #10
- Blackout Stone Skwalla #10
- San Juan Worm Pink/Red #8
- Pat’s Stone #8 Olive/Brown
- Rusty Trombone #6
- Lil’ Kim Copper #6
- J.J. Special #6
- Spring Fishing On The Big Hole
Spring Fishing on the Big Hole has arrived. It has been winter like weather but that is going to change this weekend. Highs in the upper 50’s and lower 60’s this weekend will make for some nice fishing. The Big Hole is dropping and clearing and should be great shape this weekend. Water temperatures are still cold and the fish will be in the slower buckets. We have been nymphing with our best success. Flows are around 800cfs and should continue to drop or stay stable. You will find hatches of midges right now. Skwallas are still about a week out. Water temperatures need to get up into the upper 40’s to 50’s to get the Skwala hatch going. A solid window of spring fishing is here until the next push of water from snowmelt. The Big Hole basin is currently at 96% of average in snowpack.
Recommended Flies:
- Pat’s Stone olive/brown #8
- San Juan Worm #8
- Zebra Midge #16
- Shop Vac #16
- J.J. Special #6
- Bow River Bugger #6
- Big Hole River Opening Day
The Big Hole River opening day is tomorrow, April 1st. We are looking forward to celebrating our 20th year in business in 2025. Our shop will be open at 9:00 am tomorrow and open daily for the Spring season. We will be running shuttles and open with many fishing goodies in stock. Our lodging opens this week and we still have some availability for our Spring Special.
The conditions of the Big Hole are not ideal right now but improving daily. The ice on the upper river has broken free last week and it has caused the flows to come up and the river to be off color. The river seems to be stabilizing and should drop in flows in the next 24- 36 hours due to cooler temperatures. Once the river drops in flow we should have great fishing. Boats will be out this week and we will give you reports as soon as we have them. We are looking forward to a great season. Snowpack in the Big Hole drainage is 95% for this date in time. We are expecting to have a good water year and plenty of healthy fish in the river system. We will see you in the shop or on the water.
