
Big Hole River Fly Fishing Report
Latest Big Hole River Reports
- Montana Snowpack Update
We have your Montana snowpack update as we enter the middle of the winter season. It was a brisk -15 degrees here this morning but it looks like temperatures will get back into the 20’s in a few days. The Montana snowpack is much better this year compared to last year at this time. The Big Hole and Beaverhead drainage is sitting at 80% of normal snow water equivalent at this time. We still have 90 more days until our snowpack has peaked, so plenty of winter left to increase our percentages. It is still too early to predict streamflows for the spring and summer season. We usually will know streamflows for the spring in summer once April comes around. Updates will be coming from us throughout the winter and spring season as the snow piles up for outdoor enthusiasts.
We are looking towards a great 2025 fishing season. Fish health this past fall was found to be fantastic in the brown trout and rainbow trout in the Big Hole and Beaverhead Rivers. We will start our season April 1st with our Spring Special. This year we are taking the Spring Special through May 15th. You will find great dry fly fishing opportunities in the Spring season. Hatches of Skwallas and Blue Winged Olives will dominate the menu for trout. Spring packages are 15% our regular season rates. Book your trip today.
Job Position Available:
Sunrise Fly Shop Manager Position:
Sunrise Fly Shop is searching for a qualified and hard working individual to manage our fly shop. This is a fun environment filled with passion for fly fishing on the legendary Big Hole River in Melrose, Montana.
- Manage marketing and growth of online store.
- Inventory accuracy and order fulfillment
- Social Media Marketing and email marketing
- Manage, promote, and grow Sunrise Fly Shop’s social media
- Inventory management and inventory accuracy
- Weekly email news blasts highlighting online store, sales, and guide trips and fishing reports
- Help facilitate the accurate and efficient completion of all the day’s shuttles.
- Communicate with clients via email and telephone to book both guided trips and lodging
- Manage the stocking of merchandise and organize the backstock and back rooms
- Contact all clients that will be checking in within the next 24 hours and ensure that they have all the – logistical information that they might need for their upcoming trip
To apply email resume to: [email protected]
- Big Hole River Fishing Report
The Big Hole River fishing report has been pretty good lately for our guides and general public anglers. We have over 55 miles of open fishable water on the Big Hole right now. The Big Hole is open from Dickey Bridge down to Notch Bottom(Tony Shoonen Fishing Access). Hoot Owl Restrictions have been lifted on this section. You can fish all day and all evening from Dickey Bridge down to the Lower Maiden Rock (FWP). On the Big Hole you will find trico’s, hoppers and a few spruce moth’s still around. Nymphing has been solid with Spanish bullett’s, psycho mayflies and pat’s rubber legs. We have seen some very nice brown trout caught lately on the river. Hoppers and a nymph dropper has been the ticket to stay hooked up after the trico’s hatch in the morning.
Recommended Flies:
- #8 Plan B (peach)
- #10 Chubby Chernobyl Pink
- #18 Trico Spinner
- #18 Trico Comparadun
- #18 Purple Craze
- #16 Spanish Bullet Olive
- Sections 3 and 4 of the Big Hole River Have Reopened
The USGS recalibrated the Glen gauge on Monday, August 5 and it was determined that the gauge was reading lower than the actual flow of the river. Because of this, FWP announced on August 6 that sections 3 and 4 of the Big Hole Rive are open again. This means that you can fish sections 2, 3, and 4 of the Big Hole River. These three sections are still under Hoot Owl Restrictions, meaning you can fish the river from Midnight until 2:00pm every day. With the river opening, our fly shop will be open again starting Wednesday, August 7 at 7:00am.
Full fishing closures are still in effect for both Sections 1 and 5 of the Big Hole.
Full Fishing closure is in effect for the following section of the Big Hole River beginning August 1
- Section 5: Tony Schoonen FAS (aka Notch) to confluence with Beaverhead River
Flows have gradually decreased since hoot owl restrictions were put in place in early July and dropped below 100 cfs on the morning of August 1, 2024.
The Big Hole River has a drought management plan that is overseen by the Big Hole Watershed Committee and calls for a full closure of Section V when flows drop below 100 cfs.
Fishing closure is in effect for the following section of the Big Hole River beginning August 7
- Section 1: Saginaw Bridge on Skinner Meadows Road to the confluence with North Fork of the Big Hole River
Flows and water temperatures in Section 1 are measured at USGS gage 06024450 near Wisdom.
Flows have gradually decreased since hoot owl restrictions were put in place in early July and dropped below 20 cfs on August 2, 2024. Flows have since fluctuated between 15 and 24 cfs.
The Big Hole River has a drought management plan that is overseen by the Big Hole Watershed Committee and calls for a full closure of Section I when flows drop below 20 cfs. FWP staff visited the site last week to confirm the gage was providing accurate measurements. At the time, the gage was reading 46 cfs and staff measured closer to 35 cfs, so there’s a high likelihood that flows are lower than being reported.