Big Hole River Fly Fishing Report
Latest Big Hole River Reports
- Big Hole River Spring Special Fishing
The Big Hole River Spring Special fishing packages are available for the 2026 fishing season. The Big Hole River opens April 1st and we are gearing up for the upcoming season. These fish have not seen flies since last September, so you have the chance to catch incredible fish in April. Low pressure and eager trout sums up our Spring fishing on the Big Hole River. We have the first stonefly hatch in April, which brings trout to the surface to eat your flies. The skwala stonefly hatch starts around April 10th and lasts about 3 weeks. You can read about the Skwala hatch here.
The snowpack in the Big Hole is hovering around 90% of normal and we have three more months to add to our water content. It is looking like we should have an average – above average water year if we continue to get precipitation. The low to mid elevation snowpack is weak this winter due to warmer than average temperatures in the valleys. Typically when we have poor low elevation snowpack the April and May fishing is excellent due to less runoff at these elevations. You can expect good water conditions this spring, which will make for great fishing. Check out the details to our Spring Special here.
- Spruce Moth Hatch On The Big Hole
The Spruce Moth hatch on the Big Hole has been heating up lately. The hatch is between Jerry Creek and Maiden Rock. You can find fish rising to the natural moths in the morning hours and into the afternoon. We have had fish in the 14-20 inch range rising to the Spruce Moth. Tricos are also hatching on the river but the fish seem to be more keyed into the moth lately. Some of the best technical dry fly fishing is had during this time period.
The nymph anglers have been doing well with #14 Spanish bullets, and small stone fly nymphs. Trout have been taking hoppers in the afternoon hours below Melrose. The river is easy to wade right now at these lower flows and the float anglers are still getting down the river in the Jerry Creek and Maiden Rock zones.
Sections 2-4 of the Big Hole River (from the confluence with the North Fork of the Big Hole River to the confluence with the Beaverhead River) are open to fishing from Midnight until 2:00 p.m. for any other up to date FWP fishing restrictions that have been placed on many Montana rivers please check out this link.
Recommended Flies:
- Spanish Bullet Black #14
- Spruce Moth #12
- Widow Maker Moth #12
- Panty Dropper Hopper #10
- Thread Frenchie #16
- Pat’s Stone #10 (Black/Brown)
- Duracell Copper Top #16
- Big Hole River Hoot Owl Restrictions
Fishing has been good despite the Hoot Owl restrictions that have been implemented on the Entire Big Hole River These restrictions went into effect July 17th. Hoot Owl restrictions mean that fishing is prohibited from 2:00 p.m. to midnight. We are doing guide trips from 7:00 am – 2:00 pm on the Big Hole and the fishing has remained good for our guides. This latest weekly report, we have seen this 22 inch brown and a 23 inch brown caught on our guide trips this week!
The Big Hole has nocturnal Stone flies hatching, caddis, and some PMD’s are around in the morning. Terrestrials and tricos are our next big hatch that will be starting soon. The streamer anglers are doing well in the morning hours in the shallow riffles with sculpin patterns. We are floating the Dewey Canyon and Maiden Rock Canyon stretches lately on our guide trips. It is time to get out early and adjust your fishing hours.
Recommended Flies:
- Spanish Bullet #14 (Black) (Olive)
- Thread Frenchie #14 (Olive)
- Pat’s Stone #10 (Black)
- Chubby Chernobyl Tan/pink #10
- PMD Parachute #14
Sections 2-5 of the Big Hole River (from the confluence with the North Fork of the Big Hole River to the confluence with the Beaverhead River) are open to fishing from Midnight until 2:00 p.m. for any other up to date FWP fishing restrictions that have been placed on many Montana rivers please check out this link.
