We are in a nice spring window of fishing at the moment.

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We are in a nice spring window of fishing at the moment. With this said, anything can happen to change the fishing since we have a tremendous snowpack this year. Currently we have a foot of visibility on the Big Hole and it is fishing ok. We have done the best sub surface with streamers and nymphs. You might find some fish up eating march brown’s and sqwallas but for the most part the fish have been feeding underneath for us. Nice spring weather on tap for the next few days and currently the river is somewhat stable.

Spring Special guided fishing details are here. 3 nights lodging 2 days guided fishing packages starting at $595 per person 

 Sunrise guide Lee Coyle with a nice Big Hole brown caught yesterday

Recommended Flies: #8 Mr. Beam; #10 Olive Chubby; #8 Bullet Head Skwalla; #10 Pat’s Stone (Olive/Brown); #8 San Juan Worm; #16 Shop Vac; #18 Zebra Midge; #16 Psycho May (olive); #6 Flash Minnow (Olive); #6 Smokin’ Mirrors (Black); #6 Sparkle Minnow; #4 Little Kim; #6 Screamer (Yellow) (Olive)

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Some warm weather the last several days has the mid to low elevation snow …..

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Some warm weather the last several days has the mid to low elevation snow melting and has caused the river to gain a large volume of water. Today the river has leveled off for the moment on the upper river gauges. We might get a window of good fishing the next few days on the upper Big Hole since the melting will stop due to the cold winter like conditions today. River clarity is the main concern for us right now. We need improving water conditions to get the fish eating. We will keep you posted and hopefully the fishing improves.

Spring Special guided fishing details are here. 3 nights lodging 2 days guided fishing packages starting at $595 per person 

Recommended Flies: #8 Mr. Beam; #10 Olive Chubby; #8 Bullet Head Skwalla; #10 Pat’s Stone (Olive/Brown); #8 San Juan Worm; #16 Shop Vac; #18 Zebra Midge; #16 Psycho May (olive); #6 Flash Minnow (Olive); #6 Smokin’ Mirrors (Black); #6 Sparkle Minnow; #4 Little Kim; #6 Screamer (Yellow) (Olive)

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The Big Hole is on the drop, which is great news.

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The Big Hole is on the drop, which is great news. As far as clarity goes it is starting to improve. Up around east Bank we had about 18 inches of visibility and around Melrose we had about a foot of clarity today. We should see this clarity improve as the river drops. No guarantees that the fishing will be good this weekend but at least it looks like improving conditions to be able to catch fish. We will keep you posted.

Spring Special guided fishing details are here. Packages starting at $595 per person 

Recommended Flies: #8 Mr. Beam; #10 Olive Chubby; #8 Bullet Head Skwalla; #10 Pat’s Stone (Olive/Brown); #8 San Juan Worm; #16 Shop Vac; #18 Zebra Midge; #16 Psycho May (olive); #6 Flash Minnow (Olive); #6 Smokin’ Mirrors (Black); #6 Sparkle Minnow; #4 Little Kim; #6 Screamer (Yellow) (Olive)

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Even though is is officially still winter the days ….

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Even though is is officially still winter the days are getting longer and spring will be here soon. It has been a good winter in the Big Hole valley as far as snow is concerned. Many of the drainages are sitting around 130% of snowpack for this date in time. We will know more how our summer flows will be based on how the snowmelt occurs and spring rain/snow events. The current conditions on the Big Hole are rather winter like. Around Melrose we still have shelf ice and ice jams. The weather looks like it is gradually warming later this week. As soon as the ice melts around Melrose and south of Melrose we will start fishing. Check back for fishing reports. As soon as we hit the water we will let you know. We are all itching for some Skwala hatch fishing next month.

It’s time to start thinking about spring fishing. We have our annual Spring Special packages starting @ $595. Click here for details.

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Fall fishing continues to be very good on the Big Hole River.

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Fall fishing continues to be very good on the Big Hole River. We have been doing well in the Jerry Creek section, Maiden Rock section and the stretches of the Big Hole below Melrose. You will find blue winged olives, and mahogany duns on the warmer afternoon days. Nymphing has remained the best tactic lately. Some solid reports of streamer fishing have been had on the overcast days. The brown trout are spawning so please be careful not to tromp on the spawning beds.

A nice catch the other day on one of our guided trips

Sale: 

20% off Simms Freestone Boots, and Rivertek BOA Boots
Call 406-835-3474 or email us to order.

 

 Recommended Flies: #16 high vis Baetis; #16 Purple Craze; #12 Chubby Chernobyl tan/orange/Gold/Purple #18 Purple Haze; #10 Pat’s Stone Brown/Black; #16 little spanker #16 Pheasant Tail; #16 Pearl Lightning Bug; #18 Red Copper John;#16 Psycho Mayfly Olive; #14 Caddis Pupa; #6 J.J. Special; #4 Smokin’ Mirrors; #4Mr. Creepo #4 McCunnes Sculpin; #4 Mini Loop Sculpin; #6 Lil’ Kim #6 Flash Minnow

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Fall fishing has been pretty good on the Big Hole.

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Fall fishing has been pretty good on the Big Hole. Uncrowded waters and scenery you usually find painted on canvas has this month a must to fish in Montana. Flows on the Big Hole are excellent and the brown trout have been willing to move to streamers and nymphs lately as they get ready to spawn. We also have some hatches of Blue Winged Olives and Mahogany Duns. Look for the fish hanging out in the tail-outs of the runs and the shallow edges of the runs. Dust off that streamer box and get out for some fall fishing before winter sets into Southwest Montana.

Sale: 

20% off Simms Freestone Boots, and Rivertek BOA Boots

Call 406-835-3474 or email us to order.

 

 Recommended Flies: #16 high vis Baetis; #16 Purple Craze; #12 Chubby Chernobyl tan/orange/Gold/Purple #18 Purple Haze; #10 Pat’s Stone Brown/Black; #16 little spanker #16 Pheasant Tail; #16 Pearl Lightning Bug; #18 Red Copper John;#16 Psycho Mayfly Olive; #14 Caddis Pupa; #6 J.J. Special; #4 Smokin’ Mirrors; #4Mr. Creepo #4 McCunnes Sculpin; #4 Mini Loop Sculpin; #6 Lil’ Kim #6 Flash Minnow

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What a crazy week it has been.

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What a crazy week it has been. We went from a red flag warning for fire danger to a winter storm warning within 24hrs. Summer has ended and we are set up for Fall fishing. The mountains in Southwest Montana above 9,000 ft. have over a foot of snow from this past storm. Our valley had a few inches of snow on the ground this morning. With all this moisture and the outlook of more moisture next week the river is on the rise but remains clear. The float fisherman are eager to see the river rise to more sustainable flows. The brown trout are packing on the pounds for the spawn coming up in October. Look for the trout to be aggressive to streamers and nymphs. We will see Blue Winged Olive hatches and Mahogany Duns during the overcast damp days ahead.

Rutger Wilson finding some good trout during the weekend snow storm

Sale: 

25% off Winston Nexus 4 piece fly rods. We have 5 weights in Stock. $359.75
Also, 20% off Simms Freestone Boots, and Rivertek BOA Boots

Call 406-835-3474 or email us to order.

 

 Recommended Flies: #16 high vis Baetis; #16 Purple Craze; #12 Chubby Chernobyl tan/orange/Gold/Purple #18 Purple Haze; #10 Pat’s Stone Brown/Black; #16 little spanker #16 Pheasant Tail; #16 Pearl Lightning Bug; #18 Red Copper John;#16 Psycho Mayfly Olive; #14 Caddis Pupa; #6 J.J. Special; #4 Smokin’ Mirrors; #4Mr. Creepo #4 McCunnes Sculpin; #4 Mini Loop Sculpin; #6 Lil’ Kim

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Summer fishing is coming to an end and fall fishing is nearing.

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Summer fishing is coming to an end and fall fishing is nearing. You will still find some Tricos hatching in the morning but they are starting to fade away. The fall Blue Winged Olives and Mahogany Duns have been seen recently. Look for these hatches to improve as fall weather nears. We are still in need of some moisture to boost our river flows. We have been floating the Jerry Creek stretch, Maiden Rock and below Melrose sections of the Big Hole. The streamer fishing has picked up and we should continue to see the fish looking to chase streamers as we move into fall conditions. Our client caught this trout on the Big Hole this past week.

Sale: 

25% off Winston Nexus 4 piece fly rods. We have 5 weights in Stock. $359.75
Also, 20% off Simms Freestone Boots, and Rivertek BOA Boots

Call 406-835-3474 or email us to order.

 

 

Recommended Flies:#16 high vis Baetis; #18 comparadun trico; #18 trico spinner;  #12 Chubby Chernobyl tan/orange/Gold/Purple #18 Purple Haze; #10 Pat’s Stone Brown/Black; #16 little spanker #16 Pheasant Tail; #16 Pearl Lightning Bug; #18 Red Copper John;#16 Psycho Mayfly Olive; #14 Caddis Pupa; #6 J.J. Special; #4 Smokin’ Mirrors; #4Mr. Creepo #4 McCunnes Sculpin; #4 Mini Loop Sculpin; #6 Lil’ Kim

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Fishing has remained ok on the Big Hole

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Fishing has remained ok on the Big Hole. The wade fisherman are happy but the float fisherman are ready for an increase in river flows. We are still floating in the Jerry Creek stretch, Maiden Rock Stretch and the Notch Bottom stretch of the Big Hole. You will find hatches of tricos in the morning and we are starting to see fall baetis in the afternoons on the upper stretches of the Big Hole. Besides the baetis, small hoppers and ants are working in the afternoon. We are also having good luck with streamers followed by a baetis nymph in the shallow riffles. Fall will soon be here and the large brown trout will be lurking around for your streamers.

Sunrise client with a brown ready for the fall season caught yesterday on the Big Hole

Sale: 

All Hatch Reels are 25% off We have 4Plus Finatics $329.95 and 5Plus Finatics $374.95 in stock. Call 406-835-3474 or email to order. 
25% off Winston Nexus 4 piece fly rods. We have 5 weights and 6 weights in Stock. $359.75 

Recommended Flies:#16 high vis Baetis #18 comparadun trico; #18 trico spinner  #12 Chubby Chernobyl tan/orange/Gold/Purple #18 Purple Haze; #10 Pat’s Stone Brown/Black; #16 little spanker #16 Pheasant Tail; #16 Pearl Lightning Bug; #18 Red Copper John;#16 Psycho Mayfly Olive; #14 Caddis Pupa; #6 J.J. Special; #4 Smokin’ Mirrors; #4Mr. Creepo #4 McCunnes Sculpin; #4 Mini Loop Sculpin

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The transition from hatches of PMD’s and nocturnal stoneflies …

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The transition from hatches of PMD’s and nocturnal stoneflies into Spruce Moth’s and Trico’s are going on right now on the Big Hole. We have started to see some Spruce Moth’s in the Dewey canyon and the Maiden Rock Canyon. Trico’s have been spotted below Melrose and on the upper Big Hole. Ants and small attractors have also been working well. Patters such as PMX’s and small chernobyl’s have been working well. The streamer fishing in the shallow riffle water has remained very good for large trout in the morning hours. Our guide trips have been floating the Jerry Creek Section, Maiden Rock section and below Melrose. Here is the link to any Hoot Owl closures on our waters. 

Recommended Flies: #12 Spruce Moth; #18 comparadun trico; #18 trico spinner #12 Rogue Stone; #10 Chubby Chernobyl tan/orange/Gold/Purple #10 Purple Haze; #12 X Caddis; #8 Pat’s Stone Brown/Black; #12 Pheasant Tail; #16 Pearl Lightning Bug; #16 Red Copper John;#16 Psycho Mayfly PMD; #14 Caddis Pupa; #6 J.J. Special; #4 Smokin’ Mirrors; #4Mr. Creepo #4 McCunnes Sculpin; #4 Mini Loop Sculpin

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