he Big Hole River is almost entering flood stage in Melrose.

by sunriseflyshop

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The Big Hole River is almost entering flood stage in Melrose. With the heavy rain predicted the next couple days I would think the river will continue to climb. It is downright dangerous to float the Big Hole unless you are well above the Wise River. If you must get out and float (which I suggest you stay home and tie flies) I would do a stretch around Mudd Creek or Fishtrap. Fishing has been tough lately and it won’t get better until the flows drop. We will keep you posted when conditions improve. Even though the river is high and off color we have managed to get some good fish lately but we aren’t catching many.

Spring Special guided fishing details are here. 3 night 2 day fishing Packages starting at $595 per person 

Robert Harp with a fantastic Big Hole Brown caught a couple days ago on the Big Hole River

Recommended Flies: #8 Mr. Beam; #10 Olive Chubby; #8 Bullet Head Skwalla; #10 Pat’s Stone (Olive/Brown); #8 San Juan Worm; #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.

by sunriseflyshop

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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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Spring fishing has started to get good on the Big Hole River.

by sunriseflyshop

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Spring fishing has started to get good on the Big Hole River. We have had some exciting fishing the last few days. In fact the dry fly fishing is picking up on Skwalas, Blue Winged Olives and midges. We have been starting the day subsurface with nymphs and streamers and then moving to a dry dropper or a single dry in the afternoon. The Big Hole has about 3 feet of visibility and conditions are right for the skwalla hatch to continue to improve. Give us a call for up to date details 406-835-FISH(3474) or head on over for some spring fishing. The last several days the 16 – 20 inch fish have started to feed and we have seen a nice age class willing to eat the skwala.

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

Naomi with a stellar fish from the other day on the Big Hole

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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Feels like winter but it’s Spring!

by sunriseflyshop

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It’s been a snowy cold start to spring in Southwest Montana. Even though the birds are churping and the days are getting longer, the guides on the rods are frozen some days and you still see the flakes of snow falling from the sky at times. We are not finding Skwallas hatching yet on the lower Big Hole. We have been throwing streamers and nymphs with some success lately. The floats we have been doing have all been on the stretches below Melrose. It is a little warmer on the stretches of river below Melrose. Water temperatures have been in the 30’s and some days creep into the 40’s, which turns on the fishing. A few ice shelves are still around but the lower Big Hole is shaping up and the fishing will be improving as things warm up to spring conditions. A bit of ice around the boat launches but we have been using Salmonfly, Brownes Bridge access and Glen lately.

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

Recommended Flies: #10 Pat’s Stone (olive/Brown) #8 San Juan Worm (Red/Wine/Pink) #18 Zebra Midge; #6 Flash Minnow Olive; #4 Smokin’ Mirror’s J.J.; #6 Mr. Creepo Natural

Dan Soltau with a streamer eater from late last week on the Big Hole

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Even though is is officially still winter the days ….

by sunriseflyshop

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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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What a crazy week it has been.

by sunriseflyshop

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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.

by sunriseflyshop

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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

by sunriseflyshop

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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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You will find hatches of Tricos in the morning and then terrestrials in the afternoon on the Big Hole.

by sunriseflyshop

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You will find hatches of Tricos in the morning and then terrestrials in the afternoon on the Big Hole. We have had fantastic hatches of Tricos with some large brown trout podding up and sipping dries in the morning. The spruce moth hatch is done but you will find flying ants and some hoppers in the afternoons. Streamers in the shallow riffles have been producing nice fish. We have also been doing well with a small dropper off the back of the streamer. #16 Psycho Mayflies, #16 Little Spankers and #16 Micro Mayflies have been good dropper nymphs. We have been floating the river with clients in the Jerry Creek Section and the Maiden Rock section of the Big Hole. The wade fisherman have easy access to the river due to the lower flows right now. Hopper activity has been good in the Glen to Notch section of the Big Hole. Water temperatures are back in the safe zone on the Big Hole due to cooler night / day time temperatures.

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: #18 comparadun trico; #18 trico spinner  #12 Chubby Chernobyl tan/orange/Gold/Purple #18 Purple Haze; #10 Pat’s Stone Brown/Black; #12 Pheasant Tail; #16 Pearl Lightning Bug; #16 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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Dry fly fishing on the Big Hole has been excellent this week and it should remain that way for the next several days.

by sunriseflyshop

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Dry fly fishing on the Big Hole has been excellent this week and it should remain that way for the next several days. The overcast weather we have had has kept the fish looking up and several big fish have been landed on the dry fly this week. We have hatches of Golden Stones, PMD’s, Caddis and Yellow Sallies. We have been fishing on the upper River near East bank and the Canyon sections of the Big Hole for our best dry fly fishing. Flows remain above average for this time of year. Streamer fishing has been very good for all the streamer junkies that hit the Big Hole. We have done best with natural and olive colored streamers.

Recommended Flies: #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; #12 Pearl Lightning Bug; #12 Red Copper John;#12 Psycho Mayfly PMD; #12 Caddis Pupa; #6 J.J. Special; #4 Smokin’ Mirrors; #4Mr. Creepo #4 McCunnes Sculpin; #4 Mini Loop Sculpin

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