Cool and wet weather has helped the fishing dramatically lately.

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Cool and wet weather has helped the fishing dramatically lately. The cloud cover has also helped the dry fly fishing and streamer fishing on the Big Hole. You will find some PMD’s in the morning in specific locations, other than that the hatches are bleak right now. Streamer fishing has been fantastic. We have been doing well with a mini loop sculpin in Olive or Tan. In the canyon a small Pat’s stone dropper has been doing well in the shallow riffles.  Enjoy the cold water and hard fighting trout right now. Air temperatures are supposed to remain in the 70’s and afternoon showers are expected daily. You still need to follow the Hoot Owl closures in the specific locations. Here is the news on the Hoot Owl closures in Montana. 
Flies:   #12 Chubby, #14 Rocky Mountain Mint #16 Purple Haze, #16 PMX Olive,  #8Pat’s Stone Black/Brown #8 San Juan Worm, #14 Pearl Lightning Bug #14 Red Copper John #16 Superflash Pheasant Tail #16 Shimmer Nymph #12 Psycho Mayfly #14 Kyle’s Sally #6 Bellyache Minnow Olive, #8 Sparkle Minnow,  #6 Copper Zonker  #6 Mini Loop Sculpin

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The moist wet weather continues in Southwest Montana.

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The moist wet weather continues in Southwest Montana. We are receiving some much needed rain to saturate the ground. Our Big Hole River guides have had fantastic fishing lately. This is the Big Hole River fishing report you have been waiting for. The large brown trout have been eating well during this wet cycle. You will find caddis hatching on the Big Hole from Jerry creek down stream. We have had March Brown hatches above the Wise River in the afternoons. Streamers have been working well for large brown’s on the upper Big Hole. The river is on the rise but don’t let that fool you. The large brown trout have moved to the banks as they are snacking on worms, and sculpins with the increase of flow. The river has 2 feet of visibility and now is the time to search for the large brown trout the Big Hole is famous for.

Brant with a nice Big Hole Brown

Flies: #10 Chubby, #12 Purple Haze #10 Pat’s Stone Brown/Green #8 San Juan Worm, Bellyache Minnoe Olive #8 Sparkle Minnow, #4 Yellow/Black Beldar; #4 Smoke N’ Mirrors #6 Yellow Zonker #10  #6 Bad Boy

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Streamer Season

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The colder weather over the past several days has brought the flows on the Big Hole River down to around 2500cfs and increased the visibility to more than two feet.  This lowering of flows and improvement of the clarity has made for some great spring fishing.  Even though we still haven’t really seen much sign of the Skwallas, the streamer fishing has been really good.  As usual for the Big Hole, yellow has been the hot streamer color, and slow stripping has been the most successful technique.  Below are three  nice fish that one of our clients caught this past weekend.

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On The Drop Again

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After an intense rain storm on Tuesday, the Big Hole River is back on the drop.  The flow has dropped back down to 2600cfs, and the visibility is increased to around 2 feet.  The great streamer fishing that we had been seeing on the upper river should come back as quickly as the river is dropping.  Yellow streamers thrown tight to the bank has produced quite a few fish over 20 inches in the last week.  Most of the anglers have been floating from East Bank to Jerry Creek, but fish are being caught from as high as Fishtrap and as low as Notch.  Cooler weather this weekend should keep the river on the drop and keep the fishing good.

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Perfect Spring Conditions

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The Big Hole River is in prime condition and is fishing amazingly well.  Even though we haven’t seen a lot of adult Skwallas, the fish are looking up and eating Skwalla patterns on the surface.  And if you are willing to drop a nymph off of your dry fly, the action becomes even more intense.  If that wasn’t enough, fish are also chasing yellow and brown streamers.  Spring fishing couldn’t be better!

Below is a fish that our client Woody caught yesterday.

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We have about the same conditions as last week to report.

by sunriseflyshop

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We have about the same conditions as last week to report.  Our Big Hole River fishing report this week is filled with more winter like conditions on the water.  Flows have slightly come up at the Maiden Rock gauge but we are still experiencing ice on the river and freezing water conditions.  Snow is predicted Thursday and Friday and then a slight warm up is predicted for the weekend.  Wade fishing is still your only options.  Our Big Hole river fly shop is still closed for the winter.  Our projected opening is April 1st.  If you are getting on the water we suggest the spring fed areas and tail outs of runs.  Bring your midge box, San Juan worms, and Pat’s Stones with you.  As for our Montana snowpack and Big Hole snowpack we are still pilling snow in the high country.  Since we last reported a nice winter storm hit us.  Currently the Big Hole valley is at 140% snow/water equivalency and our total snowfall is 118% of normal.

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Southwest Montana fly fishing finally has something positive to report.

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Southwest Montana fly fishing finally has something positive to report.  We have some valley temperatures above freezing.  These warmer day time highs above freezing will start to get the ice off the lower Big Hole River.  Right now we are still at winter flows and with the ice on the river you will not be able to get a boat down.  On the warmer days some midge activity will be getting some fish looking up.  Still your basic nymphing techniques of Pat’s Stones and San Juan worms in the tail out deep areas of the run will get you hooked up.  If you are looking to wade fish I would recommend being where springs enter the river.  Our Big Hole River fly shop is gearing up for a great Spring season and our Big Hole River guides are ready to get on the water.

the Big Hole Snowpack is looking very good.  We are at 140% snow/water content and 115% of normal snowfall for this date in time.

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