Big Hole River Fishing Report

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We have seen peak flows on the Big Hole River this week from runoff. So what does that mean? Salmonflies will be here soon, in fact any day now we will see the big bugs below Melrose. Flows have dropped below 5,000cfs at the Melrose gauge. Once the Melrose gauge gets below 4,000cfs your typical willow lines and banks will be fishable. Water temperatures are right in line for the salmonfly nymphs to be moving near the banks. We have been out the last few days below Melrose and we are picking up fish on salmonfly nymphs. Any day now we will be throwing massive foam flies into the willows and banks expecting explosive eats on the surface. Once the hatch starts we will let you know. Streamers and nymphs are the name of the game right.

2020 Salmonfly Fest has been canceled due to the risk of Covid-19. We are going to be having some great raffle items to help celebrate the annual event. Stay tuned for raffle items coming this week announced on instagram and on our fishing reports page.

COVID-19 Phase 2 Social Distancing and Sanitization Shop Regulations

In accordance with the directives of both the State of Montana and Silver Bow County, below are the rules for entering the fly shop

  1. No customers with COVID-19 symptoms may enter the fly shop
  2. Only 3 customers may be in the fly shop at one time
  3. Mandatory to practice 6-foot social distancing guidelines while in the fly shop
  4. All customers must sanitize their hands using our provided sanitizer before entering the shop
  5. Before touching any flies, please get a pair of rubber gloves from an employee
  6. You are welcome to try on any clothing, but please let us know so that we can sanitize the product when you are finished
  7. Please wear a facial mask
  8. Restrooms will temporarily be unavailable to the public
  9. Fishing Licenses have to be purchased online. Click Here to purchase
  10. Credit Card only Purchases.

We have a Pick-Up window for customers that would prefer doing take-out orders

Thank you for your cooperation. Together, we will make it through these difficult times

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#4 Smokin’ Mirrors
#4 Sparkle Minnow
#4 Little Kim Copper
#4 Pat’s Stone (Orange/Brown) (Black)
#6 Flash minnow
#8 Chubby Chernobyl (UV) (Gold) (Purple)
#12 X Caddis

#12 Purple Rooster
#12 Red Copper John
#12 Silver Lightning Bug
#12 Bloom’s Caddis
#14 Purple Haze
#1 Dungeon (Yellow) (Black/Purple)

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Big Hole River Salmonflies

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The famous Salmonfly hatch has started on the Big Hole River. We have dropping river conditions and clarity of 4 feet on the river. Yesterday we spotted some adult salmonflies on the Big Hole River. We have been fishing #4 Pat’s stones under a salmon fly  dry and the fish have been crushing the salmonfly nymph fished tight to the willows and banks. Yesterday we had a few fish looking up for the dry. We think that the hatch will progress the next few days in the Melrose area. Get ready to throw #4 dry flies and watch explosions on the surface!

Sunrise Fly Shop lodging is completed: Call for your next Big Hole lodging reservation 406-835-3474 

Salomflies spotted yesterday on the Big Hole River

Recommended Flies: # Cat Puke; #4 Rogue Stone; #10 Gray Drake; #12 X Caddis; #4 Pat’s Stone (Brown/Orange); #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 River looks like it peaked from runoff.

by sunriseflyshop

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The Big Hole River looks like it peaked from runoff. The entire river is on the drop, which is great news! River clarity remains around 4 feet and the flows around Melrose are on a steep decline. We have seen a few early hatching golden stones. Our prediction is that we will be throwing Salmonflies by this weekend. Fish are keyed into the salmonfly nymphs subsurface. Once the flows get to 6,000cfs around Melrose we will be floating the Maiden Rock canyon and south of Melrose. Currently we are still staying above the Wise River due to high flows. This should change in the next few days since the river is dropping in flow by the hour. Stay in touch…..salmonflies soon!

Sunrise Fly Shop lodging is completed: Call for your next Big Hole lodging reservation 406-835-3474 

Tracy Range with a Big Hole River brown trout

Recommended Flies: #10 Gray Drake; #12 X Caddis; #4 Pat’s Stone (Brown/Orange); #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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Salmonflies were here

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Salmonflies were here, and the fishing was incredible. We were seeing the Big Bugs from Browne’s Bridge all the way up to Sportsmans and the dry fly was as good as anyone can ask for. Then the temperature plummeted and we were hit with one of the biggest rain storms that we have seen in years. That one rain storm caused the river to go back above flood stage. Now that the river is dropping and coming back into shape, we are expecting to see another round of phenomenal June fishing.  The upper river has dropped 3000cfs in the last 36 hours, and the clarity is better than 24 inches. With warmer weather coming, we should see some of the hatches reemerge, which will get the fish eating on the surface once again. Salmon flies, Golden Stones, PMD’s, Green Drakes, and Caddis will be hatching.

If you float below the Wise River, the flows are still very high.  Please float with caution.

Below is a nice brown that Ken caught a couple days before the rains hit us.

Recommended Flies: #4 Cat Puke; #12 Rogue Stone; #6 Chubby Chernobyl tan/orange #10 Purple Haze; #12 X Caddis; #6 Pat’s Stone Black; #12 Pheasant Tail; #12 Pearl Lightning Bug; #12 Caddis Pupa; #6 J.J. Special; #4 Smokin’ Mirrors; #4Mr. Creepo

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Fishing has remained very good on the Big Hole.

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Fishing has remained very good on the Big Hole. We have hatches of Caddis, March Brown’s and Blue Winged Olives. The river is clear and stable at the moment. Streamer fishing has picked up since the water temperatures are getting into the 50’s in the afternoon. The warmer weather in the next few days might start to bump the river so please stay in touch with the latest report by calling the fly shop. We have Big Hole River guides on the river daily with your latest fishing report.

Below is information on our second annual Salmonfly Fest.

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Beaverhead River

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The upper Beaverhead River has been fishing well. We have had our guides on the river this week. A tan S.J. worm, and #18 olive split backs have been working well. River conditions are great right now on the Beaverheread with an outflow @ 680 CFS. Dry fly activity has been limited and nymphing has been pretty good.

Recommended Flies: #18 Olive/brown Split back; #14 tan S.J. Worm; #18 Pheasant Tail #18 tan Scud; #18 Ray Charles; #18 Micro Mayfly #18 Psycho Mayfly

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June 1st is the start of the Salmonfly Season here on the Big Hole.

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June 1st is the start of the Salmonfly Season here on the Big Hole. The bugs have not hatched yet but they are getting close on the lower river. We have been having stellar fishing on the Salmonfly nymphs lately. #4 Pat’s stones in the shallow fast riffle water has been very good lately. We are also having good luck with streamers. Copper Zonkers; #4 Lil Kim olive/copper. The Salmonflies should hatch soon on the lower Big Hole below Melrose. When we have some first sightings of the bugs we will let you know.

Client Al Range with a beauty Big Hole Brown caught recently

Recommended Flies : #6 San Juan Worm; #12 Pheasant Tail #12 Prince Nymph; #4 Pat’s Stone Brown/Orange; #12 CDC Caddis #14 Caddis Pupa; #14 X Caddis; #4 Smoking’ Mirrors; J.J. Special #10 Sparkle Minnow; #4 Sunrise Sculpzilla  #6 Yellow Zonker  #6 Copper Zonker

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Big Hole River Salmonfly Hatch

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It’s been a busy weekend on the Big Hole. We are experiencing the most Salmonflies we have seen in about 10 years on the Big Hole. Currently the hatch is on the entire River. Some of our best dry fly fishing has been from Jerry Creek down to Melrose. Our best dry fly fishing has been in the morning and late afternoon. You will find Salmonflies, Golden Stones, Yellow Sallies and Caddis hatching right now. Flows have been dropping and water conditions are ideal right now for dry fly fishing. During the middle of the week you will find the river traffic to be much more pleasant. It is time to throw the big bugs and hold on tight. Our Big Hole River guides have been catching clients some very nice fish lately.

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Waiting for Salmonflies

by sunriseflyshop

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Tomorrow marks the first day of June and we are gearing up for the Salmonfly hatch on the Big Hole River. We are going to have great flows and clarity for the Salmonfly hatch this year. Currently, we are near average flows for this date in time at the Melrose gauge. We do not have any Salmonflies on the lower Big Hole River but they should start hatching soon. We have had great nymph fishing on #4 Pat’s Stoneflies which means the fish are keying into the Salmonfly nymph as the nymphs are moving closer to the banks. The Salmonflies will start to hatch around Glen. We will let you know when we first see these bugs. Fishing remains good on the upper Big Hole and throughout the entire river system. Clarity remains good and flows are currently stable.

Flies: #10 Chubby, #12 Purple Haze #4Pat’s Stone Orange/Brown #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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Earlier this week the ice broke off the entire upper Big Hole River.

by sunriseflyshop

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Earlier this week the ice broke off the entire upper Big Hole River. We are currently in the clearing process and the river is dropping from the ice flow. Water temperatures are starting the day around 37 degrees and warming to about 42 degrees. We currently have 2 feet of visibility in the Melrose area.  We fished yesterday and it was ok, not great.  We boated about a dozen fish in 5 hours.  We have a Big Hole River guide boat out today so we will let you know how the river improves.  All sub surface fishing right now on the Big Hole.  Our best bug yesterday was a red San Juan worm and a yellow yummy streamer dead drifted tight to the banks.

Check out our Spring Special Package Rates

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