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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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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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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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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We are currently in between hatches on the Big Hole.

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We are currently in between hatches on the Big Hole. You will find PMD’s in the morning, some drakes are still around and you will also find Yellow Sallies and nocturnal stoneflies. Flow remain very good for this time of year. The warm afternoons and long days have some of the reaches warming into the 70’s in late afternoon hours. Please take a break when water temperatures exceed 70 degrees. We have been doing well with PMD nymphs, stone fly nymphs and streamers after the morning hatch. Don’t overlook the shallow riffles, you will be surprised at what you can hook on the end of your line. The very lower Big Hole below Notch Bottom down to the Jefferson is on Hoot Owl, and the very upper Big Hole near Wisdom is also on Hoot Owl. Hoot Owl means it is illegal to fish after 2:00pm till 12:00am. Here is a map to help you find the locations. Click Here.

Our home waters on the Big Hole are not under any restrictions. We have been floating the Jerry Creek section, Divide, Maiden Rock and below Melrose with no restrictions.

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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Fishing has remained very good on the Big Hole lately.

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Fishing has remained very good on the Big Hole lately. We have hatches of PMD’s, Yellow Sallies, drakes, Caddis, and nocturnal stoneflies. Our best dry fly fishing has been in the morning and during the day when we have cloud cover. If you get out at dawn the nocturnal stonefly fishing has been fantastic on large stonefly dries. In the evening the the caddis hatches have been thick from Jerry Creek down to Melrose. Streamer fishing has been good in the fast riffle water during the middle of the day and in the early morning hours. Around 10 am you will find fish up eating PMD’s.

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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Fishing has been stellar on the Big Hole lately

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Fishing has been stellar on the Big Hole lately. The river has stabilized and the clarity is excellent. We have hatches of Golden Stones, PMD’s, Green Drakes, Caddis and Yellow Sallies. Dry fly fishing has been good and the dropper fishing has been very consistent. Streamer fishing has been good in the morning hours and evening. Our Big Hole River guides have been fishing the upper Big Hole, the canyon stretch and the lower Big Hole.

 Recommended Flies: #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 Red Copper John;#12 Caddis Pupa; #6 J.J. Special; #4 Smokin’ Mirrors; #4Mr. Creepo

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The Salmonfly Hatch is Here!

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The hatch that everyone has been waiting for is finally here.  We are seeing the Big Bugs from the Glen Bridge all the way up to East Bank.  A couple of our guides did an exploratory float last night from Maiden Rock to Brownes, and they said that the Salmonflies were thick in the willows throughout the entire float.  If you are looking to get trout to eat dry flies on the surface, try to find the slowest moving water in-between willows, softer inside bends, and slower moving water along grassy banks.

The River is still extremely high for this time of year, so if you decide to float any section below the Wise River, please be very careful.  The river’s flow is very fast and strong, and if you are not an expert at rowing a drift boat or raft we recommend only floating the upper river.

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