Big Hole River Spring Update

by sunriseflyshop

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Warm weather on tap today.  It is supposed to hit 70 degrees this afternoon.  After the cold week and the warm weather for the next few days the Skwala nymphs should start moving towards the banks.  We have gotten some dumb fish on top with Skwalas but it is still early.  We have been fishing dry dropper rigs all week and we have done very well on the Pat’s stone dropper and worm as a dropper.  Occasionally we have had eats on top but we are still not in full swing on the Big Hole River skwala hatch.  Your best window of opportunity right now is from about 11:00 am till 5:00 pm.  Streamers have also been working for our Big Hole River guides.  You will need to dead drift the streamers for your best results since the water is in the upper 30’s to lower 40’s.  Flows are stable at the moment and the visibility is around 2 1/2 feet.

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Big Hole River March Fishing Report

by sunriseflyshop

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Our guide boat yesterday did well.  The mornings are pretty slow due to the freezing nighttime temperatures.  Our afternoon fishing yesterday was pretty good.  The fish are eating San Juan worms and pat’s stones tight to the banks on the tail outs of the runs.  We did some nice fish on streamers on the inside bends of the runs at a dead drift pace.  Streamers of choice are Yellow Yummy’s, and sparkle minnows.  Sunny and warmer today. The fish should be more active today since it will be warmer.  Clarity is still around 2 feet.  We have another Big Hole River guide fishing today with clients so we will have more detailed fishing reports throughout the week ahead.

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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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Big Hole Spring Fishing Special

by sunriseflyshop

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It is time to shake off the cabin fever and enjoy some Big Hole River spring fishing. Our season kicks off soon and our Big Hole River guides are ready to take you fishing.  We will have hatches of Skwala stoneflies, and Blue Winged Olives in April and May.  Every year some of our largest fish are caught in April and May.  Timing of the Skwala hatch on the Big Hole is from April 1st – May 15th.  Spring is a time of change, so you have to monitor river flows, temperatures, and weather conditions to catch the elusive Skwala.  Experiencing a fly fishing vacation in Montana to catch this hatch is not to be missed.  This is a great time to experience trout feeding with fury, as they eat their first stoneflies of the season.

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Happy New Year on the Big Hole River

by sunriseflyshop

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We would like to wish everyone a happy new year and may this 2015 trout season be the best for everyone. We have had a good start to the Big Hole River snowpack.  The upper basins in the Big Hole valley are sitting at about 120% of normal snowpack. We still have a lot of winter left but this is a good start to our water supply for the summer.  The Big Hole is pretty iced over right now.  You will find your best luck nymphing the deeper holes near springs.

We are currently gearing up for our hosted trip to Patagonia River Guides.  We will be heading South for the month of February with our clients to fish with PRG. We look forward to keeping everyone posted on the fishing in Southwest Montana in 2015.

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October continues to produce some great fishing on the Big Hole.

by sunriseflyshop

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October continues to produce some great fishing on the Big Hole.  We are having peak fall colors on the river and the brown trout have matching colors of the cottonwoods and willows. Nymphing and streamers are the game on the Big Hole right now.  In the bright sun the last several days nymphing has been the ticket.  We have overcast weather today and for the  next several days so the streamers will turn on again.  For streamers I suggest J,J.’s, Trevor Sculpin’s, Mini loop Sculpin’s and Sparkle Minnows.  Please respect the spawning brown trout and do not step on the spawning beds.

Flies:  #12 Chubby Chernobyl Yellow/Purple/Black; #10 Purple Haze; #16 Baetis Cripple; #16 Rocky Mountain Mint, #10 Pat’s Stone, #18 Silver Lightning Big, #18 Micro Mayfly, #16 Red Copper John #16 Bat Man Nymph orange/brown: #8 RL Stone; #6 J.J. Special #6 Coffey Bugger; #4 Bad Boy #  10 Copper/Pearl Zonker   #4 Mini Look Sculpin, #4 Trevor’s Sculpin

FALL SALE:  25% – 50% OFF SELECT CLOTHING TILL THE END OF THE SEASON CALL FOR DETAILS

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Big Hole River Fall Fishing Report

by sunriseflyshop

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We had our first dusting of snow in the high country a couple days ago.  Fall is in the air and we have a great stretch of weather ahead of us.  Cool mornings, and warm afternoons are on tap for the next several days.  We have been nymphing in the mornings, and throwing dry flies in the afternoons.  In the morning a size #16 Silver Lightning bug, #16 Psycho May flies, #16 pheasant tails, and #18 red copper John’s have been producing nice fish.  In the afternoon you will find baetis hatching, and Mahogany duns.  #14 grey rocky mountain mint’s and #16 split wing Blue wing’s have been our dries of choice.  The Big Hole River Flow still remain above average for this time of year.

Flies:  #12 Chubby Chernobyl Yellow/Purple/Black; #10 Purple Haze; #16 PMD Cripple; #16 Rocky Mountain Mint, #18 Trico Spinner, #18 Trico Comparadun, #10 Pat’s Stone #12 Red Copper John #16 Bat Man Nymph orange/brown: #8 RL Stone; #6 J.J. Special #6 Coffey Bugger; #4 Bad Boy #  10 Copper/Pearl Zonker

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The willows on the Big Hole River have a tint of yellow …..

by sunriseflyshop

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The willows on the Big Hole River have a tint of yellow on the tips and the cotton woods are not far off from changing to the autumn gold color.  The flows have dropped but we are still above historic averages on the Big Hole.  The hatches are starting a little later in the morning due to the cool fall mornings.  We are seeing Trico’s around 10:30 in the morning and the spinner fall before noon.  The afternoon air temperature has been warm and the fish have been actively eating in the riffles.  Ants, hoppers, and baetis nymphs have been working in the afternoons.  Rain and cooler weather in the middle of this week should make for some great streamer fishing and baetis hatches.

Rob Ware with another great Big Hole Brown

Flies:  #12 Chubby Chernobyl Yellow/Purple/Black; #10 Purple Haze; #16 PMD Cripple; #16 Rocky Mountain Mint, #18 Trico Spinner, #18 Trico Comparadun, #10 Pat’s Stone #12 Red Copper John #16 Bat Man Nymph orange/brown: #8 RL Stone; #6 J.J. Special #6 Coffey Bugger; #4 Bad Boy #  10 Copper/Pearl Zonker

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Big Hole River August Fishing Report

by sunriseflyshop

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Fishing remains good on the Big Hole River.  The hatches are a bit in a transition period on the Big Hole River.  PMD’s are waning and we are moving into Trico’s and Hoppers.  We are starting to see Trico’s on the lower Big Hole River and below Melrose.  Hopper fishing has also started to pick up on the lower Big Hole River.  Hatches in the Maiden Rock Canyon have been bleak.  We have done very well on nymphs in the Canyon but dry fly fishing has been poor.  Look for the dry fly fishing to pick up this week.  We should see more trico’s around and the hoppers are starting to bounce around the grassy banks.  We have not seen any Spruce Moth’s yet.  If we are going to get a Spruce Moth hatch we should see them in the next ten days.  Our Big Hole River Guides will will keep you posted.

A lower Big Hole River Rainbow

Flies:  #10 Chubby Chernobyl Yellow/Purple/Black; #8 Rogue Stone golden, #10 Purple Haze; #16 PMD Cripple; #16 Rocky Mountain Mint, #18 Trico Spinner, #18 Trico Comparadun, #10 Pat’s Stone #12 Red Copper John #16 Bat Man Nymph orange/brown: #8 RL Stone; #6 J.J. Special #6 Coffey Bugger; #4 Bad Boy #  10 Copper/Pearl Zonker

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Big Hole River Montana Fishing Report

by sunriseflyshop

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We are back to clear blue skies and the fishing continues to be very good.  We have PMD’s, Yellow Sallies, Nocturnal Stone flies and caddis hatching.  Your best dry fly fishing with the clear skies will be in the morning with PMD’s.  Mid day we have been doing very well in the riffle runs on #8 Pat’s Stones and #14 Copper John’s and Batman Nymphs.  We have a nice cool down from the summer heat tomorrow.  The Big Hole River flows remain excellent and our guides have been coming back each day with great success.

Scott Lewis with a nice 20 inch brown caught on the Big Hole Yesterday

Flies:  #10 Chubby Chernobyl Yellow/Purple/Black; #8 Rogue Stone golden, #10 Purple Haze; #16 PMD Cripple; #10 Rocky Mountain Mint, #10 Pat’s Stone #12 Red Copper John #16 Bat Man Nymph orange/brown: #8 RL Stone; #6 J.J. Special #6 Coffey Bugger; #4 Bad Boy #  10 Copper/Pearl Zonker

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