Big Hole River

Big Hole River

Big Hole River Fly Fishing Guide

The Big Hole has many personalities exhibited throughout its
course beginning in the Rockies and ending at the confluence
with the Beaverhead River to form the Jefferson River. We float
and access about seventy-five miles of the most productive
water. Where we fish is often dictated by the level of water
flows. The level can vary from a couple hundred cubic feet per
second (cfs) to over five thousand cfs during peak run-off. Pre
run off in early spring can be fabulous fishing with Mother's day
Caddis hatches, Skwala hatches, and May flies.

The Big Hole is world renowned for its Salmon fly hatch and
attracts fishermen from around the world. The Salmon fly hatch
occurs right after the peak run-off period which is the first to
second week in June. As the summer progresses Tricos, and
Spruce Moths can provide great dry fly fishing. Terrestrials can
offer added action in late summer. The fall is a very special time
on the river with Cottonwood trees changing and the Browns
getting their spawning colors. Streamer fishing can be great fun
in the fall. This is one of our favorite times to be on the water.
Nymph fishing is productive throughout the season.

Madison River Fly Fishing Guide

The Madison river is formed by the Fire Hole and Gibbon rivers
inside the Yellowstone national park. Then, it flows
approximately 140 miles to form the Missouri river at Three
Forks with the Gallatin and the Jefferson. The most productive
and well know part of the river is between Quake Lake and
Ennis and is known as "One big riffle". The riffle is the exciting,
dominating feature of the world-famous trout stream. The
water's character changes when it get close to Ennis winding
and braiding in the lower stretches creating deep holes
punctuated by shallow riffles - truly Big Sky country! When the
hatches come off the Dry fly fishing can be very good.

The Salmon Fly hatch is famous and usually comes off around
the end of June to the beginning of July. At other times of the
year Caddis flies, numerous Mayfly Species, and Terrestrials
excite the angler. Nymph fishing is productive all season.
Streamers can provide action in the fall. For the most part it is a
brown, and rainbow trout fishery. The scenery is spectacular
with snow capped mountains most of the year. The valley has
open grasslands with numerous conifers on the hillsides. The
Wall Creek and Bear Creek wildlife refuges provide winter
range for elk and deer.

Beaverhead River

Beaverhead River is one of Montana's premier brown trout
fishing rivers, producing more large trout, particularly brown
trout, than any other river in the state." The local FWP
fisheries biologist, Matt Yeager, is working hard on some
great innovative projects on the Beaverhead River to further
enhance one of the best wild trout fisheries in the country.
The Beaverhead river starts below Clark Canyon Reservoir.

The dam was completed in 1964. This "one big spring creek"
water winds north through pastures and foothills to Dillon.
Then the water continues the journey to it's confluence in an
open valley to Twin Bridges where the Ruby flows in and
later joins with the Big Hole to form the Jefferson. This river
is predominately a Brown trout fishery with large Rainbow
trout in the upper reaches. Most of the fly fishing occurs
from the Clark Canyon Reservoir to Dillon. This cottonwood
and willow lined stream produces prolific hatches of Caddis
flies, Mayflies, little yellow Stoneflies & Crane flies.
Terrestrials such as hoppers on the lower sections can
produce fun-filled days. The dry fly fishing can be
tremendous depending upon time of year and flows.

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