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Fly Fishing the Big Hole River

The Big Hole River is one of the greatest blue ribbon fly fishing rivers in Southwest Montana. It has three distinctly different sections, all having their own unique characteristics. Whether you are a streamer fanatic or a dry fly specialist, be prepared to put it all to use when fly fishing on the Big Hole River.   Without question or debate, the Big Hole River is one of Montana's finest fly fishing destinations.

The Big Hole River is one of the premier fly fishing rivers of Southwest Montana.  With plentiful trout and prolific hatches, this majestic freestone exemplifies a world class trout fishery.  The Big Hole River meanders from its humble beginnings in the Beaverhead Mountains near Jackson, MT to its confluence with the Beaverhead and Ruby Rivers near Twin Bridges, MT.  It's the Big Hole's meandering and dynamic nature that make this river such a phenomenal fly fishing destination and such a special place.  As George Grant said "Never was a river more graciously endowed or deserving of free-flowing perpetuity".

The Big Hole River can be broken into the distinctly different sections, each with their own unique characteristics.  The one commonality off all three sections is the exceptional fly fishing opportunities.

The Upper Big Hole River is generally known for its slower moving water bordered by soft grassy meadows and lodge pole pine forests.  Being the first section of the river to ice over in the fall and the last section to become ice free in the spring, the upper Big Hole has a shorter fishing season than the other two sections, but that doesn't mean that it is any less of a fishery.  With slower moving water, numerous grassy islands, and deeply cut banks, this section was made for dry fly fishing.  Whether it's casting a #4 Salmon Fly at the bank or delicately presenting a PMD to a pod of rising fish, the upper Big Hole is dry fly angler's dream.  This section also provides your best opportunity for the Big Hole River Grand Slam.  A grand slam is achieved when an angler catches a brown trout, a rainbow trout, a brook trout, a cutthroat and an arctic grayling in the same day.

The Canyon Section of the Big Hole River is the reach between Jerry Creek and Melrose.  The gradient of this section is higher than that of the other two sections, which means that the water is generally moving faster, creating more riffles and pockets.  In addition to this section's rich structure and steep canyon walls, this portion of the river also has the most trout per mile.  The canyon section is known for variable structure and water depths, so an angler should come prepared with nymphs, streamers and dries to fully take advantage of this dynamic section.   With abundant trout, unparalleled scenery and hatches from April through October, this 23 mile section of the Big Hole River just might be the best section of river that Montana has to offer.

If sneaky side channels, rangeland views and low angler pressure are what you look for in a river, the lower Big Hole River is the place for you.  The lower Big Hole is the perfect ending for a nearly perfect river.  Cottonwood laden banks, uniformed riffles and several deep buckets characterize this picturesque personification of a Big Sky Country River.  Additionally, the numerous braids throughout the lower section of the Big Hole River give an angler the opportunity to hunt and stock large trout in smaller water.  Come August, the banks of the lower Big Hole are alive with Grass Hopper, and the trout are hungry for them.  So, if you're on here in late summer, tie on your favorite hopper, make a cast to the bank, and hold on!

 

Notable Hatches

March – BWO, March Brown

April – BWO, Skwalla, March Brown

May – Skwalla, Caddis

June – Salmon Fly, Golden Stone, Yellow Sallie, Caddis, PMD, Green Drake

July – Golden Stone, Yellow Sallie, Caddis PMD, Green Drake,

August – Hoppers, Trico, Spruce Moth, Caddis

September – Hoppers, Trico, BWO

October – BWO, Caddis

About the Author

Sunrise Fly Shop is the premier fly shop on the Big Hole River and Southwest Montana.  Offering guided fly fishing trips on the Big Hole River, Beaverhead River, Jefferson River and Madison River. Sunrise Fly Shop is an authorized Simms dealer, Scott Fly Rod dealer, Fishpond, Rio Products, R.L. Winston fly rods, Ross Reels, and Hatch Reels.

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