Fly Fishing Montana. Brian Grossenbacher
for dries, 7½' 0-2x fluorocarbon for streamers.
Wading: Waist-high waders are fine most of the year.
Flies to Use:
Dries: Royal Wulff #12-16, PMX #8-12, Parachute Adams #10-18, Stimulator #10-16, Ants #18-20, Elk Hair Caddis #14-18.
Nymphs: Bullethead Skwala #8-10, Olive Stonefly #8-10, Poxyback Stone Nymph #6-10, Brown Rubber Legs #6-10, Kaufmann's Gold Stone #6-10, Bitch Creek #4-6, Rogue Stones #4-8, Rubber Legs #4-6, Kaufmann's Stone #4-6, Hare's Ear Nymph #10-18, Pheasant Tail Nymph #10-16, Trico nymph #18-22, Copper John #10-16, Beadhead or plain Prince Nymph #12-16, Lightning Bug #12-18, San Juan Worm.
Streamers: Olive Bugger #2-6, Leech #2-8, JJ Special #2-6, Muddler & Clouser Minnow #2-6.
When to Fish:
The Big Hole River is famous for its Salmonfly hatch which frequently is at its height between mid June and early July. Although some people are concerned with the low water conditions that can be found in late summer, big fish can be caught on tricos and spruce moths in August. Due to the surrounding hay fields, count on great hopper fishing in late July and early August. Add good streamer fishing in early and late season and you can stretch out the season as far as you'd like.
Seasons & Limits:
Standard fishing regulations for the Central fishing district apply. Please check the Montana Fishing Regulations and Etiquette section. The Big Hole River has multiple exceptions and restrictions so check below carefully or check in with FWP.
Exceptions to Standard RegulationsEntire River and Tributaries
Catch-and-release for grayling and cutthroat trout. All float users are limited to a total of 2 launches at or near each official access site each day. See Big Hole River map for official access sites. Extended season for whitefish and catch-and-release for trout open December 1 to the third Saturday in May with artificial lures and/or maggots only.
Headwaters to Mudd Creek FAS
Closed to float outfitting from the third Saturday in May through Labor Day.
Mudd Creek FAS to Fishtrap FAS
Closed to float outfitting on each Tuesday from the third Saturday in May through Labor Day.
Fishtrap FAS to East Bank BLM FAS
Closed to float outfitting on each Thursday from the third Saturday in May through Labor Day.
East Bank BLM FAS to Jerry Creek FAS
Closed to float outfitting on each Wednesday from the third Saturday in May through Labor Day.
Tributaries Upstream from Divide Dam
Brook trout: open entire year.
Dickie Bridge to Divide Bridge (Divide FAS)
Artificial lures only.
Jerry Creek FAS to Divide FAS
Closed to float fishing by nonresidents and float outfitting on each Saturday from the third Saturday in May through Labor Day.
Divide Bridge (Divide FAS) to Melrose Bridges (Salmon Fly FAS)
Combined Trout: 4 daily and in possession, includes 3 under 13 inches and 1 over 22 inches.
Artificial lures only.
Closed to float fishing by nonresidents and float outfitting on each Sunday from the third Saturday in May through Labor Day.
Melrose Bridges (Salmon Fly FAS) to Glen FAS (Bridges)
Closed to float outfitting on each Monday from the third Saturday in May through Labor Day.
Glen FAS (Bridges) to Notch Bottom FAS
Closed to float outfitting on each Friday from the third Saturday in May through Labor Day.
Nearby Fly Fishing:
Beaverhead, Ruby, Pointdexter Slough, Clark Canyon Reservoir.
Accommodations & Services:
There are campsites at Forest Service campgrounds, including Twin Lakes, Van Houten, Bannack State Park, East Bank, and Dickie Bridge. As for lodging, be ready to drive a little in one direction or the other. The Nez Perce Hotel (406-689-3254) in Wisdom is the only thing around in the upper stretches while the Sportsman's (406-835-2141) gets the job done if you are closer to Melrose. Dillon offers a vast array of lodges and rental cabins including Tom Smith's Backcountry Angler (406-683-3402: www.backcountryangler.com) which also offers a flyshop. Another excellent option in Wise River is Craig Fellin Outfitters and Big Hole Lodge (406-832-3252: www.flyfishinglodge.com).
Rating: 9
The beauty of the Big Hole and the majesty of the surrounding mountains is worth its weight in gold. Add in great fishing, proximity to an assortment of other blue ribbon trout streams plus a historical trip to the Big Hole Battlefield, and you have a home run of a river. A strong 9, with the limiting factor being the dewatering of the river for agricultural purposes in late summer.
The Big Hole flows through some of the most spectacular scenery Montana has to offer. Photo by Brian Grossenbacher.
Another nice Big Hole brown. Photo by Brian Grossenbacher.
Bighorn River
The Bighorn River is 112 miles in length; however, most anglers find interest in the 13-mile stretch below the Afterbay Dam (just a few miles downstream from the Yellowtail Dam) at the town of Fort Smith. Prior to 1965, the Bighorn River was warm, silty, and of little interest to trout fishermen. The completion of the Yellowtail dam, and subsequently the Afterbay dam in 1967, changed the character of the Bighorn virtually overnight by allowing the silt to settle and the water to cool in the deep water of the newly-constructed Bighorn reservoir. The portion of the river that flows through Crow Indian territory was closed to the general public in 1975. It was re-opened following a heated Supreme Court ruling that declared the river public in 1981. Public access is now available at three points on the upper 13 miles of river: Afterbay, 3 Mile (Lind Ranch) and 13 Mile (Big Horn Access).
Although the Big Horn River is a relative newcomer to the sport of flyfishing, it has comfortably settled into its role as a powerhouse tailwater trout factory. The recipe for success begins with the relative alkalinity of the water. The nutrient-rich ph borne from the limestone walls of the Bighorn Canyon creates a perfect environment for the aquatic insect population, and as go the bugs, so go the trout. Add a healthy supply of cool, clear, water and it is easy to see why the Bighorn has at times hosted up to 10,000 trout per mile, with an average size of 16"-18", in its relative short history. That being said, the Bighorn is currently enduring tough times as a result of multiple drought years in Eastern Montana. Although fish counts are down, size classes are up, and anglers still have plenty to smile about in Fort Smith.
The character of the Bighorn is spring creek in nature with flowing weed beds, undulating currents and crystal clear waters. Because the waters of the Bighorn are taken 150' below the surface of the reservoir, the Bighorn is a true year-round fishery. Although the Bighorn enjoys prolific hatches, day in and day out anglers find the most success nymph fishing. Due to its reputation as a quality tailwater fishery, the Bighorn is crowded throughout