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River guide · Montana

Fly Fishing the Big Hole River

One of Montana's most storied freestone rivers, the Big Hole flows through remote, open country from the Beaverhead Mountains to Twin Bridges, home to the last self-sustaining population of fluvial Arctic grayling in the lower 48 and a salmonfly hatch that draws anglers from across the country.

  • 16 shops nearby
  • freestone
  • April–October
  • Montana
  • 6 key hatches
See fly shops ↓

The best time to fly fish the Big Hole River is April–October. Key hatches include Skwala Stonefly, Mother's Day Caddis, Salmonfly, Golden Stonefly. 16 fly shops near the Big Hole River can outfit your trip.

Fly shops near the Big Hole River

Shops and guides that fish the Big Hole River. See all 93 Montana shops →

Sunrise Fly Shop / LodgingGreat Divide OutfittersStonefly Inn & FlyshopFour Rivers Fishing CoFlatline OutfittersFishTales Outfitting LLCFrontier Anglers Fly ShopBackcountry AnglerThe Tackle Shop - Outfitter and Fly ShopMontana TroutwranglersMontana Fly Goods CoMontana Troutfitters
12 fly shops shown

Species on this water

BassBonefishCarpPikeRedfishSalmonSaltwaterSteelheadTarponTrout

Nearby towns

ButteTwin BridgesSheridan

Rivers nearby

Jefferson RiverBeaverhead RiverMadison RiverGallatin River
Hatches & seasons

When & what to fish on the Big Hole River

River typefreestone
Best seasonApril–October; post-runoff July–September is prime
AccessMontana FWP maintains public fishing access sites throughout the river corridor including Salmon Fly, Brownes Bridge, Kalsta Bridge, Glen, Notch Bottom, Pennington Bridge, and High Road sites. Highway 43 and secondary roads parallel much of the river through Wisdom and Melrose.
Key hatches
  • Skwala Stonefly (mid-April)
  • Mother's Day Caddis (May)
  • Salmonfly (mid-June–early July)
  • Golden Stonefly (July)
  • Spruce Moth / Trico (late July–August)
  • Blue-winged Olive / Baetis (September–October)
From The Fly Bench

Tie the flies that work on the Big Hole River

Step-by-step tying recipes & videos for these patterns.

Browse all 880+ patterns at The Fly Bench
Gear up

Gear up on the Big Hole River

Everything you need before the next trip — rods, lines, leaders, and fly-tying materials.

Shop the gear Flies that work

The flies that work on the Big Hole River

Find the most effective patterns for where you're fishing — and learn to tie them yourself, step by step.

Find your flies

Updated June 2026