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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

See fly shops ↓

When to fish

April–October

Best months: April–October

Best
Off-peak

Skwala Stonefly: mid-April. Mother's Day Caddis: May.

Today's conditions

Where to fish

Along the Big Hole River

Twin Bridges3 shopsSheridan1 shop

Butte2 shopsDillon2 shops

Montana 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.

The water

Freestone

Key hatches

Skwala Stonefly
Mother's Day Caddis
Salmonfly
Golden Stonefly
Spruce Moth / Trico

Conditions

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6-day forecast

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Forecast from the National Weather Service ↗

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)

Fly shops near the Big Hole River

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

12 fly shops shownBig Hole River at Butte

Species on this water

Trout Bass Bonefish Carp Pike Redfish Salmon Saltwater Steelhead Tarpon

Nearby towns

Butte Twin Bridges Sheridan

Rivers nearby

Jefferson River Beaverhead River Madison River Gallatin River

From The Fly Bench

Tie the flies that work on the Big Hole River

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

Browse patterns at The Fly Bench

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.

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