FLOWS:
- Maiden Rock 495 cfs
- Melrose 516 cfs
- Glen 615 cfs
VISIBILITY:
Clear at 3+ feet
The Big Hole River is dropping every day now, half of what it was last week. Big Hole River is fishing well before mid-day temperatures reach 90+ and in the fast water down the middle as the fish seek faster more oxygenated water.
TACTICS & PATTERNS:
DRYS
The dry fly bite has been good as well as dry/dropper in the riffles and fast water. There are Caddis, PMDs and Yellow Sallies early and terrestrials later in the day. Terrestrials once the water has warmed a bit right now. Hoppers, ants and beetles!
- Try a Morrish, Parahopper hopper in tan, yellow or pink size # 12-8
- Try a Purple Haze, PMX, Yellow Stimulator or Rusty Sparkle Dun
o Sizes #16-14 for PMDs, Yellow Sallies and Rusty Duns
- Good dropper choices are Beadhead Pheasant Tail, Copper John in copper or red, or Beadhead Prince, Psycho Mayfly nymph.
Sizes #16-12
STREAMERS:
The streamer game has been pretty slow with the heat and lack of clouds. But when all else fails I like a sculpin dead drift under an indicator in the fast water ! A tight line will catch fish as well. Natural color’s and muted when it’s clearer. Cloudy days will be your best bet for good streamer action.
- Zonker’s in Olive, Natural/Copper, Natural/pearl or white size # 2-6, Sculpzilla JR in Natural, or Olive. Black or Olive Crystal Buggers, or Olive Yuk Bug, Coffey’s Sparkle Minnow in size # 4-8.
- Try dead drifting your streamer under an indicator if the fish aren’t willing to make chase.
- Add a small nymph dropper to give the trout an option.
NYMPHING:
Nymphing with two fly’s and strike indicator is still very productive in the fast water. A little swing at the end of your dead drift often brings more strikes than dead drift alone.
- Try a Pat’s Rubber Leg Stone in brown, tan, black or olive. Peacock Stone, George’s Rubber Leg Brown Stone, Chocolate Trout Retriever or Pepperoni Yuk Bug in size # 4-6.
- Pheasant Tails, Soft Hackle Pheasant Tails, Prince Nymphs, San Juan Worms in red, wine or size # 6-10 are all good second fly choices for nymphing.
TIPS: Bring plenty of sun block, water and bug dope.
For more information on Montana fly fishing and guided fishing trips on the Big Hole River please contact Fishtales Outfitting.
![fishtales](https://www.montanaoutdoor.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/fishtales1-500x282.png)
(Fishing report by Michael Stack of FishTales Outfitting)