FLOWS:

• Maiden Rock 352 cfs
• Melrose 388 cfs
• Glen 397 cfs

VISIBILITY: Clear at 3+ feet with the usual “tea color”

The Big Hole River has enjoyed fairly stable flows and it’s in perfect shape for fantastic fall fishing. The cooler temps have started turning the river’s lower cottonwood lined river bottom gold and its brown trout have started to stage for their annual fall spawn. Fall on the Big Hole River is a favorite time for many and the scenery alone will leave many in awe. The fishing will start to become more a nymphing and streamer game as water temps cool off too but there will be plenty of warm days left to keep hopper’s an option as well as Trico’s, Beatis, Psuedo’s, and Mahogany’s to round out the small dry list.

TACTICS AND PATTERNS:

DRY FLIES:

The dry fly fishing has been solid with Trico’s and Caddis in the am and hopper’s in the afternoon. There also Caddis and Drake like mayflies.

• Try a spent Trico spinner or cluster pattern like a Griffith’s Gnat. Size #16-20.
• Purple Haze is still tough to beat. Also try a Parachute Adams, Elk Hair Caddis, Rusty Sparkle Dun. Size # 12-16.
• Try a PMX in peacock or purple, Chubby Chernobyl (trimmed wing). Black Magic size #10-14.
• Hopper patterns I like are the Morrish Hopper, Mcknight’s Sweetgrass Hopper, Schroeder’s Parachute Hopper, Dave’s Hopper, Clodhopper, Snoozeberry Hopper, Panty Dropper Hopper in tan , yellow and flesh size #8-12.

STREAMERS: The streamer bite has been good as well with morning’s and cloudy days being your best bet for consistent streamer action. My favored grip and strip method will get fish moving. If not a tight line or dead drift is worth giving a try. Concentrate on fast water and you’ll find the right fish!

• 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.
• Try a Beadhead Pheasant Tail, Beadhead Prince or Copper John size #14-16.

NYMPHING: Nymphing with a two fly rig under a strike indicator is catching fish and once again fast water is your friend. Letting your flies swing at the end of your dead drift will bring strikes too.

• Try a Pat’s Rubber Leg Stone in brown, tan, black or olive. Peacock Stone, George’s Rubber Leg Brown Stone, Chocolate Trout Retriever in size # 6-10.
• Pheasant Tails, Soft Hackle Pheasant Tails, Prince Nymphs, Copper John’s, San Juan Worms in red, wine or size # 10-16 are all good second fly choices for nymphing.

For more information on the Big Hole River, Montana fly fishing and guided fishing trips on the Big Hole River please contact Fishtales Outfitting.

(Report by Michael Stack – FishTales Outfitting LLC)