FLOWS: Divide 979 cfs

Melrose 895 cfs

Glen  939 cfs

CONDITIONS: Visibilty is good at about 3 feet

The Big Hole River flows are currently running pretty flat and in really great shape. This Big Hole River Fishing Report is pleased to say we’re in the middle of the spring skwalla hatch and the river’s trout are looking for them! We’re catching fish on dries and dry/dropper rigs. There are also spring beatis and some March Brown’s showing up. Cloudy day’s will be your friend when it comes to the dry game. If it’s sunny you’ll probably want to add a dropper but let the fish decide, if they’re eating the dry and ignoring the dropper, clip it off! Check out our Montana Fly Fishing Tours to get in on some great spring dry fly fishing and save some dough!

DRY FLIES: The spring Skwalla’s are out which provide a substantial meal for trout right now along with Beatis and March Brown’s. Target the back eddy’s and long foam lines in the tailouts. try adding one of the recommended nymphs listed below as a dropper about 20″ below your dry fly.

• It’s tough to beat a Chubby Chernobyl in black and green, Pteranarcys, or brown in sizes #10-12.
• Bitteroot Olive Stonefly size #10-12.
• For the Beatis or BWO’s I recommend an olive parachute, Parachute Adams or Puple Haze size # 14-16.
• For the March Brown’s I like a Lawson’s Paradrake in olive or brown size #10-12.

NYMPHING: The bobber fishing has been okay but with trout eating dries and droppers who wants fish with bobbers?

• Pat’s Rubber Leg Stonefly Nymph in olive, brown size # 10-12.
• Double Bead Hare’s Ear in Olive size #10-12.
• Double Bead Peacock Stonefly nymph in size #10-12.
• Beadhead Prince Nymph size #10-12.
• San Juan Worm in red, pink or orange size #10-12.
• Psycho May fly nyph in brown or olive size #14-16.

STREAMERS: The Streamer bite has been good on cloudy days as you might expect, a little soft on bright bluebird days.

Wooley Buggers like Yellow Yummies, Lyle’s Choice, Krystal Buggers and Peacock Buggers are good choices. For a more thorough list of streamers check out my TOP TEN STREAMERS FOR SW MONTANA.

TIPS: The Big Hole River rainbow’s are in full spawn so look out for polished gravel in fast thin water and watch your step if your wade fishing.

For more information on Montana’s Big Hole River and guided fly fishing trips on the Big Hole River and other SW Montana rivers please check out Fishtales Outfitting. Take advantage of our Montana Fly Fishing Packages and get in on the dry fly fun! Happy Angling!