FLOWS:

• Maiden Rock 531 cfs
• Melrose 596 cfs
• Glen 662 cfs

VISIBILITY: Still good at 2.5-3 feet with a little color due to last week’s bump from the rain.

The Big Hole River has started to roll off and clear after a recent bump in flows after several days of rain. Now that the river has begun to drop and clear again the fish are a little less flighty and a little more opportunistic; always a nice recipe for finding a big one! Fall’s cooler nights have set in and the river’s brown trout feel their species “call of the wild” as we enter into brown trout spawning season.

TACTICS AND PATTERNS:

DRY FLIES:

The dry fly fishing has been a little off because of the bump in flows but there are still heavy hatches of Trico’s in the am and Psuedo’s and Beatis as well as Mahogany’s and even a few October Caddis in the afternoon. The hopper bite is still there on warmer days but we can expect that to taper off soon.

• 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, Sparkle Dun, Extended Body Parachute, 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 remains good. Mornings and cloudy days will be your best bet for consistent streamer action but don’t be afraid to keep pulling if the sun is prominent. 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. Brown, 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. Egg patterns in peach orange and yellow size # 14-16

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