July has been flying by, and we've logged plenty of miles chasing trout across Montana. While the Big Hole remains home base, it's always fun to spend some time exploring other fisheries and seeing how rivers around the state are shaping up. Craig began early July with some long-time guests on the Smith River, which got a healthy shot of water from the early July rains. The bump in flows was welcome news for the group, and they had five awesome days of fishing and camping in

Southwest Montana received a much-needed shot of moisture over the weekend, with the Pioneer Mountains picking up nearly 12 inches of snow and valley locations seeing 3–4 inches of rain. The Big Hole responded in a big way, with flows at Maiden Rock jumping from roughly 730 cfs last Thursday to over 3,100 cfs. Needless to say, we're thrilled to see the river recharge and are looking forward to an excellent July. Fishing was challenging immediately following the rise in flows,

Summer has officially arrived, although river conditions are feeling a little more like mid-July than late June. Flows continue to run below average, and floating opportunities above Fish Trap are becoming increasingly limited. Most boat traffic is below East Bank, where navigation remains much easier. At this point, it's definitely raft season. The current forecast is calling for a good chance of rainfall this coming weekend, and we're hopeful that Mother Nature delivers. A

We’re looking forward to a couple days of clouds and precipitation after a warmer-than-usual finish to May. The recent warm weather brought some runoff to the Big Hole, and flows have been gradually rising over the past several days. The river was due for a boost, as flows had been dropping quickly and were trending below average for this time of year. With any luck, the forecasted rain will materialize and help keep the river on a steady, gradual climb as we move into early

The Big Hole has been on a steady rise over the past seven days, peaking around 3,200 cfs at Maiden Rock (so far). While flows have come up quickly, this is still considered a moderate runoff event for the river. We’re still hoping for a little more water, but for now, we’ll fish what we’ve got. Boat traffic remains spread throughout the river, though the upper river above Jerry Creek continues to see the most pressure. As flows rise during the day, streamers have been the go

Mother's Day Weekend is here, and it is a fantastic time to come to the Big Hole. The river has been on a slow rise for the past few days, but it has not affected the clarity. Our weather looks great for the next few days. We expect boat traffic to increase, but with flows at a manageable level, the entire river is fishable, which will disperse boat traffic. The low down on the Caddis: we have not found any fish gorging themselves on them yet, but if you are patient and find

It's a slow day in the Big Hole Valley; cold and snowy! Just what we like to see in April. We are currently under a Winter Weather Advisory until mid-day tomorrow, and hoping to see 3+ inches of wet snow. It also looks like temperatures are going to remain rather cool for the next 5 or so days, so we expect to see the current flows bump up and then level off or drop. If you are looking to head out, expect to find cold water temperatures, and be ready for a rollercoaster of we

The GDO Fly Shop is set to open for the 2026 season! We aim to open the shop on April 10 and will remain operational as long as the river's conditions are favorable and healthy. The shop will still offer all the usual essentials: a wide selection of flies, tippet, leader, fly line, and valuable advice for your time on the water. Additionally, we will have shuttles available this season. The Big Hole River opened for the season on April 1, and is already offering some fantasti

Southwest Montana finally got the storm we've been waiting for! It kicked off last Wednesday evening and kept going all weekend long. Our local ski hills received feet of snow, with Lost Trail reporting nearly 50" total. This has done wonders for our snowpack! Down here in the valley, it rained throughout most of the weekend, but the rain is fantastic as it has given a nice boost to the stream flows. What's next? We're hoping that the cold temperatures will stick around, ensu