Big Hole River report

Big Hole Brown on #8 chubby

The Big Hole River is beginning its summer drop, yet we continue to experience excellent fishing under the current conditions. Fortunately, some cool and wet weather has kept the river flows higher than expected. The upper river (above East Bank) will soon be too low to float, so if you're eager to visit that area, now is the time! The long-term forecast predicts some moisture and slightly below-average temperatures, which should help keep the river temperatures cool for safe trout fishing conditions. If you have the option to use a raft, we strongly recommend making the switch, as fishing has slowed in areas with heavy drift boat traffic.

Bug hatches can change depending on where you are. We're still spotting golden stones on most of the river. Below Divide, PMDs have been popping up, and some spots have had an awesome brown and green drake hatch. The best time for dry fly fishing has been mid-morning or when clouds roll in during the afternoon. For stonefly patterns, we've been using Royal chubby, Copper chubby, Brown Gypsy King (shoutout to Al!), and big PMX patterns. We've also been experimenting with different sizes of purple haze—just check what bugs are around to pick the right size. When the sun's out, most fish seem to be feeding below the surface. Our go-to nymph patterns are #16 Frenchies, #16 Black bullets, and Tungsten Micromays. If the bites slow down, don't be afraid to try some streamers, especially in fast riffles and deep pools.