Big Hole River & Runoff season

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-to play, with some people dragging a worm behind them as a sort of “just in case” insurance policy. The fish don’t seem offended by it.

There are still a few caddis around, and there have been some dry-fly moments for anglers willing to hunt down softer seams and slower-moving water. It probably isn't the best time to throw a dry fly into heavy mid-river runoff buckets.

Looking ahead over the next five days, another round of cooler weather and moisture is in the forecast. Temperatures should stay mild, which will help stabilize flows and keep conditions fishable.

Stop in the shop for the latest conditions report, pick up a few bugs (the worm bins are looking especially healthy), and grab a shuttle. We’re happy to point you in the right direction, and tell you where not to bother. Speaking of don't bother — we always like to remind folks that when flows are in the 3,000–4,000 cfs range, the Diversion Dam below Silver Bridge is at its worst. This is the time to avoid that stretch if you are not confident on the oars.