Spring Colors on the Big Hole
The Big Hole showed off its spring colors this week, with water levels more than doubling over the past five days. The visibility has decreased to less than twenty four inches, but we expect the current cool weather pattern to help clear the water over the coming days. What does this mean for anglers? Streamer season is here! Be sure to stop in the fly shop to pick up some new patterns for your streamer box. Some patterns to try include Sparkle Minnow (Smoke, Sunburst) #4, Lemon Drop, Kreelex (Copper/Gold), Sculpzilla (White) and Rusty Trombone. Tie ’em on to some 15 pound Maxima and hold on tight.
The Mother’s Day Caddis also arrived this week, and caddis have been spotted all the way up to Jerry Creek. We are hoping that we will be able to find some dry fly eaters when and if the river levels out. Caddis patterns to try include Sparkle Bug #16, UV Purple Caddis, and Twisted Baby Tan/Brown #16.
A lot of people have been asking about the availability of the USGS Gauge, near Wise River (at Dickie Bridge). This gauge has been discountinued on the USGS site, but flow data is available at MT DNRC website, found here. Additionally, the flow data for The Wise River can be found here. Thanks to the Big Hole Watershed Committee for publishing this useful data!
Shuttles available daily, please be sure to call if you are planning on an evening float. Current hours are 8 AM to 4 PM.