Rain and cool weather have brought some much needed change to the Big Hole. The flows have come up, and are much closer to average for this time of year, and water temperatures have dropped. We have seen a few skiffs of snow up in the high country, elk are bugling and the brown trout are moving towards their fall spawning beds. This all adds up to a great start to the fall fishing season!
There are still closures on the Big Hole River; currently the Big Hole is open from Dickie Bridge down river to Maiden Rock FWP (AKA Dead Zone). We expect to see some sections re-open in the coming week as long as the flows stay up. If you would like to learn more about re-opening criteria, check out the Big Hole Watershed Committees Drought Management Plan.
Fishing on the Big Hole has been relatively consistent for us. We have been moving some nice trout on streamers, and finding a few rising fish in the warmer afternoons. Our favorite streamers this week have been the Tan Zirdle, Jig Copper Zonker and the Pop’s Bugger. For dries we have been using a chubby and trailing a BWO dry behind it. Hoppers have been decent in the afternoons, too. Don’t hesitate to drop a Frenchie, Black Spanish Bullet or an Olive Psycho May underneath it.
As a reminder, FWP Regulations will mandate a full fishing closure going into effect from Maiden Rock BLM to Brownes Bridge, effective Oct 1. This is in place to protect spawning brown trout.