Big Hole River

Montana offers too many blue-ribbon rivers to fish. That said, you can not go wrong with the Big Hole. The river flows through a variety terrain – wide valleys with cottonwood trees, as well as, areas of high cliffs, and irrigated fields where the fishing is for brown and rainbow trout, whitefish, brook trout and wild grayling.

The Big Hole has a good amount of fishing access locations for both walk/wade and boat launch areas.

Drift boat launch sites are at:

  • High Road
  • Pennington Bridge
  • Notch Bottom Campground (FWP)
  • Glen Campground & RV Park (FWP)
  • Brown Bridge Campground & RV Park (FWP)
  • Salmon Fly Campground (FWP)
  • Melrose Rock Campground & RV Park (FWP)
  • Divide Bridge Campground & RV Park (BLM Public Lands)
  • Old Divide Bridge
  • Dewey
  • Jerry Creek (BLM Public Lands)

Big Hole River Trout Fishing Schedule

Dry Flies
1. Adams-Sizes 14-20
2. Royal Wulff-Sizes 12-14
3. Caddis-Sizes 12-16
4. Stimulators-Sizes 8-16
5. Pale Morning Duns-Sizes 16-20
6. Ants-Sizes 12-16
7. Grasshoppers-Sizes 6-10
Nymphs
1. Pheasant Tails-Sizes 14-18
2. Beadhead Caddis-Sizes 10-12
3. Prince Nymps-Sizes 12-18
4. Girdle Bug-Sizes 4-12
Streamers
1. Muddler Minow-Sizes 4-10
2. Woolly Bugger-Sizes 4-12
3. Leech-Sizes 6-12
Lures & Bait
1. Spinners like Panther Martens, Vibrax and Rooster Tails
2. Worms, Crickets, Maggots

Lodging
The Old Hotel – Twin Bridges, Montana
Sportsman’s Motel – Melrose, Montana

Fishing Guides
Montana Trout On The Fly