Best month to fish the Big Hole River

Month-by-month fishing quality

Why these months?

Two things decide your odds on the Big Hole River: flow and season. You need the river in its fishable-flow band — so a freestone in spring runoff is out no matter how good the hatch would be, while a dam-fed tailwater holds shape year-round. On top of that, the hatches and water temperatures line up best in July and September and June and August, which is why those months edge out the rest. The Big Hole River's season runs freestone — high in spring runoff; prime june–september, low and warm in late summer.

The Big Hole is Montana's most characterful freestone — 150 miles from the Beaverhead Mountains through a high, wide valley of cattle ranches, holding brown and rainbow trout plus the last river-dwelling population of Arctic grayling in the lower 48. It runs big and pushy through June's salmonfly hatch, one of the most anticipated events in Western fly fishing, then drops into clear, wadeable pocket water and long riffles by midsummer.

Where to fish the Big Hole River

The Melrose-to-Glen stretch is the guide standard and fishes well from a boat; the canyon above Divide is roadside pocket water for waders. Watch the late-summer numbers — this river gets genuinely low and warm in August, and hoot owl restrictions closing fishing from 2pm are common.

Guided trips & lodges to book