Fishing Season: Spring

Big Hole River - MT

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

49

Craig Fellin Outfitters & Big Hole Lodge's Tip of the Week

At these spring flows, fish are able to spread out and can be anywhere in the river. Experiment with fishing in water that is fast, slow, deep, and shallow to determine what type of water seems to be the most productive that day.

Directions open in app

Map of Big Hole River

Water Flow Data

Orvis-Endorsed guides nearby

Big Hole Lodge
Madison Valley Ranch
The Tackle Shop Outfitters

5-Day Outlook as of 4/20/26

The river is open to fishing from the headwaters in the Jackson/ Wisdom to the confluence with the Beaverhead and Jefferson rivers. Flows are currently dropping with the colder temperatures this last week. With the warmer day temperatures this weekend and beginning of this week the river might begin to swing up in terms of flows.

Techniques & Tips as of 4/20/26

Streamer fishing and nymphing are the best techniques at this time. There may be some chances at dry fly fishing with midge, blue- winged olive, and march brown patterns. Skwalas are around in the middle and lower parts of the river.

Local Species Available Spring

  • Fish Icon

    Trout

Craig Fellin Outfitters & Big Hole Lodge's Recommended Fly Patterns

"Must-have" fly fishing patterns in descending order of importance:

Name: Colors: Size(s):
Tungsten Cone Head Woolly Bugger Olive #4-8
Schultzy's S4 Sculpin Tan #4
Fly Formerly Known As Prince Brown #14-16
Bead Head Rubber-Legged Orvis CJ Black #10
Lexi's Tactical Get 'Er Dun May Adams #14
Chubby Purple #10-12
Blue Wing Olive Parachute Olive #16-18
Dark Hendrickson Olive #18-22
Flexi-Girdle Bug Brown #4-8
The Worm Red #8

Tungsten Cone Head Woolly Bugger

Get down deeper with these conehead flies.

3.49

Item #962P

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Craig Fellin Outfitters & Big Hole Lodge's Recommended Gear

Description: About Big Hole River

From its headwaters near Jackson, the Big Hole meanders 150 miles to its confluence with the Ruby and Beaverhead which form the Jefferson River. It is a river rich not only in historical importance, but also in its ability to produce wild trout- and large ones at that. In certain sections of the river, there are approximately 3,500 trout per mile with a substantial percentage in the 18-20" class. The renowned beauty of the river with its towering peaks of more than 10,000 ft. upstream of Dickey Bridge and secluded Maiden Rock Canyon makes this more than just a famous trout fishery. The Big Hole is really a special place, and as you float by a stretch like the Ralston Ranch above Wise River, you can almost picture the stagecoach stop the family operated in 1910 and the teams of horses that fed and rested there. Where else can you have the chance to catch a brown, rainbow, cutthroat and brook trout along with a grayling all in one day?

Nearest Airport:

Butte

Hatches:

Skwalas March brown BWO Midge

Best Time to Fish:

11 am to 7 pm

Best Stretch:

Glen to the Notch

Best Access:

Glen FAS