Beaverhead River
Characteristics
The Beaverhead River is a small tailwater that originates at Clark Canyon Dam near the town of Dillon in SW Montana. It flows for approximately 69 miles until its confluence with the Big Hole near the town of Twin Bridges. With its meandering coarse and willow-lined banks there are opportunities around every corner for a fish of a lifetime. Because it is a tailwater, cold crystal-clear water allows for consistent summer and winter time temperatures, prolific hatches, and exceptional growth rates in the fish. Boasting trout populations of 1500-3000 per mile and the fairly narrow nature of the river means the fish are almost swimming on top of each other.
Hatches
Known around the state and country as a nymphing fishery the Beaverhead offers prolific hatches of PMDs, Yellow Sallies, and Caddis that to the patient fly fisherman can offer some of the most rewarding fishing experiences around. Ever watch that movie or fishing show where there are fish sipping flies to no avail? We get to see that on a daily basis during the summer months, let one of our guides show you the proper presentation and if done correctly the reward is epic! When the fish aren’t feeding on the surface nymphing is the game, the cold and clear water given to the river by Clark Canyon reservoir provides a perfect environment for scuds, midges, Mayfly larvae, caddis larvae, and Crane Fly larvae. In addition to PMDs, caddis, and Yellow Sallies the Beaverhead can produce some monster fish on hoppers, ants, and Crane Flies.
The Fish
The Beaverhead is arguably one of the best tailwater fisheries in the state. With 1500-3000 rainbows and browns per mile, there is never a dull moment on the river. Fish average in the 16-18 inch class with a large percentage of the population 20” plus. The Beaverhead River fish are some of the hardest fighting and most acrobatic fish around, brown trout do jump, and these fish will prove it. Knowledge is key to success on the Beaverhead, allow one of our experienced guides to show how and where to catch these monsters with success.