Dillon Montana Fishing Report

Beaverhead River 11/18/24

• I had the opportunity to get out a little the last couple weeks and the fishing between Pipe Organ and Grasshopper has been a blast.  Nymphing a san juan to a zebra midge or blue wing olive nymph has been the most productive combo or leading with a scud.  Streamer bite has been hit and miss but a ton of fun!

Big Hole River 10/2/24

• What a great end to the year we had on the big hole. The fish are in fantastic shape going into winter.  The river is now closed from dickie bridge down stream to its confluence with the beaverhead.  

Beaverhead River 10/2/24

• The river is now closed to fishing for the year between high bridge and pipe organ and again from barretts to its confluence with the big hole.  The section below pipe organ remains open and the streamer fishing has been fantastic

Big Hole River 9/28/24

• With a few days to go until its full closure on October 1st we have been having a blast on the big hole.  Great river temps and hungry fish.  Whatever your preferred technique they are all working

Jefferson River 9/28/24

• The jefferson remains a great option over the last week or so.  The streamer fisherman can have a lot of fun out there on the right days, nymphing a san juan and baetis is best and a few fish on top with blue wing olives

Big Hole River 9/23/24

• What can I say but its great to have the river open again and the fishing is awesome.  One last week before it closes again on October 1st.  On the right days there are hatches of blue wing olives and some nice fish sipping them.  Nymphing with various baetis patterns has been the most productive.  For the streamer guys they are hitting them hard.

Ruby River and Beaverhead

• Both rivers are a bit weedy but if flies are kept clean the fishing has been good.  Don’t be afraid to chuck some streamers or nymph a san juan with a trailing blue wing wing olive 

Jefferson River 9/18/24

• The Jefferson gets better and better each day with the colder temps and rain.  Streamer bite is worth the time and the olive hatches are worth looking for heads

Jefferson River 9/11/24

• With limited options because of the Big Hole closure we have been on the Jefferson and have been pleased.  Streamer bite is good to great on the right days and nymphing the deeper runs and pools with a san juan and baetis nymph have produced some excellent fish.

Beaverhead River 9/11/24

• Good flows, clarity pretty good, a little grassy….yes.  Nymphing baetis and san juans the best just keep those flies clean.  Streamer fishing has been picking up especially on these colder rainy days 

Beaverhead River 9/4/24

• The river has been hit and miss as of late but we are still catching some great fish.  Nymphing the deeper faster runs with a san juan and baetis nymph has been the most productive.  Remember to check those hooks for weeds and keep them clean.

Big Hole River 8/30/24

• The big hole river is closed to fishing until further notice.  The gauge at Glen has dipped below 150.

Big Hole River 8/27/24

• The river is still fishing great but water levels have really dropped, hopefully some fall rains come and water users hold what they aren’t using back.  That being said the trico hatch is still in full swing and the deeper riffles and runs are nymphing great.  The longer cooler nights have really improved the water temperature and the fish are really responding 

Big Hole River 8/23/24

• The river has been a ton of fun this past week.  Tricos are still hatching in large numbers and the fish are eating them like mad for a couple hours.  Nymphing the deeper holes and runs when the tricos are done has brought some great fish to the net.

Big Hole River 8/17/24

• Fishing is fantastic right now, recent rains and more flow have really improved things.  Tricos all morning and nymphing the deeper runs.  

Beaverhead River 8/17/24

• Flows have dropped dramatically on the river over the last week.  The lake has settled and the clarity on the river has been decent. Nymphing the deepest runs and riffles has been the most productive and the patient hopper fisherman is being pleasantly suprised.

Big Hole River 8/11/24

• Since the closing debacle it has since reopened and it has been fantastic.  Spruce moths and tricos are out in force and the dry fly fishing is great for a few hours in the morning 

 Beaverhead River 8/11/24

• The river continues to fish pretty well, weeds are starting to become a small thorn however we have been getting some fish on top with hoppers and still nymphing a san juan with a mayfly nymph below, streamers have also been good on the cloudy days.

Big Hole River 8/3/24

• As of today the entire river from Dickey Bridge down to its confluence with the Jefferson is closed to fishing.  As this was news to me because I was not invited to a meeting on determining the new drought management rules.  Mind you the rules are determined by a panel of 21-22 people of which 17 are ranchers and irrigators.  Anyone else think this has nothing to do with the fishery?  

Beaverhead River 8/3/24

• The lake was churned up by some storms and wind causing some clarit issues on the river but has since slowly cleared and the fishing is back.  Hoppers have been productive on the lower portions with nymphing a san juan worm to a pmd or sally nymph has been best on the upper river

Beaverhead River 7/29/24

• The river is in great shape and the fish are getting really fat.  Sallies and PMD’s are still the bug.  Please make sure fish are ready to swim away from and have been fully revived, they are battling hard and need some time to recover.

Big Hole River 7/29/24

• Flows are holding on and the recent cooler nights have really been a blessing to the fish.  Water temps are wonderful in the am and the fishing has been pretty darn good.  Tricos and spruce moths have been a fun dry fly game.

Big Hole River 7/25/24

• Tricos and Spruce moths have started, get out there early the fishing is still pretty darn good.

Beaverhead River 7/25/24

• The river is still high and the fishing has been fantastic, especially in the hours before 2.  Check out this Rainbow of the month.  Caught on a 6 weight with Scientific Angler Infinity fly line on a size 16 pyscho may.  

Big Hole River 7/22/24

• The Big Hole is still fishing especially in the morning hours.  Tricos are starting to appear and a few spruce moths have been flying so there is some excellent dry fly opportunities out there!

Beaverhead River 7/22/24

• Flows remain high on the river but when we get our bugs in the right places its awesome.  Sallies are still a heavy hatch and you can find some great fish on the surface 

Beaverhead River 7/18/24

• PMD’s and Sallies remain strong hatches throughout the day.  Nymphing remains the way for numbers but there are fish rising in the right spots.  

Big Hole River 7/18/24

• Although the river is under hoot owl restrictions we have had some absolutely wonderful days fishing the big hole recently, still a wonderful trout bite in the morning and the tricos have been coming of in spurts.

Bighole River 7/10/24

• You have heard the term Hoot Owl.  This is not the entire river only on the very upper reaches and the very lower reaches, the rest is still fishing great but good to take it easy in the afternoon.

Beaverhead River 7/10/24

• PMDs and Sallies.  Lots of fun out there, flows are up but the fish are still loving the food.  

Big Hole River 7/8/24

• We have been very impressed with the Big Hole the last few days.  Caddis are still hatching in the morning with a flurry of sallies towards mid day.  Lots of fun little fish on the dries and still picking up some respectable fish nymphing in the morning.

Beaverhead River 7/8/24

• Dry fly fishing is getting better and better each day.  PMD’s seem to be coming off around 10-12 with some sallies showing up early afternoon.  It has been busy out there and remember to try and give everyone a little room.  If someone is dry fly fishing, the fish don’t rise everywhere so respect what they are doing and get around their rising fish.

Big Hole River 7/4/24

• Happy 4th and get out there and fish.  Although flows dropped hard and fast the river has flattened and maintained its flow.  Caddis and Yellow Sallies are still hatching in abundance and the dry fly fishing remains wonderful

Beaverhead River 7/4/24

• PMD’s PMD’s.  Fish are starting to sip and the well presented fly is often rewarded.  We took this fish on an 18 cream puff

Big Hole River 6/27/24

• Flows on the Big Hole are dropping fast but the fishing remains fantastic and the dry fly fishing in particular is awesome.  Still lots of caddis, pmds, and yellow sallies.  People are concentrating in the canyon and lower sections but wade fisherman are having a ton of success above Jerry Creek.

Beaverhead River 6/27/24

• PMDs are going strong on the right days but not a consistant daily event yet.  PMD nymphs, scuds, baetis stuff still producing some wonderful fish.  Dam all the way to Barretts is fantastic.  

Beaverhead River 6/22/24

• Flows have dropped a bit and the pmds are gaining numbers everyday, we were finally able to get a couple on top and its going to get better from here.  Small pmd nymphs, scuds, and san juan worms are still the game.  Remember as the summer moves on keep those pictures quick and fish in the water.  

Big Hole River 6/22/24

• The river is still in great shape and we are catching fish of all sizes.  Great to see some little ones out there too as the powers at be say there aren’t any.  Hatches of pmds, yellow sallies and golden stones with some mixed caddis are still a daily occurrence.  

Big Hole River 6/15/24

• Big hole is amazing right now!  Everything you imagine when fishing a trout filled river is out there.  Hatches of yellow sallies, pmd’s, caddis, golden stones, and still some salmon flies, are bringing lots of fish to the surface.

Beaverhead River 6/15/24

• Flows have evened out and the fishing is great.  PMD’s are still very close to full on hatch and the fish have really started keying in on the nymphs.  

Beaverhead River 6/12/24

• Fishing remains about as rewarding as it gets.  We are in the middle of a bug transition and there have been some PMDs flying around and the fish are keying in on the nymphs.  Great dry fly fishing is right around the corner!!

Big Hole River 6/12/24

• Salmon Flies are up and down the entire river, and in certain stretches of the day the fish are slamming those big bugs on top.  Time to get out there and have fun, stop in the shop for the latest patterns.

Big Hole River 6/9/24

• The Big Hole River is fantastic up and down its reaches right now.  Salmon flies have popped in the canyon to glen and I would anticipate below Jerry Creek today.  Grab your big ugly dries and go have some fun.

Beaverhead River 6/9/24

• The Beaverhead is fishing really well right now.  First few sightings of PMDs and the fish have really started to key in on the nymphs.  Its high and mighty with irrigation so find those soft spots.  

Beaverhead 6/5/24

• Flows are starting to level out and the fishing remains great.  Getting a little high to wade in some places.  Fish are still eating scuds, baetis and starting to eat some pmd nymphs.  

Beaverhead River 6/3/24

• Flows are still fluctuating with irrigation demands but until they bump the flow the fishing is fantastic. Scuds and baetis stuff still the main game.  

Big Hole River 6/3/24

• The river remains in great shape and flows have been consistent. We have been picking up some great fish on the upper river with san juan worms, lightning bugs, and various baetis nymphs.  Salmon flies are close-next couple of weeks.