A month by month guide to the hatches of Southwest Montana. Find your prime time to fish!

It’s no secret that Southwest Montana has endless options when it comes to fishing. Often the hardest part of planning a fishing trip is deciding what month to fish. However, with so many good hatches coming off each month, you can hardly go wrong. The following is a list of hatches and when we feel is the best time to fish them.

April (Skwalla Hatch on the Big Hole River)

During the month of April we normally start to see the first dry fly action of the season. On cloudy days there are Blue Winged Olives on both the Big Hole and Beaverhead Rivers, and by the middle of April you can bet that Skwallas have started on the Big Hole. This spring-time stone is one of the most rewarding hatches of the year, as you get to fish a size 10 dry fly on 2X to a fish that has not seen a fake fly since November.

Spring fishing is some of the best of the season as low boat traffic and hungry fish couple to bring you possibly the highest hook up rate of any month of the year. If you’re looking to get away for spring break, need a quick fishing trip to help shake the cob webs of old man winter, or just want to experience Montana fly fishing in a month many anglers do not get to see, then April is your time. Recommended Skwalla dates: April 10 – 30

May (Caddis and Season Opener)

The Mother’s Day Caddis hatch is legendary on many western rivers, and it is no different here in Southwest Montana.  The Big Hole, Beaverhead, and Ruby Rivers produce Caddis hatches that make the water look as if it is boiling as fish rise to nab the protein packed flies off the surface. Caddis takes are often quick and violent making the fisherman’s heart quicken in pace and liven the spirit. Some of the best caddis action of the year happens before the third Saturday in May, which is Montana’s general fishing season opener. Some water that is off limits to guided fishing during the summer due to regulations, is open to fish and will produce some of the most memorable days ever spent on the water. Recommended Caddis dates: May 5 – May 18

When the third Saturday in May rolls around, the famed section of the Upper Beaverhead River will see plenty of pressure. Fishing the Upper Beav on opening day is like Christmas morning for a lot of anglers. After months of waiting, one is anxious to see what sort of monster Brown or Rainbow trout has manifested itself in the river this season. We do not recommend fishing opening weekend as the crowds are sometimes too much to take, but you can bet we will be there the Monday after the opener. Recommended Opener Dates: May 21 – 31

June (Salmon Flies and Golden Stones)

The most popular hatch in our area has got to be the Salmon Fly hatch. This larger than life stone fly starts to show itself around June 13 every year. Some years yield Salmon flies a little earlier, and some years they are a few days late, but on average the few days surrounding the 13^th is Salmon Fly time on the Big Hole River. The hatch sees a good bit of pressure from anglers all over the world, and can be one of the busiest times of the year on the Big Hole. However, as the hatch moves up river one can usually get a day or two of excellent dry fly fishing as we toss size 4 dry flies into the bank in search of violent takes and feisty fish. Golden Stones start to show up a week or so later, and will sometimes come off into the middle part of July. Golden Stone fishing after the main hatch can be better than the main Salmon Fly hatch at times, and you also avoid lower pressure once the “big bugs” are done with their bi-annual cycle. Recommend Salmon Fly and Golden Stone Dates: June 13-30

July (PMD’s and Sally’s)

When July rolls around you can almost bet that our yearly run off will be over and the longer lasting PMD and Yellow Sally hatches will start showing up. The Beaverhead River will see its highest pressure of the year, but for good reason. The upper stretches of the Beav will be loaded with fish stacking up in feeding lanes gorging on PMD and Sally nymphs like they have not eaten in years. Lots of flies are lost to these fish during the month of July, and the many landed are fish of a lifetime. July is the best all around month of fishing on the Beaverhead River. Recommended Beav Dates: July 10-31

The Big Hole is possibly the best pure dry fly fishery in the United Sates. For years anglers have come to fish the Big Hole in July to take advantage of the numerous hatches this amazing river produces. Caddis, PMD’s, Yellow Sally’s, Green and Brown Drakes, Golden Stones, BWO’s and a few early hoppers open up a treasure chest of possibility for the dry fly enthusiast. We spend numerous hours on the Big Hole in July, and wish there were more days than 31 in this month in which to fish. Recommended Big Hole Dates: July 1-31

 August (Terrestrials and Craneflies)

Maybe the hidden gem when it comes to fishing time in Montana. Many anglers have come and gone on their summer vacations and fishing trips, and water that is a little less crowded starts to yield the most visual fishing of the year. Hoppers, ants, beetles, and a few other Terrestrial life forms are out in force, and as the summer winds down and the meadow grasses dry up, you’ll start to see these exciting bugs right next to river. In result, hungry fish will be lurking below waiting to explode on any unlucky fly blown into the river. Violent takes, big flies, and fat fish are three qualities that come with hopper fishing. Recommended Hopper Dates:  August 7-31

Skating Craneflies can be the most exciting freshwater trout fishing an angler can do. It’s a combination of streamer fishing and dry fly fishing that produces the most violent take ever seen on a dry fly. These larger than life bugs (they look like a mosquito on steroids) come off at both dawn and dusk, and on cloudy conditioned days in late August. I can say for certain that Cranefly season is the most anticipated few weeks of the year for all of us at TLA. As a retired Outfitter said to me last year as we fished the Cranefly hatch, “As far as I’m concerned, this is the only way to ever fish for trout.”  If you’re a streamer junkie, or a dry fly enthusiast, Cranefly fly fishing is a step above anything you’ve ever experienced. Recommend Cranefly dates: August 15-31

September (Hoppers, Craneflies, BWO’s)

We call this our “mixer month.” As September rolls around we see our first few frosty mornings as temperatures begin to drop below freezing during the night, changing the colors of the leaves on the Cottonwood Trees. Most of the main hatches have come and gone, but a few Mayflies and small Stoneflies remain. With their summer food sources gone until next season, trout move into a feeding pattern that is characterized as “opportunistic.” During the month of September one can expect to fish nymphs, dry flies, and streamers as fish move between feeding patterns. On cloudy days the first hatches of fall Blue Winged Olives can be seen and fish tend to pod up and feed in great regularity on the last big hatch of the season. Brown Trout begin to prepare for their yearly spawn, and males tend to become very aggressive and will attack and chase any fly that gets too close to his personal space. September is a fantastic month to experience Montana in all her fall beauty while in search of wild Montana Trout. Recommended “Mixer” Dates:  September 8-30

October (Fall Spawn)

If you want a chance to truly tie into the biggest fish of the season, or perhaps the biggest fish of your career, October is your month. The Brown Trout spawn is in full force and the big males who lurk the depths all summer become vulnerable during this annual ritual. Two seasons ago during this last week of October, a guest of ours landed the two biggest trout of his life two days apart. Both Brown Trout, one male and one female, were taken on a streamer pattern two days apart. The female measured out at 26” and 8 lbs, while the male stretched the tape to just over 28” and over 10 lbs. If you’re looking for the opportunity to land the biggest fish of the season, love to fish streamers, enjoy less crowded rivers, and wish to fish in some of the most beautiful country you’ll find in the lower 48, October is your month. Recommended October Dates:  October 15-31

To book your 2012 Montana Fishing Adventure, or to learn more about the fishing in our area, please visit us online at www.tightlinemontana.com

Be sure to check out our Hatch Chart for a more detailed look into the hatches mentioned above, and as always feel free to contact Justin directly with any questions you may have.

Hope to see you on the river this season.

Tight Lines,

Justin

With the general rifle deer and elk seasons upon us, I thought I’d share Montana’s hunting season schedule. Some of you have this information memorized, while others are just learning the ropes.

Although he doesn’t guide big game hunters, Justin is busy preparing for a full weekend of waterfowl hunting and fly fishing with clients from across the country. So as a “hunting widow” I’ll leave you with a little humor:

Happy Hunting & Tight Lines, Sarah

SEASONS:                     START:                       END:

Antelope                                August 15                            November 13

   Archery                                  September 3                      October 7

   General                                   October 8                            November 13

Bighorn Sheep

    Archery                                 September 5                      September 14

    General                                  September 15                    November 27

Bison                                         November 15                    February 15, 2012

Black Bear                          

    Archery                                 September 3                      September 14

    Fall                                          September 15                    November 27

Deer & Elk                         

    Archery                                   September 3                      October 16

Youth (Deer Only)           October 20                          October 21

    General                                   October 22                          November 27

Backcountry HD’s 150, 151, 280, 316

    Archery                                    September 3                     September 14

    General                                     September 15                   November 27

Moose                                          September 15                   November 27

Mountain Goat                     September 15                   November 27

Mountain Lion                 

    Archery                                     September 3                      October 16

    Fall                                               October 22                          November 27

    Winter                                        December 1                        April 14, 2012

Wolf     

    Archery                                      September 3                      October 16

    General                                       October 22                          December 31

Fall Fishing Update

Each year we wait patiently, well maybe not so patiently, for the fall fishing season. Cool mornings, comfortable days, foliage changing colors, rutting elk & moose, and big brown trout chasing streamers. After having above average temperatures for the latter part of September and the beginning of October, the cool air has settled in making for fantastic days on the rivers.

Beaverhead River Fishing Report

There isn’t a better fishery in the state of Montana right now than the Beaverhead River. The Beav is lit up with hard-charging brown trout ready to nail any streamer ripped through their zone. As the spawn continues to move along, the aggressive nature of brown trout come into view as they chase small minnows and leaches out of their spawning area.

Incredible Fall Brown on the Beaverhead

Even though we do not promote disturbing the beds when the fish are spawning, pulling a streamer across a wide area will more than likely pass an aggressive spawning trout. Depending on the day and how the weather has been, natural colors have been the most productive. On days when those do not work, we’ve found success on bright yellow buggers and JJ Specials. With the water dropping almost every day, the fish are going nuts spawning and feeding on numerous scuds, sow bugs, blue winged olives, midges, and grubs.

If you’re planning to fish in Montana this fall, do yourself a favor and spend a day on the Beaverhead River. We had a guest stop in to fish the Beaverhead for a half day in the early part of last week. After having a banner day ripping streamers, he stayed for another two because the fishing was so good.

Big Hole River Fishing Report

While we have spent a good while on the Beaverhead River in the past few weeks, the Big Hole has been holding its own as well. Later starts have been important as cooler water temps prevent early activity.  Once the water warms up enough for big fish activity to begin, we’ve been getting into some nice fish on one of the most beautiful rivers you’ll find – especially in fall. 

Beautiful Autumn Big Hole Brown

Nymphing has been the best bet with big stoneflies, san juan worms, princes, pheasant tails, eggs, and various midges being the big ticket items. Streamer fishing picks up toward the evening hours, but on cloudy days we’ve seen excellent streamer fishing all day. Natural zonkers, egg sucking leaches, olive/black buggers, and JJ Specials have been the bugs of choice. On cloudy days we’ve had some great blue winged olive fishing on top as rainbows pod up in slick pools and feed on the beatis as they drift down river.

Here’s to Red Hot Fall Fishing

Even though the fall season does not last as long as the summer season, the quality of fishing is unmatched and you can bet we will be chasing fish until the snow is too deep to launch a boat.

Have a great fall season and as always we love to see your pictures of success! Check out our online photo gallery or email your own big trout pics to me at justin@tightlinemontana.com or share them on our facebook page at www.facebook.com/tightlinemontana

Tight Lines,

Justin

The ninety degree temperatures on October 1 had us wondering if the Fall weather would ever arrive. But this week brought cooler temperatures, some light rain, and the excitement of Fall.

Don’t let the cooler temps fool you, there is still plenty to do in our area this time of year. This weekend come check out the Beaverhead Business Builders’ Oktoberfest in downtown Dillon - Saturday, October 8th from 10am – 3pm! Come enjoy music, locally grown produce for sale, sidewalk sales, food, pumpkin bowling, photo booth, and much more. 

While most folks’ minds are turning toward hunting season, trout fishing is still red-hot, so give Justin a holler at (406) 925-1684 or shoot him an email at justin@tightlinemontana.com for tips on fishing this time of year.

Our Grandma Laura sent us a copy of Helen Hunt Jackson’s poem “October’s Bright Blue Weather” and we thought it appropriate to share this time of year.

Happy Fall & Tight Lines,

Justin & Sarah

October’s Bright Blue Weather 

O suns and skies and clouds of June,
And flowers of June together,
Ye cannot rival for one hour
October’s bright blue weather;

When loud the bumblebee makes haste,
Belated, thriftless vagrant,
And goldenrod is dying fast,
And lanes with grapes are fragrant;

When gentians roll their fingers tight
To save them for the morning,
And chestnuts fall from satin burrs
Without a sound of warning;

When on the ground red apples lie
In piles like jewels shining,
And redder still on old stone walls
Are leaves of woodbine twining;

When all the lovely wayside things
Their white-winged seeds are sowing,
And in the fields still green and fair,
Late aftermaths are growing;

When springs run low, and on the brooks,
In idle golden freighting,
Bright leaves sink noiseless in the hush
Of woods, for winter waiting;

When comrades seek sweet country haunts,
By twos and twos together,
And count like misers, hour by hour,
October’s bright blue weather.

O sun and skies and flowers of June,
Count all your boasts together,
Love loveth best of all the year
October’s bright blue weather.

Helen Hunt Jackson (1830-1885)

Justin and Sarah Hartman and Tight Line Adventures are proud to announce the Grand Opening of vacation home Expedition Lodge. The lodge will be open for the public to view, Friday, September 23 from 9am-4pm, with a Beaverhead Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting ceremony taking place at 12:30pm. Expedition Lodge is located at 1120 Eliason Lane in Dillon.

Outfitter and Montana Western alum, Justin Hartman and his team of guides have been providing guided fly-fishing adventures in Southwest Montana for the past several years and can now offer vacationers and fishermen the retreat accommodations of Expedition Lodge. Remodeled in the winter of 2010, the lodge is located just minutes south of Dillon and offers three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a loft.

With the first summer season under their belts, Justin and Sarah have hosted numerous groups of happy customers and hope the community can see that Expedition Lodge is not only a great retreat for vacationers, fishermen, hunters, and skiers, but is also the perfect venue for activities as varied as family reunions, corporate parties and retreats, and social gatherings of any size.

Photos courtesy of Clark Marten Photography.

Labor Day may mark the unofficial end of summer, but in Southwest Montana it marks the official beginning of the best fishing of the year. Along with “Montana’s Biggest Weekend” (more on that later) Dillon hosts trophy trout fishing like nowhere else in the country.

We wish everyone participating in the Beaverhead County Fair and Rodeo much luck and hope that wherever you are spending the holiday weekend you can get some casts in before heading back to work or school.

Cheers to a happy and safe Labor Day Weekend — Justin & Sarah Hartman

FISHING UPDATE

Big Hole River

Water flows on the Big Hole River have dropped off drastically in the last few weeks, but water temperatures remain cool as we head into the fall fishing season. Tricos have been seen throughout the river and mid-morning spinner falls bring pods of rising fish to the surface.

When fishing a spinner fall remember that fish tend to gravitate towards clusters of bugs rather than single flies on many occasions. Don’t be afraid to throw a Renegade to help you track a smaller trailing fly and to bring a more aggressive eat. Light tippet is a must and as always be sure to have a drag-free drift.  As the day wears on hoppers are a good bet, not only along the banks, but also fished down the center of the river.

Beaverhead River

The end of August brings extremely exciting fishing to the Beaverhead River with the arrival of the Crane Fly. These giant bugs are readily seen in the morning and evening hours and on any day when cloud cover blankets the sky. As the Cranes skim across the surface looking for a place to lay their eggs, fish can be seen slurping, pounding, and back flipping through the air in response.

Over the last week, the epic hatch has gained momentum and it seems that every fish in the river during the morning and evening hours are keying in specifically on Crane Flies. The hatch should last another two weeks and is something every dry fly or streamer enthusiast should experience. 

Water flows on the Beaverhead continue to hover around 1,000 CFS as Clark Canyon Reservoir is still above 100% capacity. As we near the end of summer, we also near the end of irrigation season, which should mean a drop in flows here in the next few weeks. However, flows will remain above normal for this time of year, as room in the reservoir will need to be generated for next spring’s runoff. Before floating or wade fishing, be sure to check the flows HERE.

LOCAL HAPPENINGS

“Montana’s Biggest Weekend” – Labor Day in Dillon, Montana

Our community comes alive for the annual Labor Day celebration known state-wide as “Montana’s Biggest Weekend.” So whether it is the Beaverhead County Fair, the Patagonia Outlet sale, PRCA Rodeo action, or country superstar Craig Morgan, you won’t be disappointed with all that Dillon has to offer this weekend.

For more information about Labor Day activities, schedules, or tickets, check out www.dillonjaycees.com and remember you can book your Montana fly fishing adventure online anytime HERE.

BOOK YOUR ADVENTURE ONLINE — CLICK HERE

Summer driving in Montana will almost always bring you upon some road construction, but a recent cruise through Dillon has more than its fair share of work zones.

New Hospital – Coming Spring 2012

Our new Barrett Hospital and HealthCare is quickly taking shape. On the south edge of town, just off Highway 91, the construction crews and heavy equipment operators have been busy (much to the delight of our 3 year-old son) and it is looking good!

Carpita Demolition – July 27, 2011

Just as the new 72,000 square foot hospital is being added to our community, downtown is saying goodbye to an old structure. The Carpita Building on Montana Street is in the process of being torn down.

Word is that the space (just across Montana Street from Womack’s Printing) will be turned into a parking lot, a much-needed addition to our bustling downtown.

FISHING UPDATE

Big Hole River

Average flows on the Big Hole River continue to be well above average for this time of year, providing cold water and steady hatches for the 2,500 fish per mile that inhabit this river. Dry fly fishing has been good throughout the river as early morning hatches of Mayflies and Caddis begin to get the fish’s attention. PMD and Green Drake Cripples along with Summer Stones and various Attractors have worked well mid-day. Late evening hatches of Caddis and PMDs round out the day.

Hands Full of Brown Trout

Cooler temperatures in the evenings are keeping more water in the river, and this bodes well for late summer and early fall fishing, as fish retain their strength and pack on much needed weight for the upcoming spawn.

In the next few weeks, we hope to see the first few Spruce Moths, and we’ll keep you up to date when the hatch really gets good, as this can be one of the most fun times to fish the Big Hole River.

Beaverhead River

Water levels on the Beaverhead River have crested at over 1,000 CFS as the Army Corp of Engineers try to drain Clark Canyon Reservoir in preparation for next season’s runoff. Flows may continue to increase as the reservoir needs to drop nine feet just to get back down to 100% capacity.

While wade fishing may be a little tougher than normal, access by drift boat has been fantastic. Fish are eagerly eating PMD and Yellow Sally Nymphs throughout the river and the afternoons have seen good dry fly action on both the upper and lower river. Size 18 olive, brown, and yellow colored PMD Nymphs have worked well on the upper river, while various Yellow Sally Nymphs are the ticket on the lower sections. As flows increase make sure to increase the amount of weight on your nymph rig as well. For the ideal Beaverhead River set-up, check out our Double Dropper Leader, available online or at Rocky Mountain Supply in Dillon. Click HERE for more information.

Beaverhead Rainbow

Side Note: Most of our high mountain streams and smaller tributaries are running clean after a long run-off season. We can report first-hand that they are fishing very well. So, if you have a day to venture out into one of our many area mountain ranges, bring a few different dry flies, a sack lunch, sunscreen and bug spray, and enjoy some off-the-beaten-path wild trout fishing.

LOCAL HAPPENINGS

Summer Sizzler – Downtown Dillon: Saturday July, 30^th

Festival fun opens early Saturday with local vendors, sidewalk sales, live music and entertainment, kids carnival activities and crafts, and festival food including cotton candy, snow cones, popcorn, bratwursts, and pulled pork. Early evening activities include a BBQ and street dance with live music. All brought to you by The Beaverhead Business Builders “Buy Local” campaign.

Incredible Montana Sunset

Vote for IR-125

We need your help in collecting signatures for IR-125, the initiative to repeal the eminent domain law (HB 198) that facilitates MSTI (Mountain States Transmission Intertie). If you are interested in helping out, please go to the web site http://votefor125.com/ and go to “You Can Help” and then “Circulate Petitions.” From this point, download the “Signature Gathering Instructions,” and multiple copies of the “Affidavit of Signature Gatherer” forms and the “IR-125 Petition” forms.

Beaverhead River Fishing Update:

For the first time all season the outflow of the Beaverhead River is greater than the inflows of Clark Canyon Reservoir. The river has seen an increase of around 100 CFS a day for the past 4 days topping out at around 1,000 CFS currently.

Buffalo Corner Lineup on the Beaverhead

Plans are to increase the flows gradually over the next week, so we advise waders to take caution as the tight channel of the Beaverhead can be stronger than it looks.

Fishing during higher flows produces vast feeding areas for the fish as great amounts of grub larva, aquatic sow bugs, and worms get pushed through the system.

Along with the grubs, good hatches of PMDs and Sallies are coming off daily. Caddis have been seen regularly in the evenings as well. Dry fly fishing on the upper river has picked up substantially and many sippers can be found and fished to along the famed “Slick” section.

Lower Beaverhead Brown

Nymph fishing as usual is always a good option. Be sure to include enough weight in your set-up to ensure proper presentation as fast water moves bugs quickly through the feeding column and fish tend to eat a lazily presented nymph over a fast moving one. Various PMD Emergers such as split-backs, case emergers, half-backs, and bubble-backs have been the most productive. The best Sally imitations have been the Psycho Prince, Micro Stone & Iron Sally.

Big Hole River Fishing Update:

With the cloud cover hanging in the Big Hole Valley over the past 4 days, the dry fly fishing on the upper Big Hole River has been superb. Dropping flows have allowed flies to be presented in soft pockets and beautiful riffles as fish are now out of the willows and into normal feeding lanes.

The early morning hours have been fantastic with big Golden Stones and Black Magics, while PMD and Green Drake Cripples have fished well through mid-day stretches. Clouds of Caddis have been coming off in the evenings and various Caddis Emergers have worked well. A few Golden Stones have been spotted and on super cloudy days, Golden Stones can be fished from start to finish with great success. 

Guide, Nic Jovanovich, displays a beauty he caught on a PMD Cripple on the Big Hole River

Even though the flows are higher than normal for this time of year, the quality of fishing has improved substantially as water temperatures remain cool during the summer heat. The fish are in great shape having eaten very well in the early summer and are eager to take a well-presented dry fly. Anglers who are looking to have some fantastic dry fly fishing need to fish the Big Hole from now until the hatches taper off this fall. You can rest assured that if we could, we would live on the Big Hole for the rest of the season – it is just that good right now.

LOCAL HAPPENINGS:

GREAT HARVEST BAKE DAY: Friday, July 22^nd from 10am – 4pm

The Great Harvest Bread Co. franchising headquarters is located in Dillon, MT

Great Harvest Bread Company is “Raising Dough” for the Dillon Backpack Program. Stop by Great Harvest at 25 E. Glendale Street (next door to the Dilmart) in Dillon to purchase Honey Whole Wheat, Nine Grain, Red White and Blueberry, Cracked Pepper Swiss, Blue Ribbon Blueberry Batter Bread, Snickerdoodle, and Double Chocolate Chip Cookies. 100% of everything you spend goes directly to the Dillon Backpack Program.

SOUTHWEST MONTANA RELAY FOR LIFE:

Friday, July 22^nd & Saturday, July 23^rd  – Dillon Middle School Track

Last-minute team registrations can be made by calling Diana Brown at (406) 660-1125 or showing up to the Dillon Middle School Track before 7pm Friday

A fundraiser for the American Cancer Society and a community-wide event that celebrates the lives of folks fighting cancer, remembers lost loved ones, and fights back against this terrible disease. Relay teams work through the night because cancer never sleeps.

Take part in the community hamburger and hot dog BBQ starting at 5:30pm at the Dillon Middle School Track and participate in numerous activities including music, games, and raffles.

Dillon, Montana Hay Field

The sunshine has decided to stick around, and after all the rainfall we had in June, Beaverhead County is the greenest it has been in years. A sure sign of July in this area is seeing the first hay cutting taking place.

According to the Beaverhead Chamber of Commerce, Dillon forms the center of Montana’s largest cattle and hay producing areas, and is one of Montana’s top agricultural centers.

Just as 4th of July festivities were getting underway, farmers and ranchers were busy putting up hay

Fishing Update

Dry fly fishing has hit its stride on both the Big Hole and Beaverhead Rivers. Both rivers are at their prime points in the hatch cycle as numerous types of bugs are coming off daily. Golden Stones are still a good option on the Big Hole along with various Green Drake Imitations, Yellow Sallies, PMDs, and Caddis.

Beaverhead Brown

The Beaverhead is seeing good Yellow Sally hatches along with PMDs and Caddis in the evenings. These hatches will continue for the next few weeks, and we will continue to update you on the hottest flies and sections of river.

The past week has seen extraordinary dry fly fishing as late afternoon storms have supplied cloud cover and ideal top water feeding conditions.

Southwest Montana Thunderhead

LOCAL HAPPENINGS

If you find yourself in the Dillon area this weekend here are a few local events you won’t want to miss!

BANNACK DAYS:

Saturday, July 16^th &

Sunday, July 17^th 

Bannack State Park

As the first territorial capital of Montana, Bannack has a colorful history full of road agents and vigilantes. See this ghost town come to life and enjoy a day full of period demonstrations including shoot-outs in front of Skinner’s Saloon, gold panning, and blacksmithing – all free to the public – as well as wagon and Model AA rides throughout Main Street.

Enjoy food vendors like the ice cold watermelon stand and don’t forget to join along with the Slightly Soiled Doves as they dance their way around town.

For More Information and the Schedule of Events CLICK HERE 

BIG HOLE RIVER DAY: Saturday, July 16^th – Melrose MT, 9am-5pm

The Big Hole River Foundation’s annual fundraiser features vendors and activities, including casting, fly tying and rowing demonstrations, tours of the newly constructed diversion dam at Divide, their new river fencing project, and much more!

Help support the Big Hole River Foundation, the town of Melrose, and raise money and awareness in support of the Big Hole River. Enter to win the NRS 13’ Otter Raft or for more information call (866) 533-2473.

DILLON FARMER’S MARKET: Every Saturday through September 24^th

Wells Fargo Parking Lot, Dillon

Featuring the products of local gardeners, bakers, artists, and craftsmen, the Dillon Farmer’s Market is a great stop for fresh roasted and brewed coffee, delicious baked goods, fresh produce, jams, jellies, and a variety of handmade items for sale. Open from 9am-1pm at 20 N. Montana Street, Dillon.

Last week's season opener for the Dillon Farmer’s Market saw a great turnout

With the Independence Day Holiday Weekend fast approaching, we’re taking this opportunity to wish you all a Happy 4th of July! We count ourselves fortunate to live, work, and play in this incredible country and hope this finds you enjoying the company of family and friends – maybe even with a fly rod in hand.

Beaverhead River Fishing Report

The Beav continues to fish well. Considered a tail-water, the flow of this river is regulated by Clark Canyon Dam, and is unaffected by seasonal run-off.

The picturesque Upper Beaverhead River - June 2011

The Clark Canyon Recreation Area is almost completely under water in this photo taken on June 26, 2011. Notice the shelter house rooftops are just barely out of the rising water.

 A float on the lower river a few days ago saw numerous Golden Stones pushed against the banks, making us think that the Lower Beaverhead River Gold Stone hatch is only a few days away.

With the increased water flows, water temperatures have increased, energizing the fish and creating a consistent feeding pattern. Look for the Beaverhead River to fish very well over the remaining months of the year.

Big Hole River Fishing Report

The Big Hole continues to flow at a higher than normal rate due to the tremendous amount of moisture in the Upper Big Hole Basin. Salmon Flies and Golden Stones have been flying for over a week and various hatches of Mayflies, Caddis, and Yellow Sallies are also coming off.

A full moon over the mountains of Southwest Montana

Due to the high water, we advise caution; and access by boat should only be under the control of an experienced oarsman. This classic freestone river has proved to be powerful and should not be underestimated.

Fish are pushed way into the banks of the Big Hole River as they avoid high water flows and seek refuge while they pick Stonefly Nymphs off the rocks moving out of the river to hatch. Backwater Eddies, slow banks, and soft inside seams are the best places to find fish. Various Stonefly Nymphs, San Juan Worms, Streamers, and Mayfly Imitations have been the most effective patterns.

With 80-degree weather forecasted for the remainder of the holiday weekend, be sure to check stream flows here before heading out.

Tight Lines & God Bless America — Justin & Sarah Hartman

Have questions? Want to book your trip online? 

Need information about a Hatch Chart or Moon Phases?

Visit us at www.tightlinemontana.com or call Justin at (406) 925-1684