Fishing through the elements on the Beaverhead River.
We started the day planing on running up to the upper Big Hole, but changed our mind when the forecast called for wind gusts of 20 mph and temps in the low 30′s with blowing snow. Good move on our part. Although we did experience our fair share of snow, sleet, rain, and light wind to start the day, after about 1 pm the weather calmed and climbed into the high 40′s with sunshine by days end. The fishing was fantastic all day however.
We launched two boats at the Dam, and were into fish at our first stop a few hundred yards below the launch. With Clark Canyon Creek dumping A LOT of mud into the river just above High Bridge, we elected to take the shot float and take out there instead of running it down to Henneberry. The fish were keying in on a variety of BWO nymphs and it seemed today that we were getting to a lot of big fish. The Beaverhead is known for big football sized Rainbows in the upper section, and the ones tied into today were of that variety. We landed our share and also lost our fair share, but you can’t complain too bad when a big fish wins out every now and again after a great battle between man and fish.
With temps expected to reach the mid to upper 60′s as the week goes on, we are expecting the Big Hole to climb as run off is sure to get a jump start by Wednesday or Thursday. The Upper Beav will stay clean and the fishing should continue to be strong as the big life will pop with the warmer temps, and the fish will thrive on the new life brought forth by the summer temps.
Justin
