A diversion dam exists just below Pennington Bridge, which can either be portaged or be avoided by using the left channel. Good presentation is important in the slower water found on this section of the Big Hole River. Even the weather changes markedly on this section of the Big Hole River, since it can be cold and rainy in Wise River while warm and sunny just a few short river miles downstream in Melrose. The river is a Class I water from the Fishtrap fishing access site downstream from Wisdom to its confluence with the Jefferson River. Fall fishing, like found between Salmon Fly FAS and Glen FAS, revolves around using large streamers such as Wolly Buggers on sink-tip lines, fishing them in and around prime brown trout habitat. Come check out your home away from home at the Big Hole River Cabins. The Big Hole River is unique, secluded and majestic. The canyon is initially heavily forested on both sides of the river, but the forest lessens as the river travels further eastward and loses additional elevation. The river between Wise River and Divide is of moderate width, although it is sometimes rather deep in spots. Browns dominate rainbow trout in this stretch 2:1 with approximately 3000 fish per mile. The Big Hole River is likely in the top 3 of both lists. The best fishing for brook trout will be found on the upper half of this river section while the best rainbow trout fishing will be found downstream from Wisdom. However, a number of unofficial access sites exist just off the road that follows the Big Hole River. Mosquitoes are usually not a problem in most Montana valleys. Inflatable fishing kayaks are ideal for solo anglers who need a portable fishing boat for fishing on both rivers and flat waters. Best of all, as this hatch comes off in May, the vast majority of tourists haven’t arrived yet. Later in the summer, smaller grasshopper imitations also catch fish consistently. There, due to the dryness of the area, mosquitoes are virtually non-existent—although you do have to watch out for rattlesnakes! Big Hole River is popular with local and visiting anglers, boasting high populations of blue ribbon trout ranging from wild brown, cutthroat, rainbow to graylings. The same hatches that occur further upstream also occur on this particular section of the Big Hole River. The Big Hole is one of the few un-dammed rivers in the country and one of the few with wild trout.When you fish the Big Hole River, you never known what you might catch. The Big Hole is a classic free-stone river, known for its varying landscapes of high mountain valleys, quick canyons and big, cottonwood bottoms. This active group provides interpretive materials along the river and published the helpful map above. As a result, the best fly fishing is found either upstream or downstream from the designated fishing access sites. Find the perfect big hole river stock photo. Caddis fly hatches occur on the river through the middle of the summer and provide excellent fly fishing for dry fly anglers. Streamers and Wolly Buggers thrown in the deep holes, around the undercut banks and behind the rocks all produce results. Rainbows dominate brown trout in this stretch 2:1 with approximately 3000 fish per mile. If mosquitoes do chase you out of the valley, consider fleeing down to the Melrose/Glen area. After twenty-five miles, the river makes one final turn and begins to flow to the northeast, through very arid terrain, towards the confluence with the Jefferson River at Twin Bridges. Excellent brook trout fishing also exists on its upper reaches. The Big Hole River picks up further velocity through this stretch and riffles become more frequent. The additional width, combined with more restricted access, starts to limit wade anglers ability to reach the better fishing spots. The best fly fishing using caddis fly imitations will once again be found earlier in the mornings and later in the evenings before sunset. Productive fishing on this section of the Big Hole River begins in March and April using large streamers thrown along the undercut banks, river obstructions and into the deeper holes. Beginning in July and lasting through September, like found further upstream, grasshopper imitations become the popular fly of choice, in sizes 6-10. June sees the primary event of the year on the Big Hole River—the Salmon Fly hatch. Starting high in the mountains, the river, which is very narrow at this point, lazily twists and turns its way down into the stunning Big Hole River Valley. As the temperatures of the water warm to higher levels, the fish on the stretch consist primarily of brown trout, both in healthy numbers and size. The Big Hole is a productive river, and is typically only crowded for the middle weeks of June during the salmonfly hatch. Big Hole Country If you drive from I-15 west onto route 43 west along Big Hole River toward route 93, you won't be disappointed. Like most rivers in Montana, the Big Hole turns brown and swollen during spring run-off. Zillow has 4 homes for sale in Wise River MT matching Big Hole River. However, since no road follows the Big Hole River in this stretch, access for the wade angler is limited to the fishing access sites—which thus create a fair amount of fishing pressure around these sites. In response, organizations such as the Big Hole River Foundation were formed, with the goal "to understand, preserve, and enhance the free flowing character of the Big Hole River and to protect its watershed, culture, community and excellent wild trout fishery. Usually by middle to late June, the river has cleared up so that an angler shouldn’t have to worry about arriving only to find a muddy, swollen river. As a result, a boat is best used when fly fishing this stretch of the river, although a wade angler who is willing to walk well away from the handful of fishing access sites will find success. There are public access sites at Salmon Fly (Mile 38), Brownes Bridge (Mile 32), Kalsta Bridge (Mile 30), Glen (Mile 25), Notch Bottom (Mile 18), Pennington Bridge (Mile 9), High Road (Mile 2). Miners and homesteaders settled the area between 1864 and the early 1900s. Bordered by the Pioneer Mountains to the east and the Beaverhead Mountains to the west, the valley offers a picture postcard view of Montana. This page was last edited on 23 November 2020, at 16:05. Probably the best fishing on this section occurs during the fall. The countryside the Big Hole River passes through is gorgeous. And nestled right on its banks sits a perfect fishing haven. A word of warning is needed to anyone visiting the upper Big Hole River for the first time. At the time Lewis & Clark traveled through the Big Hole River watershed, it was a buffer zone between several rival Native American tribes including the Nez Percé, Shoshone, Coast Salish, and Blackfeet. Liars Lodge on the Garrisons' Big Hole River Ranch is the perfect base for a fly fishing vacation, hunting excursion, bird watching, hiking or just to get away from it all. This section is characterized by cottonwood bottoms with braided channels and long, slow pools. Butte also is quite close, relatively speaking, if you are fishing on the lower part of the river. However, the Big Hole River Valley is home to lots of these biting creatures. View detailed guide books on how to improve your fly fishing skills. Historic conflicts exist between ranchers in the valley who use the river for irrigation and recreationalists. 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