Summer Hopper Fishing on the Big Hole from Evolution Anglers on Vimeo.

From our friend Joe at Evolution Anglers. I miss summer.

Tags: River - Big Hole

Big Hole Fly Fishing in June from Evolution Anglers on Vimeo.

Tags: River - Big Hole

Talked to a couple who had been over on the lower Big Hole this past weekend.  Sounds like they battled some wind but had a nice outing with several nice fish caught on streamers.

The spent the majority of their day nymphing and consistently moved fish; there were a smattering of olives for an hour or so in the afternoon on Saturday, but the sun probably curtailed the hatch a bit.

The upper river is danged cold right now and is icing; there will be several days of fishable weather this week before  another blast of winter.

Tags: River - Big Hole

Finally, there might just be some good news for Montana Grayling.

Underscore maybe.

After the debacle of the review opinion from several years ago, the Department of the Interior / Fish and Wildlife Service announced on the 28^th of October in the Federal Register the intent to undertake a status review of Arctic Grayling in the Upper Missouri River System.

Most of us didn’t think another review opportunity would come around this quickly.

The review is scheduled to take about a year, with findings to be announced next August.  The re-review has come about due to pressure from a variety of sources, through is probably principally due to the pressure from the Tucson based Center for Biological Diversity who’s legal challenge prompted an out of court settlement – another review of the Grayling’s status.

The key issue at hand – considering the ‘biology, ecology, taxonomy, genetics and status of Montana’s grayling’ – are they indeed a ‘distinct population’, a classification necessary to obtain protected status.  In 2007 the FWS ruled no.

The Center argues that the fluvial (river resident) Montana Grayling resident in the Big Hole are a distinct population from populations remaining in Canada and Alaska, and further distinct from the adfluvial Grayling populations (live in lakes and migrate to streams / rivers for spawning).  I’m not a fisheries biologist, but do have a doctoral science background, and reading through the study data from 2006 and 2007 it sure looks like the Feds missed the call.

The Center for Biological Diversity isn’t always on the mark their pursuits, but they are right on target with this issue.

Read the full notice of intent in the Federal Register here.

Several key points to note:

1. The Feds screwed the pooch on the last review of Grayling in this system (announced in April of 2007).
2. They are only allowing 30 days for comments on the issue for this current review.  Full details about the spectrum of information they’re seeking is available in the Federal Register document above.
3. Comment via email via:

fw6_arcticgrayling@fws.gov

4. Comment via snail mail at:  Arctic Grayling Status Review, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Montana Field Office, 585 Shepard Way, Helena, MT 59601.

They’re not taking faxes so forget about the black page trick.

I know – it’s Sunday, you partied too much last night and you probably forgot to change your clocks with the time change too.  Those fighting the battle for grayling need your help on this one – just fire off the email or better yet a letter today….

Tags: Fish Stories

The Big Hole, despite our early season dance with winter over the past few weeks, has been fishing pretty well, at least on the lower sections.

For those so inclined, egg patterns have been the go to ‘fly’; I know, there are folks who will rant and rave about even a mention of this approach.  Suit yourself – but read this report about what the Great Divide guys have to say about it anyway.  The last few ‘purist’ friends who chewed my ass for talking about it ended up having a few of these in their nymph boxes last time I checked.

Flows are up over the past few days as it’s warmed a bit and there’s been some rain; water temps are still cooling even as far down as Melrose.  It’s not an early morning river anymore.  Still a few olives down low on the right kind of day, though most gals and guys are nymphing and throwing streamers at this point.

Still some very good fishing left this year…..

Tags: River - Big Hole

Interesting post up on the Big Hole River Journal by the Great Divide Outfitter guys in Divide on the 14^th……

A couple days ago I was convinced that I was going to close the shop for this season. It was bitter cold, the river was flowing slush ice bank to bank and I just figured it was senseless to keep the shop open under these conditions.

This morning that all changed as the weather today is beautiful. A little while ago I was laying in my hammock on the porch taking a little nap, that’s how nice it is. The forecast is for even warmer temps with clouds and chance of rain. Perfect fishing conditions. So with these conditions in mind we decided to keep the shop open for at least another week or more depending on the weather.

The fishing on both the Big Hole and Beaverhead should be good. couple days ago I was convinced that I was going to close the shop for this season. It was bitter cold, the river was flowing slush ice bank to bank and I just figured it was senseless to keep the shop open under these conditions.

Jake and I were over in Wisdom on the 14^th and can testify as to the ice on the upper river, it was in the upper 50′s that day with lots of snow and ice still around.

This time of year a heck of lot hinges on the weather, and there’s some actually some very nice weather due this week for most of the area – cloudy, cool and rainy / snowy pending your elevation.

There won’t be many of these weeks left – and while this should be a BWO week over here, be ready with an array of nymph and streamers, and don’t forgo the skinny water if there are clouds around.

Tags: River - Big Hole

Believe it or not there was business to be done in Wisdom yesterday.

A quick run west to Butte, down I-15 to Divide and then on west to Wisdom.  Traffic was a mess – the herd mentality of Montana drivers can be a real pain.

There’s a lot to like about Wisdom…

The upper Big Hole was a bit icy…

And dammit, we missed the Great Divide Outfitter guys again….

Tags: River - Big Hole

Missed last Sunday’s report on the Big Hole and was goofing off yesterday and didn’t make the usual calls to see what’s happening on the Big Hole these days.

Water temps at Melrose have plummeted in the cold weather (and it has been cold in Wisdom for the past few days)…..

I have to run to Wisdom early this week for a business issue and will stop in and chat with several shops while over there – pics and detail to follow.  Clearly it’s too early for things to settle into the winter pattern over there; we need to get old man winter to go back home for a weeks before settling in.

Tags: River - Big Hole

For most of the neighborhood the weather is making much more news that fishing today.  Even though we’re only half way through the first week of October, there’s a winter storm warning (pink on the map) out for territory above 500o feet (that’s down to the edge of Bozeman if you’re wondering).

Just for interest sake they’re talking 2-4 feet of snow in the high country with accumulations of 4-6 inches in the valleys of southwest Montana.  The valley snow will surely melt out, but that much snow in the high country will stick around until late next spring or early next summer.

The fishing has been in fact better of late on the Big Hole, though you do need to think twice about floating a hard boat over there.  A neighbor who is not the most talented oarsman (typically due to his intake of adult beverages) holed a glass drifter over here this past week.

His story suggests that tectonic plates shifted causing a large boulder to suddenly rear up in his path, so close that it couldn’t be avoided.  Other reports suggest that he had spun around and was digging around in the cooler and then tying a fly on for his wife (what the hell?) when the fatal impact occurred.  The age of his boat (measured in lustrums) probably had something to do with it as well.  My point – don’t float with this guy, and use the raft this next week.

Streamer fishing has been getting better with the bursts of transitional weather, and should be much better with this storm and the next due roughly from Wednesday through the weekend.  Looks like the later week storm won’t quite carry the punch today’s / tomorrow’s storm will.   Divide’s forecast looks a might wintery….

BWOs have been out on the upper river in decent numbers and should be rolling this week as well.  Stay warm.

Tags: River - Big Hole

Lot’s of folks who love to fish the Big Hole are looking forward to the weather change due this week – the forecast looks better and better every time I look at it.

The forecast for Divide looks a lot like the rest of the neighborhood, sunny today and tomorrow with temps still unseasonably warm, with rain moving in Tuesday, and much cooler temps moving in Wednesday.  Snow is in the forecast for the Divide area on Wednesday night; we’re even due to potentially see some in the Bozeman area on Wednesday afternoon and evening.

Dry fly action has been thinning on the Big Hole, and streamers have been slow to come around – that will all change this week.  The fall hatches should blossom and we’ll finally have some genuine streamer weather.

Hot Damn.

Word is that the Big Hole flows are finally down closer to seasonable normals – running a hard bottomed boat down the river at these flows will be a bit noisy at best and generate a few dings.  Time for the raft or wading upstream……

Tags: River - Big Hole

No one who has been on the Big Hole this year would be surprised to hear that the river is in very good shape right now.

Several friends and neighbors have been over this week and reported excellent days on the river on dries – Tricos early, with very strong terrestrial and attractor days.  They were surprised at the size and number of fish in shallower water.

They didn’t do very well on streamers as they were fishing during the last warm spell, though heard tales while over there about decent streamer action very early and late.

Some more typical fall weather should really kick the Big Hole up a notch or two – we’re watching for those cloudy days too……

Tags: River - Big Hole

I’ve run into several folks who have been on the Big Hole this past week, and the reports make me wonder this morning if fishing has not moved back into the wow range.

The upper has been fishing well on more days than not for most of the summer given our abundant moisture and cooler than normal temps.  Sounds like Tricos, a variety of attractor style flies, and terrestrials (particularly smaller hoppers, ants and beetles) have been much appreciated by fishers this past week.

The lower river is beginning to cool temperature wise (not that it got all that bad this season) – that means fishing is starting to heat up a bit.  Terrestrials, attractors, stonefly nymphs and Mahoganies have been the name of the game down here.

Folks we’ve talked to are itching to start throwing streamers on the overcast days – maybe tomorrow???

Tags: River - Big Hole

Had dinner with a friend last night who was lucky enough to spend a couple of days on the Big Hole this past week. He has a fairly well deserved reputation for reasonably accurate reporting of conditions and catching on outings, and most often proffers photographic proof of interesting fish caught.

That said, I was not the least bit surprised to hear that the Big Hole continue to fish well, and, in fact, is fishing better than over the past few weeks.

There are morning Tricos (plentiful above Divide), good action on a variety of terrestrials, Caddis and Mahoganies in the evenings, with a flock of attractors working for my friend over the past few days too (even the Fly Fish Chick’s Purple Haze).

Sounds like fall colors are even starting to creep into the high country – should be a monster fall on the Big Hole this year.

Tags: River - Big Hole

The Big Hole continues to fish quite well as summer comes to an end.

Flows have been steady, there are lots of bugs and fewer fishermen than a few weeks ago, and the weather, while windy, has been most cooperative with light overcast most of the past few days.

There are still Spruce Moths early, followed by the (somewhat challenging at times) Trico spinner fall.  As the days wears on ants and hoppers have been just what the doctor ordered, and attractor fishing has been fun.

Evenings have probably been the most productive – good friend Ricky K. was over Friday and yesterday morning and said they saw good numbers of Caddis, Mahoganies, and even Crane flies Friday evening.

More rain is due over the next two to three days; the gurus at the weather service are predicting some big rains in the area – check flows if you’re headed over in the next few days.

Tags: River - Big Hole

After getting bounced around a bit by stormy weather off and on over the past few weeks, the Big Hole is back in the groove again.

Like most neighborhood waters this time of year, and at least in part due to sun exposure and weather, there are better days than others.  There have been quite a few more good days of late.

Our friends who live and die by the dry fly have been boasting of their exploits on the Big Hole this week – Tricos, Caddis, Grey Drakes, Spruce Moths, hoppers, ants, beetles, and the rest of the terrestrial army. Can you nymph right now?  Sure, though lot’s of folks would argue ‘why?’ when stuff on top is working so well.  My other thought is, hells bells, we have to nymph more or less from November to March and get a belly full during the winter – hit the dries while you can.

Aligning more with reality, friend Lincoln notes that the sippers are active in the mornings though pretty damned selective – he said the afternoons (Thursday and Friday) were more fun fishing a bit bigger fly.  He even claims to have had a couple of toilet bowl flush strikes on hoppers over there.

Even allowing for a bit of fly fisherman hyperbolic reporting, it sounds pretty damned good on the Big Hole right now….

Tags: River - Big Hole