Montana Fly Fishing: Big Hole River Closures Update...

High time we leave the big river alone and head for the hills...

Melrose Bridge to Mouth of the Big Hole is now officially closed to all fishing as the river continues to fall to critical low levels.

Here are the current closures and restrictions on the Big Hole River:
- Headwaters to the mouth of the North Fork Big Hole - FULL CLOSURE
- Mouth of the North Fork Big Hole to Dickie Bridge - Closed 2pm to midnight
- Melrose Bridge to the mouth (confluence with the Jefferson) - FULL CLOSURE

Water flows on this stretch of the Big Hole have dropped to 150 cubic feet per second which triggers the Big Hole River Drought Management Plan as the point to full fishing closures.

Other restrictions to note: the entire Jefferson River and Lower Madison River remain under "hoot owl" fishing closures from 2pm to midnight.

Montana Fly Fishing: Update

Once again I must apologize for not posting regularly...once agin ace fishin guide worn to frazzle is my excuse...sorry.

Anyway been guiding of late over in the Ruby Valley on a couple private spring creeks and private access Ruby. The spring creeks as always are hot...tie on a hopper, stimi, PMX and go for it...no need to go techy just draw a fine bead, hit the targeted slot and bingo...fish on! Watch your backcast...

Ruby of late is another story...even early morning starts out pretty much DIW and is all downhill from there. Yesterday with a talented young angler in tow from around 8 a.m. until 9 not a single take...top water, dark side no matter...hordes of tricos went completely ignored except for a couple tiddler whitefish sipping no sign of life...thinking perhaps we missed something we went back after lunch...Over the course of a half-hour or or so Sean pitched a hopper in all the right places and once again came up empty...I did not have my stream thermometer along but one dunk of the hand pretty much proved up the river is way to warm and should be crossed off the dwindling list of open waters...In hindsight this morning I checked the temp chart and no surprise each of the last several days the afternoon temp has soared beyond 70; yesterday's high at Twin was 74...moral of story old man guide should wise up and heed his suspicions.

On another track the Big Hole is getting really low and barring a miracle will no doubt officially shut down...that happens I will of course pass the word.

The once reliable Beav is, at least in my experience, in a sort of a funky mood of late. Flow and good temps aside one day she fishes and next day...well, what can I say.

All that said the good news is the up country cricks are still, for the most part, A-OK...enuff said.

Montana Fly Fishing: Brook Trout: Minimalist's Delight

The Minimalist's Delight...

...a couple spools tippet, a small fly box, floatant and you're all set for a day of fun and adventure. No fuss, no muss, no dealing crowds just park the truck and good to go. With literally thousands miles of cricks to choose where to go is as easy as closing your eyes pointing out a spot on the map and go for it. Tie on a fly tickles your fancy and chances are the brookies will be waiting and willing to help prove up your genius. Frustrations are few, more a matter of how well you deal with the brush and trees than head-scratching puzzles like why the hell won't these trout eat my offerings. Good country, pretty cricks, pretty trout, all fun to my way of thinking just doesn't get much better. Hot tip: for starters tie on any dry pattern sporting red or orange; bigger is usually better.

Montana Fly Fishing: Drought Management

Low flows, high water temperatures and healthy trout do not mix; toss in added stress of fighting a hook and things can and too often do go wrong in a hurry. With most of our so-called blue ribbon trout fisheries are at or above the high 60s or worse during August afternoons why wait for officials to shut things down when you can enjoy the conscious free, worry free, fun fishing available all season long no matter how hot or dry on literally thousands of miles of mountain cricks--cold as ice, wild ass, pretty as all get out trout, never anything remotely like crowded, in some of the best country on the planet and no bobbers even.. now how good is that..try it you just might become addicted like us...To our way of thinking fly fishing little cricks really is the best fly fishing left in America...no kiddin'.