OF MAGIC

by Brian La Rue

Some fishing destinations are built differently. You know, towns like Almont, Gunnison, Missoula, Alpine, Wyoming—they sit at the confluence of a number of amazing trout fisheries and Twin Bridges, Montana is no different. With quick access/ close proximity to the Big Hole, Beaverhead, Ruby, Madison and Jefferson, what are you waiting for?

For this Spring issue, I met Chris Knott with 4 Rivers Fishing Company, www.4riversmontana.com (406) 684-5651, at the Fly Fishing Show and he shared great info on the Big Hole River.

After 12 years writing these features (48 destinations), I once again expanded my radar here to stick with known rivers, as I will never give up any secrets or write about fisheries that could get destroyed by extra pressure. And believe me, I’ve been accused of “ruining the Snake River” by writing about it (like nobody has ever heard of it before—LOL).

“Spring fishing on the Big Hole is truly a gem and isn't busy at all,” stated Knott as he began highlighting what you can expect as the year gets rolling. “Typically, the river will be "ice free" by the first week of April. Sometimes it will become fishable earlier and some years later.

“A good safe bet for solid action usually falls around Easter,” continued Knott. “The fish are typically in the softer water as it's still cold, so nymphing is the mainstay. As the month of April moves along, we will start to see blue wing olives, March browns, and the main ticket... Skwala stoneflies.”

“These bugs can be hard to find as they aren't nearly the size of a salmon fly or golden stone, but they are still a good size 10-ish bug,” said Knott. “It's the first big meal of the year, so if you can find the skwalas, the fish are usually interested in attractor flies. So, try chubbies and dropper setups to search the flats along the grass edges to see if the fish are looking up. These fish haven't been picked on since the previous fall, so once you figure out what they want, it can be spectacular. The fishing will stay good until the main runoff push in mid-May.”

After runoff, Knott then boasted about Montana’s dreamy summers. Yes, he says the grass is green, the rivers are clear, and the bugs are hatching!

“By mid-June, the true start of our summer season, salmon flies start first, followed by goldens and yellow sallies, and caddis,” said Knott. “With the Big Hole being a freestone, it's all about the snowpack. If we have an above average snowpack, we can fish the Big Hole all summer long. With a less than average snowpack, the river will warm and get low by late July. So, if you are looking to fish the Big Hole later in the summer, it's always a good idea to understand snowpack and river levels. (At the time of this writing, the snowpack is 102% of normal with three snowstorms forecasted for the week of Feb. 27)

“Grasshopper fishing can be splendid on the lower end of the river when we have the water to do it,” added Knott. “But, if the water is low and warm, limit your fishing hours to the first half of the day and give the fish a break when things get hot.

If you plan to throw nymphs in summer, the go-to setup on the Big Hole would be a Pat's rubber legs in size 8 olive and brown, followed by a sneaky Spanish bullet in a variety of colors in size 16 or 18. For dry flies, it is always important to have a mixture of chubby Chernobyls in purple, gold, or tan in size 1014, according to Knott. And a purple haze is a killer fly on the river.

“As the calendar pushes into Fall, the Big Hole fishes well in the areas where the fish are not spawning,” said Knott. “Streamer fishing really gets good in late September and stays that way until mid-October. At that time, it's good to leave this river alone and let the brown trout spawn. A purple haze is great for the BWO's, and streamers in the yellow/brown combo can entice lots of action.”

Knott mentioned the brown trout spawn. The Big Hole is known as a brown trout fishery surrounded by beautiful scenery. Besides the standard rainbows, browns, and whitefish that most western rivers have, the Big Hole also has cutthroat, brook trout, and last but most definitely not least, Arctic grayling.

“This is one of the few places in the lower 48 with a natural self-sustaining population of grayling,” says Knott. “It's a beautiful fish and should be kept wet when caught. The average trout size in the big hole is probably 14 to 17 inches, but brown trout up to 30 inches are caught each year when the river is flowing bank full.

“Over its course of roughly 85 miles, it changes its appearance three times,” said Knott. “Up top, it's a wide-open high mountain valley with tall peaks in the backdrop and forest trees lining the bank. It then necks down and goes into a beautiful canyon where big horn sheep can be seen perched on the rocky cliffs. The lower end of the river flows through cottonwoods and the river has many side channels and changes its course on most good water years.

The Big Hole, like many rivers in the Rocky Mountains, does see challenges. As a freestone river, flows can fluctuate greatly with runoff and summer thunderstorms. During the peak of runoff, the river can exceed 10,000 cfs and during the hottest days of August it can get as low as 200 cfs. Knott says to be mindful of water temperatures in the summer.

“Lastly, come and fish our area,” invited Knott. “In Twin Bridges, our home rivers are the Big Hole,

About The Author

High Country Angler contributor Brian La Rue enjoys giving fly fishers ideas of where to go for an adventure. Feel free to reach out to Brian at Brian@hcamagazine.com if you want your lodge or guide service featured in an upcoming promotional marketing plan.

Beaverhead, Jefferson, and Ruby rivers. Our cute little town sits just a few minutes from the Big Hole, the Beaverhead flows right through town, the Ruby is a few miles to the south, and they all come together to form the Jefferson River about a mile north of town.

“Our program is dialed in with great guides, we have five lodging units in town that are clean and comfortable, and our fly shop is the local go-to spot for all the latest bugs and banter you could ever want! Learn more at www.4riversmontana.com and we’ll get you all the information about us. We are always available for a phone call and respond quickly to emails.”

There you have it. Sounds like a welcoming invitation to me! Chris had me at “We are in Twin Bridges.” See you there!