Big Hole River
High in the Beaverhead Mountains, Big Hole River, one of Montana’s most scenic and productive waterways, begins its journey, flowing 155 miles from the Continental Divide into Jefferson River.
- Big Hole River is popular with anglers, boasting high populations of blue ribbon trout ranging from wild brown, cutthroat, rainbow to graylings.
- While nymphs and streamers are standard, anglers will also have great luck with caddis during the dry fly season as well as the stonefly hatch in early summer.
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. Streams form the Big Hole River, starting at its Beaverhead Mountain headwaters more than 10,000 feet high, and continue on to join the Jefferson River in Twin Bridges, Montana.
Many excellent guided fishing and lodging operations are located along or adjacent to Big Hole River, headquartered in or near Dillon, Melrose, Wise River, Jackson, and Sheridan, Montana.
Best Place to Fish
Near Wise River, wading anglers have great odds of catching brook and graylings as the Big Hole runs northeast over gravel and pasture land.
From Wise River toward the southeast town of Divide, anglers can fish Big Hole for rainbow and brown trout by accessing and parking near route 43.
After Divide, anglers and river floaters enjoy the Big Hole as it flows for about 20 miles to the towns of Glen and Melrose.
Best Time to Fish
While nymphs and streamers are standard on Big Hole, anglers will also have great luck with caddis during the dry fly season as well as the stonefly hatch in early summer that never fails to entice big brown and rainbow trout.
Be sure to adhere to state and special Big Hole Fishing Regulations highlighting grayling and cutthroat as catch-and-release only as well as specific areas and dates that only maggot and artificial lures are allowed.