What's included in a guided fly fishing trip?

Daily rates are based on 1–2 anglers and include a licensed Frontier Anglers professional guide, the drift boat, a streamside lunch provided by the Frontier Anglers Kitchen, and non-alcoholic beverages. Gratuity, fishing licenses, and the booking fee are not included.

How much does a guided trip cost?

Day trip rates are $750 for the boat for one or two anglers, excluding fishing license, gratuity, and booking fee. Book before May 15th and the Early Spring Special takes $100 off. Private water carries a rod fee of $125 per angler per day.

Do I need my own rod and reel for a guide trip?

No. We provide quality rods, reels, and flies on every guided trip. You're welcome to bring your own gear if you'd prefer to fish it, and the shop carries a full selection if you'd like to buy in before your day on the water.

Do I need waders for fishing in Montana?

It depends on the trip and the season. Many drift boat days don't require them, but having your own waders is ideal for spring and fall, and for wade trips. Rental programs exist locally; call the shop and we'll tell you what you'll actually want for your dates.

Do I need a Montana fishing license?

Yes — licenses are not included in the trip rate. You can purchase a Montana fishing license online from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks before your trip, or pick one up at the shop when you arrive.

How much should I tip my guide?

A service industry standard tip of around 15–20% is customary when your guide does a good job. On a $750 boat that's roughly $120–$160 between two anglers. Cash is preferred, and most guides accept Venmo. Please don't tip on a card or by check at the shop — it delays the guide's pay and adds payroll deductions.

When is the best time to fish Southwest Montana?

Our guiding season runs March through November. March through May is quiet with eager fish and rising water temps. June and July bring the Big Hole salmonfly hatch and peak dry fly fishing. Late summer on the Beaverhead delivers big-dry, big-fish action, and cranefly season in August can be the most outrageous dry fly fishing of the year.

What is your cancellation policy?

Cancellations 31–60 days before your reservation are charged the full deposit. Cancellations within 30 days are billed the full trip amount. In an emergency we're glad to transfer your reservation to a later date, pending availability, at no charge. Private water and accommodation cancellations received within 60 days are billed one full day or half the total expected cost, whichever is greater.

How far in advance should I book?

As early as you can. June and July on the Big Hole book out well in advance, and private water tends to book early too. Guiding and outfitting usage on both the Big Hole and the Beaverhead was capped in 1997, which keeps the rivers less crowded but also means there are a fixed number of guided days available.

Where is the Frontier Anglers fly shop?

680 N Montana St, Dillon, MT 59725. We're open year-round — Monday through Saturday 8:00a–5:00p and Sunday 8:00a–4:00p. Call us at (406) 683-5276 or toll free at 1-800-228-5263.

Fishing Reports

Flows, hatches, and what's working — written by the guides and shop staff who were on the water that week.

Fishing Report

August 9, 2026

Aug 9, 2026

While the landscape looks apocalyptic and it isn’t extremely healthy to be inhaling the smoke filled air, the fishing is good with the prospects of it becoming excellent by the end of the week. Most…

1 min read

Fishing Report

July 27, 2026

Jul 27, 2026

The water flowing from Clark Canyon is still cool and clear. Fishing near the dam seems to be in a consistent pattern of fishing better towards mid morning. PMDs are still hatching, with more on clou…

1 min read

Fishing Report

July 17, 2026

Jul 17, 2026

Clear water and a steady PMD hatch have the Beaverhead fishing well. Releases of about 550 cfs from Clark Canyon Reservoir have been stable for a few days and the fishing has been good. Cloudy days h…

1 min read

Fishing Report

July 7, 2026

Jul 7, 2026

The irrigators reduced flows from Clark Canyon Reservoir to 100 cfs leaving many of us scratching our heads. It made float fishing difficult, but was an advantage for wade fishing anglers. The flow o…

1 min read

Fishing Report

June 21, 2026

Jun 21, 2026

Every day that passes has the fish on the Beaverhead locking in a little more on the river’s most important hatch of the summer. There also some very nice fish eating dries up and down the river. Whe…

1 min read

Fishing Report

June 14, 2026

Jun 14, 2026

While the hatch hasn’t hit its stride yet, fish on the upper river are starting to eat some PMD nymphs. We are seeing a few adults every day, and the fish are eating split backs and a few other patte…

1 min read

Fishing Report

June 2, 2026

Jun 2, 2026

Last weekend’s steady rain and cooling temps caused the salmon fly nymphs to put the brakes on their annual journey to the banks and caused anglers in Southwest Montana anglers to take a long breath.…

1 min read

Fishing Report

May 24, 2026

The hot topic around the shop is centered around the salmon fly hatch on the Big Hole River. Mother Nature’s calendar seems to be two weeks ahead of normal with all of our other hatches thus far this…

1 min read

Fishing Report

May 14, 2026

You’ve gotta love, or at least respect Montana weather in the spring. It’s not uncommon to experience all four seasons in a single day. So, 84 degrees yesterday and a high of 39 on Sunday. How does t…

2 min read

Fishing Report

May 11, 2026

Unseasonably warm weather has the Big Hole on the rise and increased flow releases from Clark Canyon Dam on the Beaverhead River have us scrambling to check local conditions on a daily basis. As of a…

1 min read

Fishing Report

May 9, 2026

After a long winter of minimum flows from Clark Canyon Dam, the river is coming into shape with flows of 300 cfs. We are seeing some good fishing downstream from Pipe Organ Bridge with the newly floa…

1 min read

Fishing Report

April 12, 2026

Apr 12, 2026

The spring is an amazing time to be on the water. While Mother Nature throws an occasional curveball with the weather, the solitude and eager fish make it an exceptional time to be on the water. We a…

1 min read

Article

Tipping Etiquette for Guide Trips in 2026

Mar 19, 2026

“Tipping Etiquette for Guide Trips”

3 min read

Fishing Report

March 17, 2026

Mar 17, 2026

April 1st is a significant date for anglers in our part of the state because the Big Hole River in its entirety will open to fishing. All of the river below Dickie Bridge has been closed since August…

1 min read

Article

Ice Off Angling

Feb 13, 2026

At some point in time usually March through May (June up in the high country) all across Montana our state the lakes shed their ice caps and give way to open water. This is always an exciting time of…

2 min read

Article

Beginners Guide to Choosing your First Saltwater Destination

Jan 22, 2026

My guess is at some point in time, every fly angler was turned on by the fact that not all fly anglers trout fish. For me, it was in the pages of magazines. The photos of the extensive flats and beau…

3 min read

Fishing Report

January 8, 2026

Jan 8, 2026

Winter is here, somedays. We are happy to report that the snowpack in the Big Hole drainage is sitting at a little better than normal. The Big Hole has been plagued by closures for several years in l…

1 min read

Article

Do I need my own rod and reel for guide trips?

Jan 8, 2026

Back when I started guiding, one of the many expenses I had to account for was a minimum of 2 but ideally 3 (1 backup) fly rods and reels. While many of my clients had their own fly rods, many were f…

3 min read

Fishing Report

September 5, 2025

Sep 5, 2025

Cooler temperatures have arrived and are appearing to stay for the foreseeable future! In addition to cooler temperatures, more water has re-opened in our area! Hoot-owl and full-fishing closures hav…

1 min read

Fishing Report

August 30, 2025

Aug 30, 2025

Across the state, temperatures are starting to finally cool off. Some fishing restrictions have been lifted, while others remain in effect. Rivers that are still experiencing full closures include th…

1 min read

Fishing Report

July 31, 2025

Jul 31, 2025

Beaverhead River: The Beaverhead River PMD Hatch continues to provide great fishing! Flows are starting to decline ~10-15 cfs daily, with the current flows sitting at 711 cfs as of July 31st. The bes…

1 min read

Fishing Report

July 13, 2025

Jul 13, 2025

While most rivers in Montana are slowing down the Beaverhead River is heating up. Awkward flow levels, 500 cfs, kept the Beaverhead River from fishing to its full potential for almost three weeks. In…

1 min read

Fishing Report

June 21, 2025

Jun 21, 2025

Summer is officially here with the longest day of the year behind us! However, the weather sure doesn’t seem like summer. Southwest Montana is experiencing a quick cold snap with a good amount of pre…

1 min read

Fishing Report

June 14, 2025

Jun 14, 2025

Beaverhead River– The Beaverhead River continues to fish well with normal June flows underway. Sow bugs, midge larvae and crane fly larvae are producing from Clark Canyon Dam downstream to High Bridg…

1 min read

Fishing Report

June 4, 2025

Jun 4, 2025

It’s that time! They are here! Salmonfly fishing was in full swing yesterday for a couple of our guides. With the weekend coming, we expect this news will bring a lot of anglers to the river. Stock u…

1 min read

Fishing Report

May 18, 2025

We are excited to have the upper portion of the Beaverhead River open. Yesterday’s opener brought in a lot of anglers. Despite very low water releases, 127 cfs from Clark Canyon Dam, the fishing was…

1 min read

Fishing Report

May 2, 2025

Fishing Report 5/2/25

2 min read

Fishing Report

April 8, 2025

Apr 8, 2025

Fishing Report for 4/8/25

2 min read

Fishing Report

April 2, 2025

Apr 2, 2025

Fishing Report for 4/2/25

2 min read

Article

Do You Need Waders for Fishing Montana

Feb 6, 2025

Guided fly fishing trips run throughout the year and knowing when to bring along waders for fishing Montana is important. You can find rental programs but having your waders is ideal. There are times…

2 min read

Article

Make the Most of Your Guided Montana Fishing Trip

Feb 6, 2025

Taking a guided fly fishing trip is one of the best outdoor experiences around. You spend the day walking or floating a great river with an expert who can help sort out the details, untangle lines an…

2 min read

Article

Shopping for the Fly Fishing Beginner

Feb 6, 2025

It’s never been easier to take up the sport of fly fishing. Affordable rod packages combined with free instructional videos and content on the internet makes it simple to get up and running. Outside…

2 min read

Article

Why You Should Consider a Spring Big Hole River Fly Fishing Trip

Feb 6, 2025

Many Big Hole River fly fishing trips are centered around the salmonfly hatch and prime summer season dates but chasing fish in the early season is often very productive. Early season dates have less…

2 min read

Fishing Report

September 7, 2024

Sep 7, 2024

Hopper Time! Suddenly, the fish are really into eating hoppers on the stretches of the Beaverhead near town and on Poindexter Slough. That combined with some good rainfall this coming week has us gid…

1 min read

Fishing Report

September 4, 2024

Sep 4, 2024

The Beaverhead is Producing some Large Fish Water clarity has fluctuated back and forth out of Clark Canyon Dam for a month now. Despite the days when some weeds are floating and visibility issues at…

1 min read

Fishing Report

August 23, 2024

Aug 23, 2024

The Beaverhead is Clear The Beaverhead River is clear out of Clark Canyon Reservoir as of this morning. We are still not 100 percent sure why it has gone off color twice in the last month. The flows…

1 min read

Fishing Report

August 11, 2024

Aug 11, 2024

The Beaverhead Returns Clark Canyon Reservoir spit out some extremely silty water for a few days a week to 10 days ago. We could not get a solid answer from those that should know as to why this hicc…

1 min read

Fishing Report

July 21, 2024

Jul 21, 2024

The Beaverhead Rolls On Despite declining quality fishing on many rivers in Western Montana, the Beaverhead continues to produce large fish in good quantities on a daily basis. Water temperatures 7 m…

1 min read

Fishing Report

July 10, 2024

Jul 10, 2024

The Beaverhead has an Abundance of Cold Water The recent blast of hot weather has not treated some of our area freestones well, but the hatches and fishing are getting better on the Beaverhead River…

1 min read

Fishing Report

July 1, 2024

Jul 1, 2024

The PMDs Return Beaverhead River – Every guide in Souithwest Montana looks forward to the Pale Morning Dun hatch on the Beaverhead River. The guess work of changing flies all day with a new best fly…

1 min read

Fishing Report

June 10, 2024

Jun 10, 2024

The Big Bugs are out on the Big Hole and the Beaverhead continues to Sizzle Despite some rising water today, which slowed surface activity, the salmon flies are making their annual appearance on the…

1 min read

Fishing Report

May 23, 2024

The Beaverhead River Opens with a Bang We patiently wait for opening day on the Beaverhead each season. This year had even more of an edge of anticipation as an abundance of water was released from C…

3 min read

Fishing Report

May 11, 2024

The Upper Beaverhead Opens May 18th We are beyond excited to have the upper 7 miles of the Beaverhead River open a week from today. Better numbers and fat healthy fish are what we’ve observed on the…

2 min read

Fishing Report

April 18, 2024

Apr 18, 2024

The Flushing Flows Have Receded on the Beaverhead Planned flushing flows that peaked at 700 cfs are past and the river looks fantastic. It is gin clear between Pipe Organ Bridge and Grasshopper. The…

1 min read

Fishing Report

April 10, 2024

Apr 10, 2024

Spring is Here and an Abundance of Water Just Opened The eagerly anticipated opening of most of the water in Southwest Montana occurred on April 1st. A couple of fantastic days of fishing were follow…

2 min read

Fishing Report

September 27, 2023

Sep 27, 2023

Why the Closure? The entire length of the Beaverhead River, with the exception of the stretch between Pipe Organ Bridge and Barretts, closes this Saturday the 30th to all fishing. We understand that…

1 min read

Fishing Report

September 2, 2023

Sep 2, 2023

Mother Nature has Dialed up an Abundance of Water for Southwest Montana Beaverhead River – Flows from Clark Canyon Reservoir bottomed out around 148 cfs last week, making the Upper Beaverhead a diffi…

1 min read

Fishing Report

August 16, 2023

Aug 16, 2023

The Beaverhead is Clear, Cold and Fishing Very Well

1 min read

Fishing Report

August 1, 2023

Aug 1, 2023

Cooler Weather ahead and the Beaverhead River is still Red Hot! Beaverhead River – The upper Beaverhead continues to fish very well. Strong PMD hatches are making for consistent fishing all day. Just…

1 min read

Fishing Report

July 19, 2023

Jul 19, 2023

The Beaverhead River Continues to Fish Very Well Beaverhead River – The fishing continues to be lights out on the upper portion below Clark Canyon Dam. PMDs and a smattering of yellow sallies are the…

1 min read

Fishing Report

June 5, 2023

Jun 5, 2023

Steady Rain Muddies Some Options Beaverhead River – Fickle and large trout are being caught on the Upper Beaverhead below Clark Canyon Dam. Anglers that are having success between the dam and High Br…

1 min read

Fishing Report

May 15, 2023

The Upper Beaverhead opens this Saturday! Always a big date on our calendar, the upper Beaverhead from Clark Canyon Dam downstream to Pipe Organ Bridge opens this Saturday the 20th. This portion of t…

1 min read

Fishing Report

May 8, 2023

Changing Conditions A blast of Summer sent a bunch of lower elevation snow into Southwest Montana over the past two weeks, but cooler temnperatures have broiught some local waters into fishable shape…

1 min read

Fishing Report

March 23, 2023

Mar 23, 2023

Blue Winged Olives are Hatching Beaverhead River – Anglers are having some success the last few days taking fish on baetis dries on the Beaverhead in the afternoons. As always there is a strong nymph…

1 min read

Fishing Report

February 27, 2023

Feb 27, 2023

Winter Will End, Maybe Wow, Mother Nature dialed up a frigid one this Winter. Here in Southwest Montana it started in late October and is showing no sign of letting up anytime soon. Brave anglers imm…

1 min read

Fishing Report

September 12, 2022

Sep 12, 2022

The Beaverhead is Open! While the river from Clark Canyon Dam downstream to Pipe Organ Bridge will remain closed until the 3rd Saturday of next May, the river from Pipe Organ Bridge downstream to the…

1 min read

Fishing Report

August 31, 2022

Aug 31, 2022

Beaverhead Closure Starting at Midnight Tonight! After nearly having a seizure when I was texted the photo of the closure sign placed along the Beaverhead River, I immediately reached out to the Mont…

1 min read

Fishing Report

August 31, 2022

Aug 31, 2022

1 min read

Fishing Report

August 19, 2022

Aug 19, 2022

Craneflies on the Horizon We are eagerly awaiting our super hatch on the Beaverhead. They tend to first start showing up around the 20th of August and will linger around until Labor Day. There are no…

1 min read

Fishing Report

August 6, 2022

Aug 6, 2022

The Hatches are Slowing Beaverhead River – The water coming from Clark Canyon Reservoir has some color to it after a day of high winds. There is still 3 feet of visibilty. It clears the farther downs…

1 min read

Fishing Report

August 1, 2022

Aug 1, 2022

Steady, Clear Flows from Clark Canyon have the Beaverhead Fishing Very Well! Beaverhead River – A short cycle of increasing flows from the dam has subsided and the Beaverhead is fishing well all day.…

1 min read

Fishing Report

August 1, 2022

Aug 1, 2022

1 min read

Fishing Report

July 18, 2022

Jul 18, 2022

The Beaverhead Continues to Produce

1 min read

Fishing Report

July 11, 2022

Jul 11, 2022

The Beaverhead is Fishing Extremely Well! Beaverhead River – We are seeing a lot of big smiles out on the Beaverhead River! Our customers, both guided and not, continue to see exceptional fishing on…

1 min read

Fishing Report

July 6, 2022

Jul 6, 2022

Fantastic Fishing on the Beaverhead! Beaverhead River – We are seeing the best fishing of the year on the Beaverhead right now! An abundance of fish are eating dry flies and nymphs. The PMD hatch is…

1 min read

Fishing Report

June 28, 2022

Jun 28, 2022

Summer Has Arrived Beaverhead River – The PMD hatch is increasing in volume daily. Frenchies, Sunkists, Splitbacks, and Pheasant Tails in varying forms are all catching fish. The arrival of the stead…

1 min read

Fishing Report

June 17, 2022

Jun 17, 2022

Salmon Flies on the Big Hole Big Hole River – The big bugs are in the middle portion of the river, with big goldens near Melrose. Cooler, cloudier weather starting on Father’s Day should make for som…

1 min read

Fishing Report

June 14, 2022

Jun 14, 2022

We are Not Flooding. Our hearts go out to the communities along the Yellowstone drainage that have experienced catastrophic flooding over the last couple of days. We’ve received a number of inquiries…

1 min read

Fishing Report

May 29, 2022

The Beaverhead is Open and Fishing Well! Abundant precipitation is continuing to fall in Southwest Monmtana. Many of the freestones and small streams are dirty and high right now as a delayed runoff…

1 min read

Fishing Report

May 19, 2022

The Upper Beaverhead Opens Saturday Beaverhead River – The Beaverhead from Clark Canyon Dam downstream to Pipe Organ Bridge opens this Saturday. The opener offers a first crack at one of the West’s p…

1 min read

Fishing Report

April 27, 2022

Apr 27, 2022

Low Flows It doesnt really matter which stream you are looking to fish in Southwest Montana, they are all running low. Flows on the Big Hole are at historical lows for this date. Flows on the Beaverh…

1 min read

Fishing Report

March 27, 2022

Mar 27, 2022

Spectacular Weather! Spring like, or even early Summer like weather has hit Southwest Montana for an early reprieve from the bitter cold we experienced earlier in the month. A lot of anglers have bee…

1 min read

Fishing Report

March 22, 2022

Mar 22, 2022

Clark Canyon The ice is receding more each day along the I-15 side of the reservoir and at the Red Rock end. We are catcing some fish in newly opened water and expect the number of fish in close to t…

1 min read

Fishing Report

December 20, 2021

Dec 20, 2021

Winter Has Arrived While it took its sweet time getting here, Old Man Winter has finally arrived. Our snow pack is rising and we’ve turned our thoughts to the upcoming season. Anglers eager to find f…

1 min read

Fishing Report

December 20, 2021

Dec 20, 2021

1 min read

Article

Are you ready for streamer season?

Oct 15, 2021

It’s always streamer season in Montana but pulling minnow and crawfish imitations is often overshadowed by salmonflies, blizzards of caddis and other exciting opportunities. In the fall however, hatc…

2 min read

Fishing Report

September 8, 2021

Sep 8, 2021

Clearing Water The Beaverhead River had two feet of visibility and not may weeds floating in the water column at noon today. That could revert back to the the silty, gray flows of last week, but we a…

1 min read

Fishing Report

August 23, 2021

Aug 23, 2021

Some “Hoot Owl” and River Closures are Lifted in Southwest Montana “Hoot Owl” restrictions on the Beaverhead River from Tash’s Bridge downstream to the mouth have been lifted. The entire Jefferson Ri…

1 min read

Fishing Report

August 21, 2021

Aug 21, 2021

Fall is Coming This week’s weather has us eager to see the return of several of our favorite fisheries. While the Jefferson and a good portion of the Upper and Lower Big Hole remain closed, this week…

1 min read

Article

Getting to Dillon Montana

Aug 18, 2021

Reaching Dillon is relatively easy with robust flight schedules into multiple airports. Driving here is also convenient with I-15 running along the edge of town. There are a few ways to go about reac…

2 min read

Fishing Report

August 14, 2021

Aug 14, 2021

The Dog Days of Summer The Beaverhead below Clark Canyon Reservoir has cleared somewhat. The farther downstream you go, the more clear the water gets. We are catching a few fish, but warm water and d…

1 min read

Fishing Report

August 10, 2021

Aug 10, 2021

Turbidity on the Beaverhead The Beaverhead below Clark Canyon Dam is off color with a foot and a half of visibility. Heavy winds on Sunday evening stirred up sediment in the reervoir causing the chan…

1 min read

Article

Rods, Reels and Lines for Fly Fishing Montana

Aug 5, 2021

The best fly rods for trout in Montana are versatile. Rods that can handle big nymph and streamer rigs and small dry flies equally well are ideal for the changing conditions here. Ideally, you can ow…

2 min read

Article

Beaverhead River Offers Anglers Refuge in the Heat

Jul 30, 2021

The 2021 summer has seen no shortage of bad press for many Montana rivers. Low fish counts, low flows and high temperatures in places like the Upper Clark Fork, Big Hole and Jefferson Rivers have pro…

2 min read

Fishing Report

July 26, 2021

Jul 26, 2021

Trout Fishing Under a Sepia Colored Sky It’s pretty well known that it’s another big wildfire season out west. While the mountain scenery of Southwest Montana is hidden behind a veil of smoke, the sm…

1 min read

Article

Local Conservation – Organizations Making a Difference on Our Waters

Jul 23, 2021

Local, regional and national conservation groups play an important role in water quality and fisheries management on the Big Hole, Beaverhead and other rivers around the state. Montana Fish Wildlife…

2 min read

Fishing Report

July 20, 2021

Jul 20, 2021

Lots of Water Flowing from Clark Canyon Reservoir This afternoons flow of 898 cfs at Barretts is about 300 cfs above normal, yet still the Beaverhead River is fishing well. A gradual cooling trend th…

1 min read

Fishing Report

July 8, 2021

Jul 8, 2021

The Heat of a Hot Summer The Beaverhead River is fishing exceptionally well! There have been no slow days. The PMDs and Yellow Sallys are out in force. PMD’s before lunch, Yellow Sallys after and thr…

1 min read

Article

Guide to Dillon Montana Restaurants and Bars

Jul 3, 2021

Dillon Montana is a small ranching community but it has several excellent restaurants and bars to feed and entertain visitors. Grab a quick bite or sit down to enjoy a great steak when you hit town.…

2 min read

Fishing Report

June 29, 2021

Jun 29, 2021

Hot Weather and Hot Fishing on the Beaverhead We are fortunate to have the Beaverhead River in our backyard. The trout producing tailwater is firing on all cylinders with cold water from Clark Canyon…

1 min read

Fishing Report

June 24, 2021

Jun 24, 2021

The Weather is getting Hot, along with the Fishing on the Beaverhead We are just starting to see a few PMDs and Yellow Sallies. The fish are mostly still on a worm bite with some sowbugs and small oi…

1 min read

Article

Getting Started in Fly Tying

Jun 17, 2021

Getting started in fly tying has never been easier. Long gone are the days of black and white pamphlets with step by step instructions. Modern fly tyers can reference online videos for free while lea…

2 min read

Fishing Report

June 11, 2021

Jun 11, 2021

Salmon Flies The mythical salmon flies are out on the Big Hole. The weather looks to be fair for the next week, bright sun is never good for fishing the Big Hole. Still, catching a few few on the big…

1 min read

Fishing Report

June 9, 2021

Jun 9, 2021

A Few Salmon Flies on the Big Hole There was not a significant number of bugs that hatched in the Melrose area today.. They might crawl out in numbers tonight, who knows? Cooler, cloudier weather ove…

1 min read

Fishing Report

June 2, 2021

Jun 2, 2021

Things Are Heating Up! We were encouraged to see the FWP’s shocking data from this Spring. It reinforced what we’ve already seen since the opener on the Upper Beaverhead. There are a lot of really ni…

1 min read

Article

Are You Ready for the Big Hole Salmonfly Hatch?

May 30, 2021

It’s that time of year again. June is here and that means salmonflies are on the horizon. While the first week of June does not necessarily see a great number of adults, the nymphs are surely migrati…

2 min read

Fishing Report

May 27, 2021

Beaverhead River – The flows have been dropped to 171 cfs, making it easy to find the fish but more difficult to get them from the boat. Sowbugs, midges, and small baetis patterns are all catching fi…

1 min read

Fishing Report

May 17, 2021

The Opening of the Upper Beaverhead did not disappoint The Beaverhead from Clark Canyon Dam downstream to Pipe Organ Bridge opened this past Saturday. The usual mob showed up and many nice fish were…

1 min read

Fishing Report

May 10, 2021

The Upper Beaverhead Opens Saturday! The Beaverhead River from Clark Canyon Dam downstream to Pipe Organ Bridge opens this Saturday the 15th. To say that we are a little excited to have this incredib…

1 min read

Fishing Report

May 4, 2021

The Big Hole is heating up, and the Beaverhead opener is coming up Some unseasonally warm weather caused flows on the Big Hiole River to double in size, but flows are stabilizing and the water is cle…

1 min read

Fishing Report

April 25, 2021

Apr 25, 2021

Warm Weather and Increasing Flows on the Beaverhead ahead The Bureau of Reclamation plans to start raising flows from Clark Canyon Dam this week. That will make floating much easier below Pipe Organ…

1 min read

Article

Dillon is Surrounded by the Best Montana Fishing Rivers

Apr 18, 2021

It’s difficult to label any single river the best and admittedly, Montana has a large number of excellent fisheries. Dillon is unique however because the town itself is central to multiple rivers, ea…

2 min read

Article

Favorite Dillon Montana Hotels for Traveling Anglers

Apr 10, 2021

Dillon has some great lodging options and our cabin rentals are perfect for a fly fishing vacation. There are plenty of great alternatives however and they make life easy when you shotgun a trip and…

2 min read

Fishing Report

April 1, 2021

Apr 1, 2021

Ice Out Clark Canyon Reservoir – Sixty percent of the ice is off of the lake with more disappearing by the hour. It’s obvious that several years after the reintroduction of more robust strains of rai…

1 min read

Fishing Report

March 23, 2021

Mar 23, 2021

Spring is Upon Us! The weather over the last couple of weeks has delivered some amazing warm days as well as blustery snow storms, so goes the spring weather in Southwest Montana. As we near the end…

1 min read

Article

9 Amazing Things to do in Dillon, Montana

Feb 15, 2021

Wondering what to do in Dillon, Montana? Dillon is the perfect size town with plenty to keep visitors busy. It’s an unpretentious mix of cowboys and cowgirls, students, fly anglers and outdoor loving…

4 min read

Fishing Report

January 10, 2021

Jan 10, 2021

Winter is here, kind of. Winter has an icy grip on some of Southwest Montana’s trout streams, but there are options. The Beaverhead downstream from Pipe Organ Bridge is open and producing some fish f…

1 min read

Fishing Report

August 13, 2020

Aug 13, 2020

The Beaverhead just continues to fish well. Fires, drought, falling ash, the very large trout that live in the Beaverhead continue to eat consistently. Dropping flows and steady hatches of PMD’s and…

1 min read

Fishing Report

August 5, 2020

Aug 5, 2020

Hoot Owl restrictions go into effect on the Big Hole The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks is implementing a 2 pm closure for fishing on most of the Big Hole River. Starting tomorrow, t…

1 min read

Fishing Report

July 26, 2020

Jul 26, 2020

The Rising Water has Passed After a tumultuous week of rising flows on the Beaverhead, we’ve gladly reached the crest. The mornings fished well all through the period as irrigators needed more water…

1 min read

Fishing Report

July 15, 2020

Jul 15, 2020

Fish Smarter, not Harder. Mid-summer is upon us. The fish have seen some bugs over the last couple of months. Tactics and strategy become more important at this point. Fish the Big Hole early on hot…

1 min read

Fishing Report

July 6, 2020

Jul 6, 2020

The Rains have subsided and the Rivers are Primed After a tumultuous June of flows on the Big Hole, the high water has receded and the river is in excellent shape. Golden Stone, Yellow Sally, and PMD…

1 min read

Fishing Report

June 29, 2020

Jun 29, 2020

Calm, Cool, and Cloudy Pale Morning Duns have highlighted the menu for the trout of Southwest Montana over the last week. Both the Big Hole and Beaverhead Rivers have had prolific hatches of PMDs rec…

1 min read

Fishing Report

June 24, 2020

Jun 24, 2020

The Big Hole is back, and the Beaverhead is primed! It’s late June. Between the Beaverhead, Big Hole, and Jefferson Rivers alone we have 200 plus floatable miles of water within reach of Dillon. As I…

2 min read

Fishing Report

June 20, 2020

Jun 20, 2020

Prime Time! The highest flows of the year are receding on the Big Hole River and fanatastic fishing is just days away. The PMDs are starting to pop on the Beaverhead. We are entering a stint in South…

1 min read

Fishing Report

June 16, 2020

Jun 16, 2020

Ugh, Winter is back! After dishing out some gusts of wind up to 65 miles per hour last Saturday, Mother Nature is going to slam us with a winter storm that could bring significant snowfall to Southwe…

1 min read

Fishing Report

June 11, 2020

Jun 11, 2020

The Big Bugs are Out! Wow, that happened fast! Lasy weekends blast of precipitation blew the river up fast, it has fallen just as quickly. An immense number of salmon flies have popped out on the Big…

1 min read

Fishing Report

June 2, 2020

Jun 2, 2020

The Beaverhead continues to shine, Big Hole salmon flies are soon to arrive! Beaverhead River – The Beaverhead continues to fish well. It will sometimes slow up before the prolific hatches of late Ju…

1 min read

Fishing Report

May 26, 2020

The Caddis have arrived on the Big Hole River Big Hole River -The Mother’s Day caddis hatch has arrived on the Big Hole. The science fictionesque hatch of small caddis is an amazing event to witness.…

1 min read

Fishing Report

May 19, 2020

Things are Changing Fast! Well, yesterdays fishing report was very accurate, but things have changed overnight. We would like to welcome our guided and non-guided customers on June 1st to Montana! On…

1 min read

Fishing Report

May 18, 2020

The Beaverhead is Wide Open! This past Saturday we welcomed the opening of the upper portion of the Beaverhead River from Clark Canyon Dam downstream to Pipe Organ Bridge. Anglers turned out in force…

2 min read

Fishing Report

May 11, 2020

Opening Day on the Beaverhead is this Saturday! While we’ve been harassing the fish for awhile, we are extremely excited to have the Beaverhead River open this Saturday from Clark Canyon Dam downstre…

1 min read

Fishing Report

April 27, 2020

Apr 27, 2020

We are open! We are now open for business! However, we’ve instituted a few protocols to ensure our safety as well as yours. There will be hand sanitizer ouitside of the front door, please use it befo…

1 min read

Fishing Report

April 11, 2020

Apr 11, 2020

Fishing during the Covid-19 Shutdown The shop is mandated to stay closed until at least April 24th. Needless to say, that leaves plenty of time for fishing. The beautiful weather of this past week ga…

1 min read

Fishing Report

March 25, 2020

Mar 25, 2020

Spring Fishing through the Coronavirus Who knew that our collective lives would be turned upside down by this coronavirus pandemic? The only thing that I know for sure at this point is that the fish…

2 min read

Fishing Report

January 14, 2020

Jan 14, 2020

Winter Fishing Report Winter holds an icy grip on Southwest Montana. Those brave souls that are venturing out on the nicer days are having some success. The Beaverhead and Ruby Rivers along with Poin…

1 min read

Fishing Report

July 1, 2019

Jul 1, 2019

PMDs

1 min read

Fishing Report

June 18, 2019

Jun 18, 2019

Prime Time!

1 min read

Fishing Report

June 10, 2019

Jun 10, 2019

They are here! We saw salmon fly nymphs under the rocks on the bank today on the Big Hole. They will fly tomorrow! Dropping flows and seasonable weather should make for a fantastic week fishing dries…

1 min read

Fishing Report

June 1, 2019

Jun 1, 2019

The Beaverhead fish have really grown!

1 min read