Fishing Reports

4 reports total
Clark Canyon Reservoir - March 3rd, 2010
  • Recorded:
  • Partly cloudy
  • 42 ° F 
  • Fishing: Fair
There is still ice on Clark Canyon, but you can find some open water along the edges if you know where to look.  What reports we've been hearing from the small amount of open water has been mixed, at best.  Some anglers are reporting catching a few fish here and there while others are reporting nothing more than a smelly skunk.  If you do decide to give it a try, woolly buggers and egg-sucking woolly buggers will likely be the best bets.  Give us a ring at the shop at (406) 683-5276 if you have any questions or would like an up-to-the-minute report.
 
Ruby River - March 3rd, 2010
  • Recorded:
  • Partly cloudy
  • 40 ° F 
  • Fishing: Good

The Ruby River below the dam is open for catch and release fishing right now, but there is not too much water coming out of the dam.  At only 33 cfs, the Ruby is very wader-friendly right now and you can access most of the river from either of the two access points below the dam or at Alder.  Remember to stay within the high-water mark!  Midges, BWO nymphs, and streamers will take the majority of fish these days, although we have not heard of any BWOs hatching just yet.  Some anglers are opting to give the fish in the Ruby a rest because of the low flows, but so long as you land the fish quickly and try to minimize the time spent out of the water, the fish should be just fine. 

 
Big Hole River - March 3rd, 2010
  • Recorded:
  • Partly cloudy
  • 40 ° F 
  • Fishing: Poor

Well, we're jumping the gun just a bit by putting up a Big Hole report, but it is almost spring and we are getting anxious to get out and fish one of the absolute best freestone rivers in the lower 48!  There is still a lot of ice in places, especially the cliffs below Melrose and in the canyon stretches, but there is some open water right in Melrose as well as by Glen.  We absolutely don't recommend walking on any shelf ice right now, so if you do get the urge to go fish the Big Hole, please be very careful.  That being said, one of our good friends stopped by the shop the other day and reported seeing some fish rising to midges near the Salmonfly Boat Ramp.  Whitefish?  Probably... but we'd be willing to bet there could be some trout mixed in.  As long as the current weather holds and we don't get an early spring cold-snap (fingers crossed), the Big Hole should be fishing very well within 3 to 4 weeks.  Give us a ring at the shop for up-to-date ice conditions.


Also, for you Big Hole enthusiasts... Abel Reels will be producing a very special limited edition Big Hole Grayling reel with artwork by James Prosek.  There will only be 100 of these reels made, and proceeds will go to help the Big Hole River Foundation in their efforts to protect the Fluvial Arctic Grayling and restore crucial habitat in the upper Big Hole River.  Frontier Anglers will have 5 of these reels, which are slated to become available sometime in May.  Please call us ASAP if you would like to be put on our waiting list for one of these reels. 

 
Beaverhead River - March 3rd, 2010
  • Recorded:
  • Mostly sunny
  • 48 ° F 
  • Fishing: Great
You know, those of us who are within driving distance of the Beaverhead really have been lucky this last year.  As of today, flows are about 100 cfs coming out of Clark Canyon dam and the Beaverhead is open below Pipe Organ Bridge.  Fishing has been great on some of these warmer days and ok on some of the cooler, windy ones.  For most of the winter, flows have been between 100 cfs and 200 cfs, and the trout in the Beaverhead are showing the benefits of having good water and bugs all winter long. 

Mike from the shop has been sneaking around the public lands below Pipe Organ and putting a hurting on some fish which have been ranging anywhere from 6" on up to 20".  Mike got out yesterday and brought about a half dozen fish to hand, including his first one of 2010 on a dry.  A few fish were rising in isolated pockets and side channels, and the dry fly action should only get better and better as the water warms and midges, BWOs, and Mother's Day Caddis get increasingly more active over the next two months.  The fly of choice, however, was an old faithful brown woolly bugger fished aggressively through some of the slower water.  Its always good to have a few different flavors handy, with olive, brown, and black buggers being the most productive this time of year.  All of the fish landed, and some of the ones that weren't, were in fantastic shape said Mike.  They were good, deep fish with bright colors as opposed to long, snaky fish that have been common some springs after low winter flows.  This is a great time of year to hit the Beaverhead.  Stop by the shop on your way down and pick up some BWO or midge patterns because it is going to be anyday now when things break wide open on the Beaverhead!