Sunrise Fly Shop Specials

2024 Spring Fly Fishing on the Big Hole and Beaverhead Rivers

3 Nights Lodging
2 Days Fishing

$795

(per person & double occupancy)

Valid March 15th – April 30

4 Nights Lodging
3 Days Fishing

$1,165

(per person & double occupancy)

Valid March 15th – April 30

A Great Time for Fly Fishing

Spring is one of our favorite times of the year for fly fishing on the Big Hole and Beaverhead Rivers. No crowds, hungry fish, and we catch some of the largest trout of the season. Now is the time to book our Spring Special fly fishing package and see what the talk is all about!

What to Expect When You Book a Spring Fly Fishing Trip on the Big Hole or Beaverhead with Sunrise Fly Shop

Spring fly fishing in Southwest Montana enables you to fish a variety of styles to produce fish. If you join us for a float trip on the Big Hole or Beaverhead Rivers in Spring, we will be throwing dry flies with dropper nymphs, streamers against the banks and single dries to trout looking for the first dry flies of the year.

What makes the spring magical is that we get the first large hatches of the year, and that the trout have come out of a long winter slumber and are ready to eat. The trout on the Big Hole and Beaverhead in the spring are ready to chow down!

Big Hole River Spring Hatches

  • Skwalla Hatch
  • Mother’s Day Caddis
  • Blue Winged Olives
  • Streamers

Beaverhead River Spring Hatches

  • Mother’s Day Caddis
  • Blue Winged Olives

Our Clean, Comfortable Units Are Next Door to the Fly Shop and the Hitching Post Saloon and Steakhouse

Big Hole River Spring Fly Fishing

Spring – March 15h – April 30th

The anticipation builds as you get closer to your spring fly fishing trip. Knowing what to expect on your trip helps you visualize the fun you’ll have.

In April we experience some of the best dry fly fishing of the season on the Big Hole River. Our season starts in the middle of March The hatch that gets us going is the Skwala Stonefly hatch, an event not to be missed if you love fly fishing! The Skwala stonefly will hatch once the water temperatures rises to about 42 degrees, and hangs around for a sustained period of time. Typically, the hatch lasts for about three to four weeks and the time period is mid-April into early May.

Smaller than the better-known Golden Stone, the Skwala stonefly is approximately a size #10 dry fly. Montana’s spring weather can be very unpredictable, so be prepared to wear layers and expect a little rain or snow.

Big Hole River Spring Fly Fishing

Spring – March 15h – April 30th

Daytime highs can range from mid 20’s all the way up to the upper 50’s. It is not uncommon to see rain, snow, or a mixture of both.

Why would a fly fisher travel to Melrose, Montana in the middle of April to spend two or three days on the water in these conditions? Because trout in spring are hungry and eat the Skwala stoneflies very aggressively! The trout in the Big Hole have not had a meal of this size on the surface for quite some time, and they are extremely hungry after a long winter spent under the ice.

This combination of hunger and opportunity creates some of the best dry fly fishing of the year in southwest Montana. With very few fly fishers on the water and trout eating on the surface, spring fishing on the Big Hole River is a great way to enjoy the wonders of Southwest Montana fly fishing. A float trip with one of our guides will ensure you get to the Skwala hatch wherever they are on the river.

Book Your Trip Today

Beaverhead River Spring Fly Fishing

Spring – March 15h – April 30th

For spring fly fishing in Southwest Montana, one of the biggest challenges is that many rivers are struggling with rising, off-color water, making fly fishing conditions difficult. During this time of the year, the Beaverhead is a great option to make your spring fly fishing trip one to remember.

The Beaverhead River is a tailwater with controlled, stable flows, so it is likely to have clear and low water. It is common to find Midges as well as Blue Winged Olives hatching in April, providing anglers opportunities to find fish holding in skinny water sipping on these spring hatches.

Beaverhead River Spring Fly Fishing

Spring – March 15h – April 30th

Our experienced guides will set you up perfectly with the right fly and the right boat position to ensure a stealthy approach, increasing the odds of scoring that big brown or rainbow that the Beaverhead is famous for.

The most noteworthy hatch in the spring on the Beaverhead is the Mother’s Day Caddis. This snowstorm-like hatch generally begins during the first week of May and lasts for about a week. During the Mother’s Day Caddis hatch, Pipe Organ Fishing Access to Barrett’s is a great spring float trip with one of our guides on the Beaverhead River. Call Sunrise Fly Shop now to ensure you have an epic guided float trip reserved during this exciting time of the year!

Limited Time Offer

Book a Spring Special and we will send you a discount code for 10% off your next purchase at the Sunrise Fly Shop Online Store.