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The Beaverhead is home to some of Montana's fattest brown and rainbow trout. Biologists once estimated a 20-inch trout for every 20-feet of bank! Whether or not such claim still holds water is more than I know. What I do know is we boat far more 20-inch class trout on the Beav than perhaps all the rest of our rivers combined! That is not to say you will catch only 20-inchers, in fact you may not catch any... This is of course fishing and we all know, or should, some days you get chicken and some... Well, you get my drift, I'm sure.

Flow levels are controlled by water releases from Clark Canyon Dam. Typically you can expect rather low water through early June, high water the rest of the month, all of July and part of August. Until the ongoing drought finally looses its nasty grip, expect low flows early and late in season. Irrigation demand, not what's good for trout fishing, is the determining factor. Summer flows peak around 800 cfs and at that level the river is really ripping. When the flow drops below about 200 cfs the Beav fishes very much like an over-sized spring creek. Not many rivers can boast sight fishing to such large fish.

Most days small nymphs rule, like #16s to #22s. The river is incredibly fertile and hatches tend to be blizzard-like. The major hatches include, midge, Baetis, pmd, trico, little yellow stonefly, several caddis and in some years a giant race of cranefly. Flying ants and grasshoppers often add to the surface brew during late summer and fall. Regardless whether it's nymphs on the bottom or dries,  Beav trout are not pushovers. Consistent success requires anglers to be on top of their game--pin point casts, precise imitations in the right size and drag-free drifts get it done. Perhaps the best tool you can bring to the river is a great mend; toss in the ability to put the fly on the money first time every time and...Well, you can hardly go wrong.

Clark Canyon Reservoir,  where you just might catch the trout of a lifetime is woefully underutilized by clients. This is curious because, if for no other reason, the fishing there is, more often than not, oh so e-e-ezee and the trout there are oh so fat and hard fighting. Like why would you not want to? But truth is most clients balk and those do end up giving in usually do so only after a lot of arm-twisting on my behalf. I would truly like to turn this trend around and show you what really usually turns out the funnest time you might ever have...OK, now I've said it and promise will never speak of it again; so if you want to go, like you call me I ain't callin' you....

The Big Hole is a Montana treasure; a real gem provides great fishing, awesome scenery, wildlife encounters galore, all steeped in history going way back to the first beginning, a truly unique western fly fishing experience. Dam free it runs for about 188 miles, Skinner Meadows high in the Beaverhead Range to Twin Bridges.  Typically flows peak in mid-June. Wet cool summers help maintain decent flows throughout, while hot and dry can drop the river to a trickle come August. Big Hole trout seem to relish feeding top side and it is a rare day when dry flies fail to produce at least some action. The June Salmon Fly Fest draws the biggest crowds, but my favorites are the Blue-winged olives ( best in April-May and again in September to freeze-up), Mother's Day Caddis (May) and Spruce Moth (August) not a bonafide hatch but don't tell the trout. The list of other Big Hole hatches reads like a who's-who of insect events and the trout usually jump all over whatever is hatching.

The Jefferson is our unsung hero, despite often nasty low-water conditions in dry summers. The Jeff fishes well from ice-out to when irrigation demands and summer's blazing sun combine to shut things down. Then in September the fishing picks up again and the river fishes well into late fall. There are beeg trout to be had and never anything like a crowd.  The early spring Baetis and caddis action and fall hopper fishing are often off the charts. Chucking big streamers here might very well catch you the trout of a lifetime.

The Ruby is another local gem doesn't get much ink. We have our "secret" spots which produce well all season and would be happy to share them with you. The Ruby is wade fishing only due to its diminutive character. Dry fly action is just about a given any day of season.

The Madison above Ennis is a personal favorite. Fun to float, almost always fishes well and the scenery...well, it just doesn't get much more Montana anywhere. The Madison provides the full Monty when it comes to hatches; it seems something is always popping. Streamer fishing for bigger than average trout is a highlight. Attractor dries and nymph dropper rigs rarely fail.

The Backcountry of southwest Montana is among some of the most scenic anywhere, full of wildlife and so much trout fishing it would take several lifetimes to do it all. We do a fair number of these trips to secluded lakes and streams, some of which see very few other anglers. Without fail, clients who hop on this offer give it rave reviews; oh sure there's always one in the crowd gripes about the "steep ass climb" or goes on about the "GD moose flies" but, hey, tis what makes the world round--right? Check it out, steep hills and moose flies aside, I guarantee the fishing won't disappoint.