Although year-round fishing options exist for anglers fishing near Dillon, many of the premier river sections are closed to fishing throughout the fall and winter. Regulations can change from year to year to protect spawning trout, so it is always worth reading the regulations before heading to the Dillon area for a few days of fishing.
The Big Hole River, along with sections of the Beaverhead and Ruby rivers open to fishing on April 1. Be prepared for winter weather while hoping for spring is the way to approach an early season Montana flyfishing outing near Dillon.
The fishing depends on the weather this time of year. Mornings are typically cold, especially on the Big Hole Rive, so late starts are the norm. Excellent dry and streamer fly fishing can be found as the water warms into the high 40’s and 50’s. Skwala and blue-winged olive hatches bring fish to the surface when conditions are ideal.
Fishing opens below Barretts Diversion Dam on the Beaverhead River and below the Ruby Dam on the Ruby River on April 1. Nymphing these sections of rivers is typically highly productive during those first few days of April.
Our Montana fishing guides float the Big Hole and Jefferson Rivers throughout April on guided fly fishing trips geared towards experienced anglers. Dry and streamer fly fishing techniques are standard as we look for a few large brown trout in uncrowded, early season conditions.
Skwala stoneflies hatch sporadically, but rainbow and brown trout do key into them on the Big Hole and Jefferson Rivers throughout April. A Chubby Chernobyl or large skwala dry flies will bring rising trout to the surface along rip-rap banks and bankside current seams. Cast these large, dry flies over likely holding water and any rising fish for the best success while prospecting.
The sections downstream of Melrose are the best for fly fishing the skwala hatch on the Big Hole River. Concentrate between Twin Bridges and Whitehall when fishing the Jefferson River skwala hatch.
With over two decades of experience outfitting Montana flyfishing trips, the early season always ranks as one of our guide’s favorite times of the season for day trips with experienced anglers.
Day trips to the Dillon area add diversity to a multi-day Bozeman fly fishing trip that would typically include a day on the lower and upper Madison Rivers. The upper Jefferson and lower Big Hole Rivers are both within easy striking range of our central headquarters in Bozeman.
Custom itineraries are available for our Dillon fly fishing trips if you prefer to stay and fish in that part of the state. We can coordinate options that include lodging in the Dillon are for multi-day itineraries, but options are often limited to hotel or vacation rentals during the early season.
Reservations for guided fly fishing trips near Dillon are available online, via e-mail, or by calling us at 1-406-468-5019.