Our Rivers
The Big Hole River
The Big Hole River has been called the “The Last Best River.” Perhaps the finest dry fly river in the West. The angling situations are diverse and divine. Every Conceivable fly angling circumstance and water type associated with river fly fishing for trout are here on this most beautiful of rivers. The conditions are dynamic and with five species of game fish a mixed bag is guaranteed. The Big Hole runs unencumbered for 125 miles from its origins high in the Pintlars, Pioneer and Bitterroot mountains. The river is diverse as it slips through mountain meadows, towering canyons and classic meandering river bottoms to its confluence with the Beaverhead river to form the Jefferson, one of the great rivers to make up the Missouri.
During the course of the summer, The Big Hole changes size in a dramatic fashion. In an average year, it will peak at 8000 CFS (cubic feet per second) in mid spring and drop to 400 CFS by late summer. When the river is big, floating is a must, and you might float as much as 25 miles in a day. As the flows drop the opportunity for wading increases. By late season, for instance, you might cover only a mile in a day of fishing. Thus, the methods that we use change.
In addition, the diversity of habitat in an undammed freestone river like the Big Hole, provides many types of water to fish in. We chase the trout from pocket water to riffles to pools; from shallow water edges to deep runs with undercut banks. You have the chance to fish with #2 streamers all the way down to #20 emergers. If there is a style of fly fishing you prefer, we have it. If there is a method you wish you did better, we can teach it to you.
The Beaverhead River
The Beaverhead, a little over an hour away, provides a wonderful contrast to the Big Hole. This willow lined "fish factory" is in a narrow tail water channel that closely resembles a spring creek. Whether hunting for big trout with small dry flies, wade fishing with a nymph rig or pitching streamers into heavy cover. The “Beave” is always a great bet. Our favorite time to fish it is when the flows are low and the big fish are up on dries, such as the pale morning dun hatch, or, when the browns are on the hunt and come to streamers. In addition the little town of Dillon is dripping with recent western history and still retains that cowboy charm of yesteryear.
Rock Creek
Imagine a place where time has stood still and the scenery, fishing and country side is pristine. Where the river flows fast and clear. Where trout are eager to slash at your fly and you will never be the same. Rock Creek drains the back side of the Anacaonda Wilderness and joins the Clark Fork headed to the Pacific. From sometime in mid May through June every year we float this stunning river on a special, limited permit authorized through the Lolo National Forest. This opportunity is normally from mid may through June. Rock Creek has a wonderful Salmon Fly and Golden Stonefly hatch back to back and the native Cutthroats, Rainbows and Browns are plentiful and willing.
Launches are limited and early booking is a great idea.
This opportunity is provided in cooperation and permitted through and by the Lolo National Forest. USFS. The Complete Fly Fisher is an "equal opportunity service provider"!
Wise River
The Wise River, whose name is a derivative of Lewis and Clark's original name for the Big Hole, the Wisdom river, is more of a large creek than a river.
Like the Big Hole, it is a freestone river. It tumbles out of the pioneer mountains dropping almost 500 feet in some 25 miles. Big boulders and willowed banks outline it's path and make for fabulous pocket water angling. Although there are times that an angler can float the “Wise” it is best wade fished. This is pocket fishing at its best with muscled up eager trout looking for an easy meal.
Ruby River
For those of you willing to tackle the difficulty of accessing it, the Ruby River provides very good fly fishing with lots of solitude. The Ruby tends to be quite narrow and very meandering, with bushy banks. It is the classic version of the under cut bank river system. Despite some battles with whirling disease and fish kills the ruby continues to provide excellent fishing. You should expect to fish for average sized rainbows and browns. These fish average between 10-14 inches, with some fish stretching 18-20 inches. While the browns may not get as large in the Ruby as in other nearby rivers, the lower fishing pressure on the river makes the fish somewhat easier to catch.
Bitterroot River & Clark’s Fork
The Bitterroot and Clark’s Fork river valleys thaw out and offer some superlative dry fly fishing in late March and early April. The bugs (Skwalla) range in size from #6 to #14. These rivers offer productive dry fly fishing to some very big brown and rainbow trout. This angling is a well-kept secret. As the summer months set in these two rivers really fall into your “A” typical western stream settings with caddis, PMDS, Trico and hopper hatches. As the fall months rumble in and water temps drop mayflies from size #12 to #20 abound and the October caddis ( size #6 to #10) skitter about for some exciting dry fly fishing.
The Jefferson River
The Big Hole, Ruby and the Beaverhead Rivers join together at Twin Bridges to make the "Jeff" a big piece of water with brown trout and rainbows to fit. Dry flies, streamers and the famed "girdle bug" make up the preferred fly selection. Floating through the Tobacco Root Valley is a special treat. Each year many big trout are caught and released by fly fishermen. These fish eat each other. This river has been under the radar for years but we have been guiding it for years for the “the big fish”. You should expect an hour to 2 hours drive to and fro this fishery.
Book a Trip
A week on the rivers of the Complete Fly Fisher is like no other vacation you have ever experienced. Here we will write the copy that makes the viewer click that little magical button below. Perfect. Once in a lifetime.