In from Neil Travis:
Montana’s fishing season is still very much ‘out there.’ The snow pack continues to build in the mountains, the Yellowstone and most of the other rivers are bank full or above and the run-off really has not started since it has been cool and wet for the last 2+ weeks. Given the current situation I do not believe that the Yellowstone will be approachable until at least the 2nd or possibly the 3rd week in July, and then it is likely to be high. About the only thing that could change that scenario would be a quick hot spell, and that would lead to major flooding like we saw in 96-97. Lord willing that is not in the cards. If it continues to be cool the run-off will come out slowly and major flooding, especially on the Yellowstone, will not happen. That having been said, I would caution anyone from coming to Montana anytime soon if they plan to fish the major rivers; including, but not limited too, the Yellowstone, Gallatin [heavy flooding now occurring], Missouri, Madison, and most of the streams in Yellowstone National Park. Even the Big Horn is high due to above average precipitation in May that filled the Yellowtail Reservoir much faster than anticipated. [The EXPERTS did not think that it would fill at all this year and had cut the flows in the Horn to 1,500 cfs] The flows there are now approaching 6,000 cfs. Fortunately it is clear and fishable, just watch where you wade!
For right now, if you are going to Montana to do some fishing, the Big Hole River down near Melrose, MT is doing fairly well. You can check in with Frontier Anglers in Dillon, MT for an update. Right now it is flowing just a little above the 84 year median level.
As of today, 6-8-08, the median level is 4270 cfs, the mean level is 4690 cfs and the actual level is 4710, so the river is flowing fairly well and they are catching fish. The water temperature is at 8.0 Celsius or 46.4 Fahrenheit.
Larry 
—sagefisher—
Larry -
I was curious about what your numbers meant, so I searched around a bit on the net.
Found one guide in the Melrose, MT area whose current fishing reports do indicate that the Big Hole is fishing pretty well, on an off, anyway, recently. Those are qualitative comments from a guide who is taking people down the river on drift boats. No comments from him on how the wade fishing would be at current water levels.
Checked the USGS website for water data. Yes, the numbers for the flows are as you reported. Those are for today. And the comparisons are to long term means and medians for 6-8 of many, many years. The comparison would be today is about 15% higher than the long term median. However, the average for the month of June from 1980 through 2007 is around 3400 CFS, so today’s flow are 40% higher than average June flows.
June has the highest mean flow on the Big Hole. And the current flows are well over the long term figures both for today and the for the month of June. If you look at the flows for months other than May or June ( the two highest months due to run off ) the flows, based on twenty seven year averages from 1980 through 2007, go from mean flows of 300 to 500 CFS from August through March, and mean flows in April and July of about 1100 to 1300.
Not trying to be argumentative, just trying to put your comments and Neil’s in some kind of perspective. I haven’t fished the Big Hole ( although I very much would like to do so ). It seems to me that if one were planning to go fish it with a guide in a drift boat, or maybe in a drift boat without a guide, one might do pretty well today. But if one were going to go wade fish it, one might end up drinking beer at the local tavern while wondering why he drove all the way to Melrose to see the river in its current condition.
The other point that bears consideration, is that there is still a lot of snow in the mountains. Today the fishing might be good, but a couple warms days and the river could be totally blown out. The local guide whose site I referred to above, thinks the run off will be long and slow, which kind of ties in to what we think is going to happen down here in Idaho. Which means the Big Hole might be good for drift boat fishermen, but maybe not so good for waders for some time to come.
I think Neil’s comments generally apply to the situation on the Big Hole as well as the rivers that he specifically mentioned.
I would encourage anyone going up that way to call ahead and determine how it will fish for the way they plan to fish - i.e. drift boating or wading ??
John,
Glad you pointed that out. I do all of my fishing on these rivers with guides, guess I should have stated that.
The Big Hole is great right now for guided drift boat/ridged framed raft trips. They are too high for people to drift on their own unless that person is an expert. Good wade fishing on the Big Hole is still a ways off, there are some access areas where you could fish but with the present levels, it would be better to wait.
However both the Big Hole and the Beaverhead right now are fishing very well. Compare that to almost all of the other rivers in Montana and it is an easy choice to make. What happens in the near future is anyone?s guess. Snow is still being dumped way up in the mountains. Almost all of the upper mountains still have over 100% snow pack, which will have to melt sooner or later. Everyone is keeping their fingers crossed for a slow melt but with Mother Nature you never know.
So, for right now, the Big Hole and Beaverhead are great places to go. The Beaverhead has some good access points for foot traffic, the Big Hole not as many. Guided rafts/drift boats are the best and safest way to go and you should catch some good sized fish and a fair number of them.
Larry —sagefisher—