This is a very dynamic time of year to fish Montana waters. Conditions can change by the day and even by the hour as flows are a huge part of the late spring fishing game. Most rivers and streams in the state are completely blown out. In fact, many areas are experiencing flooding.
Beaverhead– The river flows are high so nymph it hard and hold on tight!
Bitterroot/Blackfoot/Clarkfork/Rock Creek: These rivers are in flood stage and it would be better to fish elsewhere.
Gallatin River is not the best option in the area right now. Its running really high and really muddy.
Upper Madison River, with visibility decreasing with every tributary. Cabin and Beaver creeks are pumping mud as well as the west fork. The west fork is adding and extra 1,000 CFS to the river and cranking in mud.
Yellowstone River It has been approaching 20,000 CFS, and becoming to dangerous to float. Flows this big can move trees.
Big Hole river is big and dirty. It may have some flooding in areas over the next month. Best to pick another river.
Boulder River is around 3,000 CFS and rising. The water is dirty and the wading is dangerous.
Stillwater River is pumping a serious amount of water right now and on the rise. It is muddy and unfishable.
However, resting in the shadows of the rugged Tobacco Root and Highland Mountains in the historic and lush Jefferson River valley, lies the Circle 9 Spring Creek Ranch. It offers gorgeous scenery, miles of river, restored spring creek fishing, and it is currently fishing like a dream. Circle 9 has a private boat launch located on its .75± miles of Jefferson River frontage offering not only good opportunity for sizable browns and rainbows, but also solitude from the flotilla of fishermen found on some of the area’s other rivers. In an idyllic location, the ranch lies just 20 minutes from the town of Twin Bridges where the Jefferson River is formed by the confluence of the Ruby, Beaverhead, and Big Hole Rivers.
