Montana · river

Beaverhead River

The Beaverhead River is an approximately 69-mile-long (111 km) tributary of the Jefferson River in southwest Montana (east of the Continental Divide). It drains an area of roughly 4,778 square miles (12,370 km2). From Wikipedia

Flow now

Beaverhead River near Twin Bridges MT, 9 mi from the river.

222cfsat build, Nov 12, 11 AM MT

0191382Oct 12Nov 11

The typical week here, from 10 years of record: 238 cfs to 382 cfs, around 289 cfs.

Also gauged at Big Hole River near Melrose MT: 576 cfs, Nov 12.

Snowpack

1.3 in of water in the snow at Mule Creek and 2 more stations, against a median 2.1 in for the date (63 % of normal).

The snowpack here usually builds from Oct 20, peaks Apr 27 and is gone by Jun 15; runoff follows the melt.

The season, November

Usually workable this week. Pick your window and fish it well.

  • Midgessizes 18 to 22
  • Small eggs and worms
  • Pheasant tail and zebra midge nymphsunder an indicator

Typical for the week over 10 years: 238 to 382 cfs. Running 222 cfs today, inside that range. Flows are not forecast; check the gauge the day before.

Brown Trout are spawning (October to December). Stay off clean, light-coloured gravel in riffle tails and pool tailouts, and leave paired fish alone.

Brook Trout are spawning (September to November). Stay off clean, light-coloured gravel in riffle tails and pool tailouts, and leave paired fish alone.

Mountain Whitefish are spawning (October to December). The egg bite behind spawning whitefish is the best winter nymphing of the year: an egg pattern below the riffles.

  • Egg patterns in the runs below the spawning gravel, never on it.

Written by the app's rules engine from the calendar, the gauge record and the snowpack, not by hand, so it says only what the data says. The weather for the week comes with the app.

Fly shops on this water

Nearby waters

Every Montana water

Open Beaverhead River in FlyMaster for today's plan, the flies, and your own log here.

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Flows from the U.S. Geological Survey, snowpack from the NRCS SNOTEL network, text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Built Nov 12.