Montana Fishing Reports ยท Southwest Region
Around Wise River, the upper Big Hole runs through ranch country and canyons, with rainbows, browns and brook trout.
Looking for the latest Big Hole River Wise River report? This page is updated by the AvidMax fly shop team with live flows, current conditions, hatches and the flies working now on the Big Hole River โ Wise River.
Current flows
Wind forecast
Big Hole River Wise River fishing report
Updated November 7, 2026.
The gauge near Wise River reads around 440 cfs, clear and cold.
Fish small nymphs and midges in the deeper runs midday.
Load your fly box
Before you head to Wise River, bring: Pheasant Tail Nymph #16-18, Zebra Midge #18-20, Parachute Adams #16-18, Woolly Bugger #8, RS2 Emerger #18-22, JuJu Baetis #18-22, Black Beauty #20-24, Egg #14-16, Squirmy Wormie #12-14.
Flies working right now
The flies above that we have in stock right now.
Big Hole River Wise River details
| Access | Fishing access sites near Wise River and Dewey along State Highway 43. |
|---|---|
| Elevation | About 5,600 ft |
| Nearest town | Wise River, Montana |
| Best season | Summer and fall |
| Fish | Rainbow, brown and brook trout |
| Regulations | Montana's stream regulations vary by district and river. Check Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks regulations for the current rules. A Montana fishing license is required for anglers 12 and older. |
| Leaders and tippet | 9 ft leaders, 5X tippet |
| Camping | Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest campgrounds nearby |
| Kids | Partly. |
| Good to know | Grayling may be present upstream. Release them. |
Fishing by season
Winter
Cold.
Spring
Runoff.
Summer
Caddis and attractors.
Fall
Low water.
How to get there
From Divide on I-15, take State Highway 43 west to Wise River.