Montana Fishing Reports ยท Southwest Region
The Jefferson forms at Twin Bridges where the Beaverhead and Big Hole meet, a big, slow river with large browns and few anglers.
Looking for the latest Jefferson 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 Jefferson River โ Twin Bridges.
Current flows
Wind forecast
Jefferson River fishing report
Updated November 7, 2026.
The gauge near Twin Bridges reads around 1,200 cfs and clear.
Streamers along the banks and deep nymphs in the runs are the best bets this time of year.
Load your fly box
Before you head to Twin Bridges, bring: Woolly Bugger #4-8, Sculpzilla #4-6, Pat', s Rubber Legs #8-10, Pheasant Tail Nymph #14-16, Zebra Midge #18-22, RS2 Emerger #18-22, JuJu Baetis #18-22, Black Beauty #20-24, Egg #14-16, Squirmy Wormie #12-14, Scud Bomb #14-16.
Flies working right now
The flies above that we have in stock right now.
Jefferson River details
| Access | Fishing access sites near Twin Bridges, Silver Star and Cardwell. |
|---|---|
| Elevation | About 4,600 ft |
| Nearest town | Twin Bridges, Montana |
| Best season | Spring and fall |
| Fish | Brown and rainbow 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, 3X to 4X tippet |
| Camping | Fishing access site camping and Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park |
| Kids | Partly. |
| Good to know | It fishes best in spring and fall. Summer gets warm and low. |
Fishing by season
Winter
Cold.
Spring
Rising water.
Summer
Warm and low.
Fall
Streamers and browns.
How to get there
From Butte, take State Highway 2 east, or from Dillon take State Highway 41 to Twin Bridges.