Great Waters Inn

The lodge stands five miles south of Melrose, Montana, on the bank of the Big Hole River, and a guided day there is run as either a walk and wade or a float depending on conditions. The daily guide rate of $750 covers two anglers, and daily tackle needs such as flies and leaders are part of the arrangement. Longer stays are built around guided fishing every day, with packages starting at three days and four nights and running as long as six days and seven nights; those rates cover arrival night lodging and dinner, guided fishing, and all lodging and meals through the stay. Guiding is led by outfitter and head guide Mark Lane, with Brent Taylor and Jen Taylor, a licensed Montana guide, among the staff. Anglers wanting variety can be taken to the nearby Beaverhead, Jefferson and Madison rivers, to small streams in the area, or to Clark Canyon Reservoir for stillwater fishing.