Beaverhead River Fishing Guides and Conditions, Montana

About the Beaverhead River

The Beaverhead is the tailwater that Montana guides talk about in terms of degree of difficulty. From Clark Canyon Dam it runs north through Barretts, Dillon and Beaverhead Rock to Twin Bridges, where it joins the Big Hole to form the Jefferson. The upper reach below the dam is narrow, fast and lined with willows, and the trout in it are heavy, wild brown trout that hold tight to cover a rod length from the boat.

The upper river from the dam to Barretts is the famous water and it is technical fishing at close range. Guides row hard, anglers throw short accurate casts under overhanging willows, and losing flies is part of the price. Below Dillon the river opens up, slows, and turns into a more forgiving float with browns and rainbows and easier casting. The crane fly hatch in late summer and the streamer fishing in October are the calendar events here.

Flow is entirely a function of Clark Canyon releases, which are managed for irrigation and change sharply between seasons. Roughly 300 to 700 cfs is the comfortable working range on the upper river; irrigation-season releases can push it well past a thousand, which makes the willow banks dangerous to row and moves the fish, and winter minimums drop it to a fraction of that. Check the release before planning an upper-river day, every time.

Dillon is the base town, with Twin Bridges twenty-five minutes north and the Big Hole, Ruby and Jefferson all within a short drive, which is why this valley supports so many outfitters. Beginners are better served on the lower river; the upper Beaverhead rewards anglers who can cast accurately from a moving boat.

Access

Clark Canyon Dam: the top of the tailwater, boat ramp below the dam.
Buffalo Bridge and Pipe Organ: upper-river accesses in the technical water.
Barretts Diversion: the standard upper takeout and a common put-in.
High Bridge and Selway: middle river accesses above and below Dillon.
Dillon town access: parking, ramp and easy wade water.
Anderson Lane and Giem: lower river ramps toward Twin Bridges.
Twin Bridges: the confluence with the Big Hole at the bottom of the river.

Seasons

March through May: pre-irrigation flows, streamers and the first good dry fly days.
June through August: high irrigation releases up top; the lower river fishes better.
Late August and September: crane flies and hoppers, dropping flows, the best weeks of the year.
October and November: brown trout on streamers, low water and cold mornings; winter flows are minimal.