| August is a wonderful time to be fly fishing the | | | | can on the pattern you are throwing. |
| Big Hole River in Southwest Montana. Everyone | | | | You will only find the Spruce Moths on or near |
| who has been chasing the Salmon Fly Hatches | | | | banks. Rarely do the moths flutter in the middle |
| from river to river are now gone. Evenings are | | | | of the river. This hatch is one that every |
| getting cold and day time highs are warm. Most | | | | angler should fish when taking a Southwest |
| people think August is a hatchless month when fly | | | | Montana fly fishing vacation. You will be amazed |
| fishing in Southwest Montana. | | | | how many trout are looking up to eat when the |
| Besides the hoppers, and ants, the one terrestrial | | | | moths are on the water. The trout eat so |
| hatch I look forward to every year is the Spruce | | | | many Spruce Moths that I have seen them |
| Moth hatch on the Big Hole River. The moth | | | | gorged on the meal almost like a Salmon Fly |
| lives inside Douglas Fir Trees and Lodge Pole Pine | | | | Hatch. |
| trees. Once the forests have dried out from the | | | | Since this is a terrestrial hatch, you do not have |
| summer heat and lack of moisture they fly from | | | | to fish a nymphal stage. This is a great |
| the trees they dwell in, and flock to the river for | | | | alternative to fishing Tricos in August. Slamming |
| a dip and become a meal for trout. This hatch | | | | the water with a fluttering Spruce Moth pattern is |
| has not always been around. | | | | a blast. The time of year when the moths are |
| We have seen an increase in the Spruce Moth | | | | hatching is typically the first of August till about |
| population in the last 10 years. This hatch on the | | | | the 15th of August. The best time to be on the |
| Big Hole River is in my mind the best and most | | | | water for the hatch is from 9:00a.m. - 2:00p.m. |
| consistent hatch of the year, low clear water, | | | | Usually you will see a slowdown of moths on the |
| with fish looking up crushing spruce moths on the | | | | water in the heat of the day. Around 6:00p.m. |
| banks. The spruce moth hatch does not occur | | | | the moths will return to the water for another |
| on the entire Big Hole River. It is concentrated in | | | | feeding frenzy. |
| the section where we have the most pine trees. | | | | This year the hatch is late just like all of our |
| From Jerry Creek fishing access to Maiden Rock | | | | hatches on Southwest Montana fly fishing rivers |
| Fishing Access is where you will find the Spruce | | | | like the Big Hole River and the Beaverhead |
| Moth hatch. | | | | River. We've had dry warm weather for the |
| Size #14 and #12 tan elk hair caddis are the best | | | | last 2 weeks so the hatch is just starting to pick |
| imitations for the Spruce Moth. We tie them at | | | | up. We have had a few Spruce Moths on the |
| the Sunrise Fly Shop with extra bushy elk hair. | | | | water this week with some fish keying into |
| The moth will flutter on the water, so in order to | | | | them. Look for the hatch to get going in the |
| make your pattern look like the real Spruce Moth | | | | next 5 to 7 days and get ready for the best dry |
| you need to splay out as much elk hair as you | | | | fly fishing of the year on the Big Hole River! |