Southwest Montana, Montana
Beaverhead River Fishing Report: May 19, 2026
Beaverhead River is in a useful fishing window today.
- Status
- good
- Flow trend
- stable
- Best window
- Late morning through afternoon
- Best methods
- nymphs, dry flies
Quick Summary
Beaverhead River is in a useful fishing window today. USGS showed 550 cfs and 1.76 feet at 5:15 AM, with the flow trend stable. Water temperature was Not reported. Start with nymphs, then adjust to dry flies if fish begin feeding higher in the column.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Good |
| Flow | 550 cfs at 5:15 AM |
| Gauge Height | 1.76 feet |
| Water Temp | Not reported |
| Clarity | Not reported |
| Trend | Stable |
| Best Window | Late morning through afternoon |
| Best Method | nymphs; dry flies |
| Wadeability | Good |
Weather
For Dillon, MT, the National Weather Service forecast says: Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 62. West southwest wind 3 to 9 mph. Plan around wind, changing light, and any showers or storms rather than assuming a full-day dry fly window.
River Notes
The best starting point is water that matches the current gauge: inside seams, protected banks, riffle drop-offs, and slower buckets rather than the heaviest current. A stable trend is worth watching through the day; if the hydrograph turns sharply upward, clarity and wade safety can change before hatch timing does. Missing field values are left as Not reported rather than filled from guesswork.
Hatch Activity
Current hatch guidance is based on seasonal May patterns for this river system, current public report context where available, and today’s official gauge/weather check.
| Hatch | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Winged Olive | 18-22 | Small mayflies in slower seams |
| Midge | 20-24 | Useful during quiet surface periods |
| Caddis | 14-18 | Check riffles and buckets |
| Sowbug/Scud | 14-18 | Tailwater food source |
Recommended Flies
| Category | Fly | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry | BWO Sparkle Dun | 18-22 | For picky risers |
| Dry | Griffiths Gnat | 20-24 | Midge clusters |
| Nymph | Tailwater Sowbug | 14-18 | Drift near weed edges |
| Nymph | Zebra Midge | 18-22 | Use under an indicator |
| Nymph | Pheasant Tail | 16-20 | Small mayfly nymph |
Tactics
Start with nymphs in defined lanes and adjust weight, depth, or leader length before changing flies. If fish begin rising, simplify to a single dry or dry with an emerger/dropper and lengthen the leader. In bright or windy periods, return to subsurface presentations along protected banks and broken water. Re-check the gauge before wading new crossings, especially if the trend changes from stable or falling to rising.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beaverhead River at Barretts MT | 550 cfs | Not reported | USGS 06016000 |
Sources
Official sources checked: USGS station 06016000 and the National Weather Service forecast for the Dillon, MT area. This report is an original Custom FlyBox summary based on current official gauge and weather data, with local public conditions reports reviewed separately for hatch, access, and method context.