Southwest Montana, Montana
Beaverhead River Fishing Report: May 25, 2026
Beaverhead River is good today with 509 cfs at 7:15 am, a stable flow trend, and a best window of late morning through afternoon, with clouds extending the window.
- Status
- good
- Flow trend
- stable
- Best window
- Late morning through afternoon, with clouds extending the window
- Best methods
- nymphs, dry flies
Quick Summary
Beaverhead River is a good option today. USGS showed 509 cfs at 7:15 AM and 1.69 feet, with the flow trend stable and water temperature Not reported. The best plan is late morning through afternoon, with clouds extending the window; start with nymphs; dry flies and adjust for light, wind, and clarity at the access.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Good |
| Flow | 509 cfs at 7:15 AM |
| Gauge Height | 1.69 feet |
| Water Temp | Not reported |
| Clarity | Not reported |
| Trend | Stable |
| Best Window | Late morning through afternoon, with clouds extending the window |
| Best Method | nymphs; dry flies |
| Wadeability | Good |
Weather
For Dillon, MT, the National Weather Service forecast says: Memorial Day: A slight chance of rain showers between noon and 3pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. South southwest wind 2 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Active NWS alerts for the point check: No active NWS alerts for the checked point.
River Notes
Use the Dillon / Twin Bridges gauge as the baseline, then confirm clarity and bank safety when you arrive. A stable hydrograph means fish may shift through the day; if the river bumps up, favor inside bends, softer banks, and defined seams instead of committing to heavy mid-channel water. Official gauge data does not report clarity, so treat clarity as Not reported until it is checked on site.
Hatch Activity
Current hatch guidance is based on late-May regional timing, current official gauge/weather checks, and public local report pages reviewed separately for context.
| Hatch | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Midges | 18-24 | Important in slower slicks |
| Blue Winged Olive | 16-20 | Best during clouds |
| Caddis | 14-18 | Possible around warmer edges |
| Scuds / Sowbugs | 14-18 | Tailwater staples |
Recommended Flies
| Category | Fly | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry | BWO Comparadun | 16-20 | Use when fish rise in softer water |
| Dry | Midge Cluster | 20-24 | For selective risers |
| Nymph | Sowbug | 14-18 | Good subsurface staple |
| Nymph | Zebra Midge | 18-22 | Small dropper |
| Streamer | Leech | 6-10 | Use in low light or stained water |
Tactics
Start subsurface in the most defined walking-speed lanes and change depth before changing flies. If fish begin rising, simplify to one accurate dry or a dry with a small emerger and lengthen the leader. For good wading, keep crossings conservative and check the gauge again before stepping into pushy water.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beaverhead River at Barretts MT | 509 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.