Today
53°F
Partly Sunny
NE 0 to 3 mph · 6% precip
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Today’s verdict
Current River Conditions
As of (10 days ago)
This intel is a couple of weeks old — conditions may have shifted.
As of ~1 week ago, the river was fishing well.
The Beaverhead is running well below its normal range right now, but the water is clear and fish are active. Hatches are happening, and the river is fishing well given the conditions — don't let the low flows scare you off.
Midges are the go-to right now — cream and red (blood) patterns in sizes 20–22 are producing, with tandem larva-pupa rigs fished under an indicator near the bottom doing especially well. Blue-winged Olives and October Caddis are also in the mix, so carry nymphs, emergers, and adults for both. Streamers — sculpins and articulated patterns — remain a reliable option for targeting the bigger browns.
Hatches
At 43°F, the water is in the prime range for trout — cold enough to fish and to handle fish safely.
Weather
41°F
Wind N 3 mph
Sunrise 8:05 AM · Sunset 6:19 PM
Observed (2 hours ago)
NWS / weather.gov · fetched 15:01
Today
53°F
Partly Sunny
NE 0 to 3 mph · 6% precip
Tonight
34°F
Patchy Fog
NE 5 mph · 15% precip
Tomorrow
50°F
Light Rain Likely
SE 2 mph · 63% precip
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Size #16
Conditions are estimates from USGS data. Always assess on-site conditions and use your own judgment.
The Twin Bridges gauge at the lower end of the Beaverhead is the only station on the river reporting water temperature alongside flow. The blue-ribbon tailwater below Clark Canyon Dam through Dillon is flow-only, so we read conditions from the temperature-bearing Twin Bridges gauge and name the tradeoff — a flow-only upper gauge could never flag the warm water this lower, slower reach can run.
Location
© OpenStreetMap contributors · © Geoapify
Helpful Links
Montana fishing resources
Other Montana rivers with live conditions
Narrow, fertile tailwater below Clark Canyon Reservoir with weed beds and deceptively large trout. Target species include Brown and rainbow trout. Public access is limited and the river is often floated; careful wading is possible at access sites. Productive timing is Late spring through fall, with stable tailwater fishing outside severe winter weather. Major hatches and foods include PMDs, caddis, yellow sallies, tricos, craneflies and midges. Common approaches are Short-leash and indicator nymphing, precise PMD dries and streamers near cover. Regulations, access rules and water conditions vary by reach, so anglers should review current agency information and the linked local reports before fishing.
Tactics
536 CFSFlow
43°F−1°Water temp
53° / 34°Weather
Size #6-4
Size #6-4