Montana
Big Hole River near Melrose
Current River Rating
Unavailable
Not enough local guidance to rate conditions.
Low confidence
Should I Go?
Not Enough Data
Timing Outlook
No reliable fishing window is available with the current data.
Why
- This river does not yet have enough local fishing guidance to assign a rating.
Cautions
- Water temperature is unavailable.
Blocking Factors
- Configured water observations are currently unavailable.
Current Readings
- Flow
- Not available
- Gage Height
- Not available
- Water Temperature
- Not available
- Latest current reading
- Not available
Monitoring temporarily unavailable. · USGS station 06025500 · Direct monitoring location
Readings from past 7 Days
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Historical readings are provided for context. Readings outside the current freshness window are not used to rate current conditions.
Better Nearby Options
Checking nearby StrikeTracks waters…
Preliminary guidance only. Always assess current weather, access, water depth, current speed, and your own ability before entering the river.
Changing Conditions Advisory
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Weather Near Gauge
Current Weather
Partly cloudy
Temperature
52°F
Feels like
45°F
Wind
13 mph N
Wind gust
21 mph
Current precipitation
0.00 in
Updated
Sep 5, 2026, 1:45 AM
Recent Rainfall
Estimated precipitation near this gauge
Last 6 hours
0.00 in
Last 24 hours
0.00 in
Last 48 hours
0.00 in
Little recent rainfall near this river.
Next 24 Hours
Sat 2 AM
Partly cloudy
Temp 51°F
Chance 9%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 15 mph
Sat 6 AM
Clear
Temp 48°F
Chance 6%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 9 mph
Sat 10 AM
Partly cloudy
Temp 58°F
Chance 1%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 12 mph
Sat 2 PM
Clear
Temp 69°F
Chance 2%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 7 mph
Sat 6 PM
Mostly clear
Temp 76°F
Chance 14%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 10 mph
Sat 10 PM
Overcast
Temp 57°F
Chance 2%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 13 mph
Four-Day Forecast
Sat, Sep 5
Overcast
High 76°F / Low 48°F
Chance 14%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 26 mph
Sun, Sep 6
Overcast
High 80°F / Low 49°F
Chance 26%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 29 mph
Mon, Sep 7
Showers
High 63°F / Low 46°F
Chance 82%
Precip 0.26 in
Max gust 31 mph
Tue, Sep 8
Overcast
High 72°F / Low 42°F
Chance 18%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 11 mph
Weather and rainfall are estimated for this river's coordinates. Local conditions can vary, especially in mountainous terrain and during isolated storms.
Recent rainfall can influence river flow, but the timing and magnitude depend on watershed size, soil conditions, upstream reservoirs, and dam releases.
Weather data: Open-Meteo
Historical Flow
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Fishing Overview
Bounded Big Hole River trout destination near Melrose. USGS 06025500 is the at-location station with live discharge and water temperature. Coordinates are the USGS monitoring-location point. Not the upper Big Hole at Wisdom and not Maiden Rock.
Fishery Profile
Documented species you may encounter at Big Hole River.
Species images are AI-generated illustrations for visual reference and may simplify natural variation. Fishery records are based on the cited agency sources. About fish illustrations
Fishery overview
The Big Hole near Melrose is a nationally important wild trout river. StrikeTracks requalifies this existing identity to Monitoring-Backed from USGS 06025500 (live discharge and water temperature) after fishery completion. Arctic grayling are FWP-managed in the drainage but are not a StrikeTracks species-selector ID. Flow Context remains default-deny. Mountain whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni) are a native game fish in this drainage per official state fishery management; they are described here because StrikeTracks has no species-selector ID. Confirm current FWP whitefish rules separately (https://fwp.mt.gov/fish). Hatch Match publishes seasonal hatch guidance based on published local fishing sources. Actual insect activity varies with weather, water temperature, elevation, and local conditions. This is not a live hatch observation.
Target species
Brown Trout
Salmo trutta
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Wild
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
FWP Statewide Fisheries Management Plan 2023–2026 manages this drainage as a wild trout fishery. Confirm current FWP Exceptions to Standard Regulations. Big Hole River near Melrose (USGS 06025500). Distinct from Wisdom and Maiden Rock.
Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
Rainbow Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Unknown
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
FWP Statewide Fisheries Management Plan 2023–2026 manages this drainage as a wild trout fishery. Confirm current FWP Exceptions to Standard Regulations. Big Hole River near Melrose (USGS 06025500). Distinct from Wisdom and Maiden Rock.
Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
Fishery characteristics
- Composition
- Wild
- Great Lakes tributary
- No
- Flow regime
- Mixed flow regime
Large southwest Montana freestone trout river at Melrose, downstream of the Wisdom/upper Big Hole grayling conservation reach.
Best seasons
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall
Common techniques
- Dry flies
- Fly fishing
- Nymphing
- Spinning
- Streamers
Access and Public Fishing Rights
Public fishing is documented by FWP Fishing Access Sites on the Big Hole around Melrose. Catalog coordinates are the USGS point, not a FAS pin.
Stocking information
FWP manages the Big Hole as a wild trout fishery with Arctic grayling conservation in the upper drainage. Confirm any current official stocking separately.
Official sources
Verify current FWP Big Hole Exceptions, grayling conservation rules, and drought closures. Do not remap to Wisdom 06024450 or Maiden Rock 06025250.
Hatch Match
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Location and Access
USGS monitoring location
Madison, Montana
The map marker represents the cataloged waterbody or monitoring location and may not indicate legal parking or public access. Confirm access through the official information before visiting.
River Details
County
Madison
Management Category
Wild trout river
Regulation Scope
Big Hole River near Melrose
Regulation Summary
Big Hole near Melrose: FWP Central District regulations unless an Exception applies. Confirm current closures.
Target Species
Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout
Access, Parking, and Regulations
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