77 miles
Montana · freestone
77 miles
Intermediate · Wade / boat
August on the hatch chart — names and sizes, not a catch report.
Filled months are when that insect is on the chart. Best months for this river are lit.
| Insect | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midge (Chironomidae) | ||||||||||||
| Skwala stonefly | ||||||||||||
| Blue-winged Olive (Baetis) | ||||||||||||
| March Brown (Rhithrogena) | ||||||||||||
| Caddis (Trichoptera) | ||||||||||||
| Salmonfly (Pteronarcys californica) | ||||||||||||
| Golden Stonefly (Hesperoperla) | ||||||||||||
| Pale Morning Dun (Ephemerella) | ||||||||||||
| Terrestrials | ||||||||||||
| October Caddis (Dicosmoecus) | ||||||||||||
| Mahogany Dun (Paraleptophlebia) |
Hatch-chart nymphs, dries, and streamers for this river. Not a crowdsourced catch report.
Open the Jefferson River fly list →5 listed points. Map is Vellum land and Teal water — a desk chart, not a satellite.
Montana FWP gravel-ramp access on the Jefferson. FWP: 45.63261, -112.31854. About 3 miles south of Silver Star, 0.5 mile upstream from the county-road bridge. Seasonal mouth closures apply at Hells Canyon Creek as listed in FWP exceptions.
Montana FWP concrete-ramp access on the Jefferson. FWP: 45.68639, -112.28244. About 15 miles south of Whitehall on Highway 55. Trailer length limit 25 feet.
Montana FWP gravel-ramp access at Cardwell Bridge. FWP: 45.85384, -111.95092. Mid-river valley access near the Boulder River confluence.
Montana FWP gravel-ramp access at Sappington Bridge. FWP: 45.80401, -111.75127. Lower Jefferson toward Three Forks.
Montana FWP gravel-ramp access 2 miles west of Three Forks on Highway 2. FWP: 45.89764, -111.59402. Next public take-out is about 8 miles downstream at Missouri Headwaters State Park.
Central Fishing District. Montana fishing license required. Entire Jefferson River: northern pike no limit; combined trout 3 daily and in possession, only 1 over 18 inches and only 1 may be a rainbow trout. Hells Canyon Creek and Willow Springs Creek: closed to fishing 100 yards upstream and downstream from the creek mouths April 1 through April 30 and September 30 through November 30. Central District rivers and streams are open all year unless listed. AIS rules apply. Verify the current FWP fishing regulations booklet and any posted drought restrictions.
The Jefferson begins at the Big Hole and Beaverhead junction near Twin Bridges and runs 77 miles to Three Forks, where it meets the Madison and Gallatin to form the Missouri. It is a large valley river: wide riffles, long banks, and irrigation demand that can drop the river hard in late summer.
Brown trout and rainbow trout are the main fish. Mountain whitefish are common. Northern pike have no limit on this water. Wade the edges at FWP fishing access sites. Float the longer valley miles when flow allows.
Named FWP access includes Hell's Canyon, Silver Star, Cardwell Bridge, Sappington Bridge, and Drouillard. Live USGS gauges are 06026500 near Twin Bridges and 06036650 near Three Forks.
Hells Canyon Creek and Willow Springs Creek have seasonal 100-yard mouth closures in April and again from September 30 through November 30. Confirm the current FWP Central District exceptions. Summer heat can trigger hoot-owl restrictions; those are posted when they happen and are not assumed here.
Tailwater
Brown Trout · Rainbow Trout
Freestone
Brown Trout · Rainbow Trout · Brook Trout
Tailwater
Brown Trout · Rainbow Trout
Freestone
Cutthroat Trout · Rainbow Trout · Brown Trout
Freestone
Rainbow Trout · Brown Trout · Westslope Cutthroat Trout
Freestone
Rainbow Trout · Brown Trout · Cutthroat Trout
If something here is thin or wrong, add what you know. It goes to review before it publishes.
Contribute to this river
