August is the beginning of great grasshopper activity. The locals call it the "hopper" season, a great time in the summer and early fall to catch the big trout that hang around the stream banks waiting for on of those insects to miscalculate a jump and end up in the drink. It's exciting, highly visual angling with lots of explosive action. The 28 acres lodge is superbly managed by Jay Burgin and his wife Mary Jacques. You get there by driving 13 miles north of Dillon, Montana on Highway 41. The prime streams are just 30 minutes away from the lodge in one direction or another. The names are legendary for the big trout they hold: the Beaverhead (upper and lower section), the Big Hole, Jefferson, Ruby, Red Rock, and a number of smaller but very productive creeks and ponds. All of the water you fish is privately owned with very limited access.
There are also 2 acres of privately stocked water right on the lodge's property, plus a very unique small creek in the Beaverhead River system (more about that later). You could fish your brains out every day for a month and still not cover all of the available limited entry water. But the bottom line is you get to maximize your fishing time because of the flexible manner in which the lodge is run. There is, for example, no "standard" dinner-time; you aren't forced to miss a prime late evening hatch. Jay and Mary are only too happy to serve dinner at 9 pm if that's when you finally get back. < previous - next >