Five Rivers Lodge River Guide - The Beaverhead River

The 69-mile-long journey of the Beaverhead River begins at the outlet of the Clark Canyon Reservoir, an irrigation storage facility built in 1964.  The Beaverhead river is divided into two distinct sections with unique fishing conditions, and it joins the Big Hole River at Twin Bridges, Montana to form the Jefferson River. 

While the reservoir and dam seasonally vary the flow, Montana FWP has recently instituted strict regulations limiting the number of anglers, so it’s important to check both the cfs level and the fishing regulations before setting out for this river.

The upper portion of the Beaverhead, stretching about 12 miles from the Clark Canyon Reservoir to the Barretts Diversion Dam, is the most fished section.  The outflow from the reservoir pumps cold water into the Beaverhead river, making it the coldest section of the river and provides excellent habitat for large rainbows and brown trout.   According to one count, there are approximately 3800 fish per mile here, and a fish of four pounds or better every 20 feet of bank.  Overhanging willows and cottonwoods line the banks of this fast-flowing stretch, and wading can be very difficult because of the brushy banks and steep cliffs. Yet while casting to the banks can be tricky, floating the Beaverhead river is by far the easiest and most productive way to fish this section.

Below Barretts Dam, the Beaverhead River flows into the valley where irrigation plays a major role.  While the dam diverts nearly half of the river water, private lands use much of the remaining flow for irrigation.  Therefore, the Beaverhead River from Barretts Dam to Dillon is slower and warmer than the upper section.  In addition, the river here may not be floated in late summer during lowwater . While wade fishing is much easier here, accessing the river can be difficult because it flows primarily through private lands.The stretch of water from Dillon downstream to the confluence with the Ruby river holds substantially larger fish.  The Beaverhead  usually gets quite warm as it runs slowly out in the middle of the valley.  For anglers looking for a more secluded walk-wade or float, our guides at Five Rivers Lodge have the knowledge and access to many of the best fishing on this lower Beaverhead river where access is almost nonexistent beacause of private farmland