What Is Included?
- 6 nights’ accommodations in private cabin
- 5 full-days guided fly fishing
- Personalized instruction from an Orvis host
- All meals, beer, and wine
- Round trip transfers from Butte Airport (BTM)
What Am I Responsible For?
- Montana fishing license
- Gratuities
- Trip insurance
- Montana accommodation tax
How Many People On This Trip?
8 anglers.
Skill Levels/Experience
Novice to expert, everyone can get better at Big Hole Lodge.
How Strenuous Are The Activities?
Big Hole Lodge can accommodate most all levels of mobility but we do suggest being able to wade-fish during September in Montana. This doesn't mean long hikes but being able to walk on uneven ground and over rocks is a must.
Meals & Dining
Begin your fishing day with a hearty stack of oatmeal pancakes covered in apple saute, whipped cream and accompanied by apple-wood smoked bacon and fresh berries. After hours of stalking and catching wild trout, your guide lays out a riverbank lunch of marinated and grilled tri-tip with smoky vegetables, potato salad with fresh herbs and lemon bars.
Evening libations are accompanied by lightly grilled, succulent morsels of huckleberry-glazed quail wrapped in endive, followed by a savory entrée of grilled herb and garlic rack of lamb with sweet potato gratin, crisp green beans and red rhubarb confit. If you have saved any room, a cheesecake mousse with rum poached plums and a cup of decaf will tuck you in for the night. And that's just day one.
Meet the Executive Chef, Lanette
Lanette and Craig worked together in the late-eighties in the ski industry in Lake Tahoe when she fell in love with Montana summers. An expert fly fisher, Lanette was battlefield promoted from sous to head chef over two decades ago and continues to be the glue of the lodge staff. Her recipe for success is two parts work ethic, three parts humor, and a full cup of passion. Creative and hearty meals are crafted with an artisan approach. Menus are carefully planned to satisfy the guests after their adventurous days on the river. BBQ and smoked meats are marinated to perfection and the fish, pork and chicken dishes are accompanied by excellent sides prepared with a western attitude. Many meals at Big Hole Lodge are long-standing favorites with guests frequently requesting the recipes. Desserts are lovingly prepared and are designed to delight the palate.
Meet the Executive Sous-chef, Casawndra
Casawndra is a hometown girl, born and raised in the fabled Big Hole Valley. Daughter of former head-guide Chuck Page, we've witnessed Casawndra blossom from dishwasher and horseback trip hand to a confident and highly talented chef over the past decade. Casawndra graduated with a culinary arts degree from the University of Montana and has cooked in San Francisco, Argentina, and New Zealand in the offseason. When she's not creating culinary masterpieces you can find Casawndra rowing a raft on the Big Hole River, fishing local creeks, or on horseback high in the Pioneer Mountains.
Meal Times
Meal hours are scheduled according to fishing conditions. Generally, breakfast is served between 7:30 and 8:30 AM. Fishing times are earlier when temperatures rise and later as we move into September. Lunch is served streamside. After a full day of fishing, you’ll return to the lodge in time to relax before dinner, which is usually served around 7:30 PM. If you wish to extend your fishing day into the evening hatch, our chef is more than willing to hold a dinner for you as long as you are seated by 9:00 PM. It is important to let us know on your questionnaire of any dietary restrictions, etc., so that we will be prepared to accommodate you.
Alcoholic Beverages
The lodge package includes beer and wine which will be served in the dining room before, during, and after dinner. The lodge does not sell or serve hard liquor on the premises.
Species:
The Big Hole River is the last river in the lower 48 where a Grand Slam is possible: Grayling, cutthroat, brook trout, rainbow, and brown.
The Beaverhead and its tributaries are inhabited predominantly by brown trout and the Bitterroot by cutthroats.
Typical Weather
September has cool nights and mornings and balmy afternoons.
Gear Recommendations:
Big Hole Lodge is an Orvis Endorsed Fly Fishing Lodge and has a well-stocked fly shop on the premises to meet your needs. The latest Orvis rods and reels are available, along with a variety of other Orvis gear. Leaders, tippet material, flies and other accessories can also be purchased there. We suggest that you arrive with a small selection of trout flies, with your personal favorites included, but flies are included in the package and the guides always have a good supply of flies you will need for the particular week that you are there, with some very unique patterns designed for the local rivers and streams.
Fly Rods
A 9’ rod for a 6-weight line will cover most conditions you will experience in Montana and we recommend it for the Big Hole River. A 5-weight or even a 4-weight rod in lighter line works fine on the numerous mountain streams in the area.
Fly Lines
Presentation is the key word on the Big Hole and Beaverhead; consequently, a double taper floating line is recommended. Floating lines are recommended for all fishing except streamer fishing in the early part of the season when a sink-tip is helpful.
Leaders
A proper leader is the most abused piece of equipment in the sport of fly fishing. A 9-12’ tapered leader with a stiff butt section is required in Montana to handle the conditions. A good all-around leader is a 9' 4X. If you are fishing “far n’ fine”, a 12' leader with a 5-6X tippet is recommended. For windy days and large hairwing and hopper patterns, a 7.5' 3X leader works well. There is always a good stock of leaders in the fly shop.
Waders
Lightweight chest waders are the favorite of most guests. Neoprene waders are fine on cold days but are generally too warm for most summer fishing. Felt soles are a must in Montana and a wading staff is recommended. Please don’t wear metal studded wading boots in the rafts since they damage the bottom. Also, metal studded wading boots are not allowed in the cabins since they will damage the floors. Thank you! Wet wading in the warmer weeks of the season with wading boots and neoprene socks has become very popular. It is still a good idea to bring chest waders though and be prepared if the weather does turn.
Rain Coat
You never know when a storm will roll through in Montana.
Clothing
Dress at the lodge is casual and comfortable. The weather can change abruptly in Montana so you should be prepared. The nights and mornings are cool, sometimes in the 40’s, and the daytime temperatures can climb into the 80’s. It’s best to dress in layers such as a flannel shirt, fleece, vest or jacket.
Additional Activities:
Summer in Montana offers many exciting things to do and see other than fishing. A drive up the scenic upper Big Hole Valley to the town of Wisdom through historic Montana ranch country is always a pleasurable day. For spouses or companions interested in exploring the culture and history of Montana while your significant other is fishing, Big Hole Lodge offers a guided tour of local museums, a ghost town, historic battlefield, summer theatre matinees, festivals, and art galleries.
In Wisdom, you will discover a beautiful Western art gallery. Just north of Wisdom, you can view a short documentary of the historic “Battle of the Big Hole” at the Chief Joseph battleground. This is managed by the National Park Service and is very interesting. Also recommended is a visit to nearby Bannack ghost town, the former territorial capital of Montana, and the best preserved ghost town in the state. Driving through old Montana is like turning the pages of history books back 100 years. Reservations are appreciated and the additional rate is $315 per day (per person) plus venue charge, if applicable.
Other options include golf at the nearby course Old Works, a Jack Nicklaus signature course, horseback riding with a guide, soaking in local natural hot springs, biking and hiking the extensive trail systems just outside the lodge gate, inner-tubing the Wise or Big Hole Rivers, shopping, and digging for quartz crystals. The opportunities are endless!
Getting There:
By Air
We recommend flying into Butte, MT. A driver from the lodge will meet incoming parties and drive them to the lodge (approximately 45-minute drive). We recommend that all guests plan to arrive mid-afternoon Sunday the 12th so that the shuttles to the lodge are coordinated and dinner can be served at a reasonable hour for everyone. On the morning of departure, Saturday the 22nd, there is currently one flight leaving Butte at approximately 6:30 AM.
For those who are unable to make connections flying into Butte, we recommend flying into Bozeman and renting a car. Round trip shuttle service from Bozeman is available for $500. Prices vary slightly based on the number of travelers.
By Car
If you are driving to the lodge it is important to note you will lose cell phone service approximately 40 miles from the lodge. So, you should print out, screen shot, or download the map for directions before you leave service. If you plan to arrive before 4:00 PM on arrival day, please call Wade Fellin at 406-832-3252 to coordinate a plan in the event no one is yet at the lodge when you arrive.
Cancellation Policy:
Trip Deposit: 50% deposit is required to secure a fishing reservation. Due to the nature of small, rural fly fishing lodges, this is a nonrefundable deposit inside of 120 days of your trip, Receipt of deposit is an acknowledgment that the registrant has read and accepts the cancellation/refund policy clause.
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1-800-547-4322
orvistravel@orvis.com
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