Big Spring Creek Fishing Report & Options for Selecting Flies: Email us at (sales@perfectflystore.com) with the dates you will be fishing and we will send you a list of our fly recommendations. We can get flies and gear to you within two to three business days from the time you place your order via Priority Mail. If you provide a budget for flies, we will select them to match the budget and get them to you on time for your trip. Your can also call us at 800-594-4726 and we will help you decide what flies and gear to use. All orders are shipped free in the U.S. If under a $100 order requiring Priority mail is a charge of only $8.10. Orders over a $100 are shipped free via Priority Mail.
We have custom Perfect Fly selections in 3 different price ranges for this stream that come with or without fly boxes that make excellent gifts. Click Here To Order or Call us at 800 594 4726 or email us at sales@perfectflystore.com.
Type of Stream
Spring Creek
Species
Rainbow Trout
Brown Trout
Location
Central Montana
Size:
Medium size, averaging 30 to 45 feet
in width, 30 miles long
Nearest Towns
Lewistown Montana
Season
3rd Sat of May through Nov 30th.
Catch and Release section open
year-round
Access:
Very Good
Non-Resident License
State of Montana
Weather
National Weather Service Link
Seasons:
Seasons follow the general Montana fishing season.
Spring:
Springtime has the most hatches and is usually good.
Summer:
The Summer would be best time for fly fishing Big Spring Creek.
Fall:
Early Fall presents good opportunities for big browns..
Winter:
A 1.1 miles; from 100 feet below the source (Big Spring) downstream to the Nealy Road Bridge
Recommended Tackle & Gear
Fly Line:
4, 5 or 6 weight
Leaders:
Dry fly: 9 to 12 ft., 5 or 6X Nymphing:
71/2 ft., 3 or 4X, Streamers 0-2X
Tippets:
Dry fly: 5 or 6X, Nymphing: 3 or 4X,
Streamer 0-2X
Best Fly Rods:
Perfect Fly Supreme Four, Superb Five
or Ultimate Six
Fly Reels:
For 4/5/6 fly line
Fly Floatants and Misc Items:
Floatants, KISS Strike Indicators
Tools & Accessories:
Nippers, forceps, retractors, etc.
Copyright 2013 James Marsh
Fly Fishing Big Spring Creek Montana
Big Spring Creek is a spring-fed stream near the town of Lewistown, Montana. Unlike many of the state’s pay spring creeks, Big Spring Creek has plenty of public access and is one of the largest of the many spring creeks in the state of Montana. Fly fishing Big Spring Creek is a highly pleasurable experience. It’s a beautiful spring creek that remain about 52 degrees year-round.
The spring creek starts about nine miles southeast of Lewistown near Big Springs Trout Hatchery. It flows for about thirty miles between Judith and Snowy mountain ranges. It flows into the Judith River near Brooks, Montana.
The creek holds some very big brown trout as well as huge rainbows. The trout probably average about 12 to 18 inches but there are plenty of trophy size fish.
There’s a catch-and-release only area on Big Spring Creek upstream of Lewistown from the Ash Street Bridge to the Big Spring Trout Hatchery, including the East Fork of Big Spring Creek to the East Fork Reservoir. It also includes 2.5 miles to the U.S. Highway #191 Bridge adjacent to the Lazy KB Fishing Access Site. One trout can be kelp in the lower section of the creek.
Big Spring Creek can be tricky to fish. Its smooth currents can be very deceptive. The currents swirl such that it is best to make short cast and mends while your fly line is still in the air. It isn’t easy to get drag free drifts. The water is clear and the trout can get a good look at your fly. That is one reason our Perfect Flies are popular on this stream. The trout can be very selective.
Due to the stream’s high pH, it has a huge aquatic insect and crustacean population. Many different species of mayflies, caddisflies are present for the trout to eat. Send us an email letting us know the time you plan to fish the creek and we can help you with fly selection. Hopper season on Big Spring Creek is very popular. It generally runs from about the first of July through the first part of September. There’s lots of hoppers along the stream most years.
The state of Montana purchased the Burleigh Angus Ranch and converted much of it into a fishing access easement of more than 2 miles of the creek with plenty of public parking. Many access areas are open to the public on the upper and lower stream.