Fly Fishing,    Perfect Fishing Days

Great Fishing on the Jefferson River

By Eric Shores 2/19/2016 2 minutes


Overlooked But Not Forgotten

The Madison River boasts a population of 2,000 to 3,000 fish per mile compared to the lower Jefferson that produces only 300 to 500 fish per mile.  As a result, the Jeff is often overlooked - which is just fine with me. The Jeff starts at the confluence of the Beaverhead and Bighole rivers in a fishing town near Ennis called Twin Bridges.  As a lower elevation river, it winds its way through ranch land and cottonwood bottoms, all the way to Three Forks, Montana where it meets up with the Madison and the Gallatin to form the headwaters of the Missouri.



The Jeff isn’t known for an over abundance of stone flies. The same can be said for salmon fly hatches
and yellow sallies. What few hatches it does attract are mostly mud-loving mayflies that hatch in early spring. What the Jeff is recognized for is its abundant supply of Crawdads and as a place to go when you want to  “strip some junk.” For this I recommend using big brown yuk bugs, a combination of brown girdle bugs with squirrel tails, rubber legs and a piece of webby grizzly hackle.

Find Guided Fly Fishing Trips on the Jefferson River→ 

In the dog days of summer, the Jeff usually runs low and suffers from high water temperatures, a fact that may account for the river’s lower fish count. My advice is to stay away once the water’s temp creeps up over 70 degrees. These conditions make for great swimming but poor fishing. For this reason I think of the Jefferson as a shoulder season river; it fishes best spring and fall. Because there can be long hauls between good fishing spots, I find fishing from a boat preferable. Once you do find a sweet spot, it’s worth the effort to drop into the water and wade.

Read More The Fly Shops of Ennis

[Photo] "42220 Twin Bridges Sign" by Spend a Day Touring LLC, used under CC BY / Cropped from original 

Destinations
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This is a small town with a big heart, a veritable fisherman’s paradise. Located near the fish-filled Madison River, and surrounded by the waters of Ennis Lake, the Ruby River, Hebgen ... moreLake, Quake Lake, Henry’s Lake, the Big Hole River and scores of smaller streams, the town boasts what many consider the best trout fishing in the world. As well known for its wranglers as its anglers, Ennis has succeeded in maintaining the look and feel of its original, gold town roots. Warm and hospitable, the area offers a wide variety of accommodations ranging from simple campsites, rustic motels and gracious hotels, to full-service, luxury resorts. Fly shops are numerous, stocked by local experts ready to advise and assist, while guides can be booked for trips throughout the area.

Boredom is the only thing unavailable in Ennis. Throughout the summer season the city hosts a series of events, including its renowned 4th of July Celebration Parade and a genuine, old-fashioned rodeo. In August, fly-fishing luminaries from around the US, flock to Montana to compete in the Madison Fly Fishing Festival. Athletes also find their way to Ennis to compete in the city’s Madison Trifecta, two shorter races followed by a full Marathon at 9000 feet, the highest elevation run in America. For the true sportsman, October falls in with the annual Hunter’s Feed. What’s caught, typically elk, moose deer, pheasant and bobcat, gets cooked on the streets and served up to hungry spectators.

Flanked by three grand mountain ranges, The Tobacco Root, Gravelly and Madison, Ennis is scenic and entertaining – truly an authentic, fly fisher’s haven.
Fishing Waters
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The Jefferson River is an important part of a system of rivers that combine to form the majestic Missouri. Starting at the confluence of the Big Hole and Beaverhead rivers near Twin ... moreBridges, Montana, it winds 77 miles in a northeasterly fashion to Three Forks. Here, it meets with the Madison and Gallatin rivers that together converge into the Missouri River at the Missouri Headwaters State Park. Like so many other rivers in Montana, the Jefferson, named by Clark in honor of the U.S. President, runs deep with history. In fact, the Jefferson River is a segment of the larger Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, administered by our National Park Service.

When thinking about the Jefferson, a Class 1 river for recreational enjoyment, most observers view the river in three distinct sections. Characterized by slow, meandering flows, the upper third works its way through a broad, arid valley. Along this braided, 44 mile long floodplain, you will encounter working farms, dense cottonwood stands, flowered meadows and a variety of wildlife until you reach the town of Cardwell. Throughout the next 15 miles, its waters flow through a narrow, steep canyon where the water can be deep, slow and contained. As a result, the stretch from Cardwell to the Sappington Bridge has comparatively fewer trees, swamps, meadows and wildlife.

At Sappington Bridge the river once again becomes a circuitous, rambling river, rich in swamp life, colorful fields, large cottonwood groves and productive agricultural land. The presence of significant agriculture has resulted in competition for water use. During dry years, the river was tapped generously for irrigation, dropping water levels to the point where fish populations were adversely affected. Recent improvement in riparian management has tended to alleviate these issues. Primarily known as a brown trout river, rainbows, mountain whitefish, burbot and northern pike can also be found here. Less well known and less discovered, the Jefferson offers the opportunity to catch large fish in a scenic, un-crowded environment.
Trips
$
495
-
$
575
/ Boat
Capacity:
1 - 2 anglers
Days:
Daily
Duration:
1 day
Destination:
Formed in Twin Bridges, Montana by the confluence of the Big Hole, Beaverhead, and Ruby Rivers, the Jefferson flows northbound over eighty miles to the confluence of the Madison and ... moreGallatin Rivers to form the Missouri. Receiving less pressure than any of the others, this is one of those fisheries that you have to see to believe.

What the Jefferson offers:

80 miles of floatable water, with good wading opportunities

Early stonefly hatches

Great streamer fishing

Unparallelled wildlife and scenery

Larger than average trout

Low angler pressure

Did we mention BIG brown trout?
$
495
/ Boat
Capacity:
1 - 2 anglers
Days:
Daily
Duration:
1 day
The Jefferson River offers some incredible Montana fishing. We provide guided fishing trips along the Jefferson River with knowledgeable guides that will tailor the experience to your ... moreskill and preferences.
$
550
/ Boat
Capacity:
1 - 2 anglers
Days:
Daily
Duration:
1 day
 (1)
Destination:
Experience a full day trip on the Jefferson River near Ennis, Montana. Both beginners and experienced anglers will find thrilling opportunities for rainbow trout in the beatiful Montana ... morebackcountry. We can help you with several approaches for wade and float fishing. Montana Fish Man can help unlock the Jefferson river's secrets and give you the tools you need to excel at fly fishing. Enjoy fly fishing and light tackle spin fishing for one or two people on the Jefferson.

AuthorPicture

Eric Shores

Eric Shores has been guiding clients on Montana Rivers for over 32 years. He's as wily as any old brown trout when it comes to getting his clients on to fish and his stories will entertain you along the way. Many of our clients have become life long friends after a memorable day on the water with Eric.

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