Early results show section-by-section variability in trout numbers on the Big Hole River. (Shutterstock/Julie Blackwood photo)
June 01, 2026
By Fly Fisherman Staff
FWP, MSU Trout Research Shows Mixed Recovery Across Big Hole River Sections
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and Montana State University report improving but uneven trout populations as spring 2026 electrofishing estimates near completion across the upper Jefferson Basin. The collaborative research—now in its third year—focuses on recruitment, mortality, and fish health, with the most complete new data coming from the Big Hole River. Early results show section-by-section variability, with some reaches rebounding while others remain below long-term averages.
The strongest gains were recorded in the Jerry Creek section upstream of Divide, where brown trout...
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