Fishing

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If you enjoy stalking large, wild trout, the fishing at Circle 3 Spring Creek is just what you're after. When you first walk up to the creek, you'll be surprised at its size -- it's not large, but its almost-3 miles of horseshoes and pools are deceptively deep, providing the cover and food needed to support large trout. And while the fishing isn't always easy, the big fish are there in significant numbers, with many browns in the 20+ inch range, and numerous large rainbows as well.

The creek comes into the Circle 3 Ranch from the south, enters a pond in the middle of the ranch, and flows north to connect with the Beaverhead. Most of the fishing is done from the bank or in shallow portions of the creekbed, casting to rising fish or promising holes. There's tremendous streamer fishing in the spring and fall, and a heavy PMD hatch which peaks in early July. When the hopper fishing begins later in the summer, the fish sometimes key in to such an extent that they'll wake upstream to take a well-presented hopper pattern.

The pond also offers some good fishing for big browns and rainbows, with cruising fish searching for emerging mayflies and hoppers throughout the summer.

Due to the potential size of the trout, and the weeds and brush that protect them, most anglers choose a 5 or 6 weight rod. Nine feet is the preferred length, because of the high grasses that line the creek in the summer months. There are few large trees to cause casting issues, so the primary casting challenges are an ability to cast accurately and a reasonable distance, due to the clarity of the water.

To preserve the quality of fishing, only one party is allowed on the creek per day, with a minimum of 2 anglers and maximum of 3. Also, angling days are limited to just a few per week. With light pressure, and high fish counts, the creek is able to typically offer a remarkable fishing experience.

Refer to the Contact page for rod fee, guiding, and booking specifics.