Tailwater · Mixed · Montana

Sun River

River Livet venue image
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The Sun comes off the Rocky Mountain Front below Gibson Dam and runs down toward Great Falls, and it's a river ruled by the irrigation calendar.

Species

About as good as it gets

River high but settled. Fish are looking up — bigger flies, confident takes.

90% confidence in this read
Water temperature for brown trout
Cool — slow
9°C est.ideal 10–16°C
0°14°28°
Why this score · for brown trout
  • Temperature8228% weight
  • Flow8022% weight
  • Clarity9518% weight
  • Feeding Time8013% weight
  • Pressure807% weight
  • Insect activity5812% weight
Conditions
Level
1.29 m
Water temp
9.0°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
15°C
Wind
N 6 km/h
Light breeze
Pressure
1018 hPa
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Rain · ahead
0.0 mm
No meaningful rain · next 48h

Live readings — water temperature is an estimate where the gauge does not record it.

How to fish it · for brown trout
When
Nymphing can work through most of the day.
Where
Cover mixed depths.
Method
Start with tight-line nymphs and adjust if fish rise or drift higher.
Kit
9 ft #4 rod, floating line, 12 ft tapered leader to 4–5 lb fluoro tippet.
Why this works
Excellent — water clarity is right today, though insect activity could be better.
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Freshwater ShrimpHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Western Blue-Winged OliveHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Pale Morning DunHatch
2
3
3
2

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Gallery · 1
  1. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Montana licence
  • Flow is irrigation-release controlled; the lower river draws down badly in summer.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
About this water

The Sun comes off the Rocky Mountain Front below Gibson Dam and runs down toward Great Falls, and it's a river ruled by the irrigation calendar. The upper reaches below the dam hold good browns and rainbows in cold, clear water; the lower river gets sucked down for the farms come summer and isn't worth your time when it's low and warm. What the dam lets out is the hand you play. Fish the upper water in the cool months and watch the release before you make the drive.

  • Mixed
Seasons & zones
  • Trout1 January → 31 December
Other water nearby · 2