FLOATING AND WADING
Montana’s Stream Access Law gives anglers entry to any stream, so long as you go in at a public point like a highway, county road, bridge crossing, public-land or state-owned fishing access site. Anglers must also stay below the high-water mark.

In this regard, the Big Hole is blessed. Both wade- and float-fishing access is good throughout. The river above Squaw Creek is the last to wake up and largely unfloatable anytime due to numerous obstructions. Below Squaw Creek is all floatable.

In addition to numerous other public access points, there are 16 official Fishing Access Sites. Look for the brown and white signs.

Wade-fishing is difficult throughout, thanks to a river bottom lined with very slippery rocks. The canyon sections are by far the worst. High water warrants extreme caution: Felt soles, stream cleats (but not in the boat, please) and a wading staff.

If stumbling around on slippery rocks has lost its appeal, float-fishing gets my vote. Exceptions are high flows of more than 3,000 cubic feet per second, and low flows, less than 300 cfs. However, rates from March through early May generally lie in the rather benign range of 400 to 500 cfs. That’s on the low side, but doable even for rookies.

Find current flow rates at WaterDate.USGS.Gov/MT/NWIS/Current?Type=flow. Or call any of the local fly shops. (Contact information is given in the accompanying article.)

As you might suspect, the Big Hole has to be my favorite river to float. It’s got a big number of launch sites, varied water, scenic views, lots of wildlife to gawk at and great fishing.

MINOR TACTICS
Arm yourself with an 8- or 9-foot, 4-, 5- or 6-weight rod, workable reel, floating fly-line, tapered leaders, 2X, 3X and 4X tippets, a bobber or two, split shots of various sizes, a good selection of fly patterns, and you’re all set.

Early-spring mornings typically start out chilly, and cold-blooded trout tend to be lethargic. Streamers fished slow and deep, with or without a nymph trailer (18 inches or so is about right), often provide a wake-up call. Vary the pattern, add or subtract weight and presentation until you find the right combination, then stick with it until the trout tell you otherwise.

Just a subtle variation in size, color, or weigh often changes everything. Other times, presentation counts. For instance, start by casting down and across. Let the fly swing around.

Next, cast and bounce the rod’s tip a few times during the swing. Then try a hand-twist retrieve.

Now pick up, strip off a little more line and do it again. Only this time, use a short-strip, pause, long-strip, pause, retrieve -- and so on.

No dice? Keep switching gears. Add a little weight, change patterns and repeat. Generally, the colder the water, the slower the retrieve. Also, it pays to add or subtract weight as needed to keep your fly down near the bottom, especially in cold water when trout are often reluctant to move up in the water column. Worst is to keep plugging away with a plan that isn’t working.