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Clark Canyon Dam to Twin Bridges. A technical tailwater famous for oversized brown and rainbow trout in narrow, willow-lined channels. The river tops out around 10 ft. Contours on this water are modeled from its actual shoreline and max depth. Good for finding likely water, never for navigation. What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:
Beaverhead River maps at 3,542 acres behind 111.7 miles of shoreline. That shoreline is heavily fingered (development index 13.4) — bays, points and pockets everywhere, which multiplies the fishable edge. Every acre of it sits shallower than ~15 ft: one big littoral zone, cover and forage throughout. End to end it runs roughly 46.3 mi, about 3.2 mi across. Beaverhead County claims this one. Its nearest charted neighbour, Kelly Reservioir, is 17 mi to the west.
In spring, brown trout run shallow here, mostly 1 to 10 ft. Summer keeps them at 3 to 10 ft, and they winter in 1 to 10 ft. Current seam (mile 21.8) is the standout, a current seam at roughly 6 ft, rated prime for summer brown trout. Time it for after dark and early morning. You won't need more than a spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Barretts Dam tailrace (9 ft) | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | night & dawn | Current seam (mile 21.8) (6 ft) | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 2 to 10 ft | dusk & dawn | Barretts Dam tailrace (9 ft) | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 1 to 10 ft | dawn | Barretts Dam tailrace (9 ft) | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
Spring rainbow trout on Beaverhead River hold shallow, usually 3 to 10 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 3 to 10 ft in summer, 2 to 10 ft once it turns cold. Put Current seam (mile 21.8) first on the milk run — a current seam near 6 ft that grades prime for spring. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 21.8) (6 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 21.8) (6 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 21.8) (6 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 2 to 10 ft | dawn | Current seam (mile 21.8) (6 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Start shallow in spring: lake whitefish sit in 3 to 10 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 3 to 10 ft covers summer, 3 to 10 ft covers winter. Top water on the chart: Riffle & run (mile 5.0), a rock pile in the 4 ft range, prime in fall. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. Throw a blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Riffle & run (mile 5.0) (4 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dawn | Tailout eddy (mile 43.8) (6 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | dusk | Riffle & run (mile 5.0) (4 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Tailout eddy (mile 43.8) (6 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
32 pieces of structure are mapped here — Barretts Dam tailrace, around 9 ft, is the deepest of them.
Access data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) — community-mapped launches. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Montana waters are set by the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks — and special regulations can apply to Beaverhead River specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Montana fishing regulations →
Beaverhead River is about 10 ft (3 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
Anglers target brown trout, rainbow trout, lake whitefish on Beaverhead River.
Current seam (mile 21.8) is the top-rated area: a current seam in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in spring. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
For brown trout, the summer bite is best in after dark and early morning. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Beaverhead River is regulated by the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. Check the official Montana regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Kelly Reservioir 17 mi · Deerhead Lake 19 mi · Minneopa Lake 19 mi · Lake Agnes 20 mi · Brownes Lake 20 mi · Rainbow Lake (Beaverhead) 21 mi · Sawtooth Lake 24 mi · Tendoy Lake 24 mi · Clark Canyon Reservoir 26 mi · Noble Lake 32 mi · Lower Branham Lake 33 mi · Upper Branham Lake 34 mi
See how Beaverhead River stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in Montana · best brown trout lakes in Montana · best lake whitefish lakes in Montana
More water nearby: Beaverhead County fishing maps (24 charts). Browse all Montana fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.