Rivers and Creeks - "Wise River"
Wise River Details
The Wise is approximately 30 mi (48 km) long and is located in southwestern Montana, in the Beaverhead National Forest, where it flows north-northwest through the Pioneer Mountains and joins the Big Hole River (as a tributary) near the town of Wise River. The Wise is seldom wider than thirty (30) feet, and is known for the willows (along its banks) as well as in some areas, deep undercut banks which make fly fishing a challenge.
The Wise is said to be one of the fastest flowing tributaries in North America. It is surrounded by a half-million acres of mountains, lakes, headwaters and generally breathtaking scenery.
Wise River Area History
In the early 1800's during the Lewis and Clark expedition, this area of Montana was considered a "buffer" zone for the Native American tribes of the Nez Perce, Shoshone, Salish and Blackfeet.The area was exploited during the 1810-1840's by trappers and the companies (Hudson's Bay Company, The North West Company and the American Fur Company) that had an interest in the animal pelts.
In 1860, gold was discovered on the Nez Perce Reservation, and this discovery created a rush of miners to the Reservation that the Nez Perce were unable to stop. Soon every valley, nook, and creek were being exploited for the minerals. In 1862 a major gold strike occurred on the banks of Grasshopper Creek, the mining camp continued to grow into what is now known as Bannack. When Montana became an official territory (in 1864), Bannack, became the first territorial capital of Montana (May 26, 1864). Lawlessness during this time was rampant and the outlaw-sheriff Henry Plummer was hanged by vigilantes on January 10, 1864.
The first homesteaders arrived in the late 1800's. Although the scenery and views of the Pioneer Mountains and the Forests are breathtaking, the area is known for its harsh winters, dry summers, insects and flash floods. Those issues made it difficult for even the most seasoned rancher to be successful in the area.
Wise River and Area - Current Day
The Wise River is known as a blue ribbon trout stream, with a focus on dry fly fishing technique. On average, the fish on the Wise will be 11-12" length.
The Pioneer Mountains Byway was designated in 1989, and travels alongside the Wise crossing over into the historic valley which is formed by Grasshopper Creek. The Pioneer Mountains currently have no federally designated wilderness areas, which could explain why there is low tourist activity considering the magnificence of the area. The area is full of beauty, history, and fun things to do. If you consider taking a trip out that way be sure to visit the hotsprings (Elkhorn and Jackson), the Big Hole Battlefield, the Crystal Park (where you can dig crystals), The Trumpeter Swan Refuge at Red Rock, Bannack State Park as well as the nearby ghost towns.