shown on ceramic, 12-inch tileMontana

in the Big Hole valley, southwest Montana

Big Hole River fly fishing

Name: Big Hole River fly fishing — on ceramic tile, by WenderVista
Brand: WenderVista

— — the week the salmonflies come off the river.

— Where it lives

Not only on a wall.

A small tile on the nightstand catching the morning. A larger one above the fire. Yours, wherever you spend the slow hours.

— On the nightstand, a 6-inch on a walnut stand

— Among the books, a 6-inch leaning into the spines

— Down a quiet hall, an 18-inch floating off the wall

— Above the fire, the 24-inch in a walnut surround

— a note from the studio

“A hundred and fifty miles of cold water running north and east out of the Bitterroot foothills toward the Jefferson. The first big salmonfly hatch of the year usually starts near Glen in the second week of June and works upstream over the next ten days. Brown trout, rainbows, and the last river-dwelling Arctic grayling in the lower forty-eight.

from the studio

— bring it home

Big Hole River fly fishing, on ceramic.

Each tile is finished by hand in our Knoxville studio. Artwork is slowly infused into the ceramic surface under high heat and pressure, and rests beneath a thin glossy finish. The colour lives in the surface, not on top of it.

What kind of piece?

One tile — square or rectangle.

How big?

the popular one — counter, shelf, nightstand

6 × 6 in · 15 cm · 1.6 lb

Surface finish

A clear glossy finish — the artwork reads as if under resin. Ideal for show-pieces and framed wall art.

How it sits

A hidden cleat — sits ¼″ proud of the wall.

$58

Hand-finished and shipped from our studio at the foot of the Smokies. On your wall in about ten days.

— size

6 × 6 in

15 cm

— weighs

1.6 lb

solid in the hand

— surface

ceramic, hand-finished

art rests beneath a thin glossy finish

— from

Knoxville, TN

our family studio, at the foot of the Smokies

— start a Coaster Set

Pick any four 4-inch tiles — National Parks you've been to, a Smokies set, the four seasons of one place. $ for a set of , cork-backed, ready to live on the table.

— about Big Hole River fly fishing

The place, in three passes.

A little of what's known, in case you fall down the rabbit hole — or want to go see it yourself.

— the place

The Big Hole River drains the broad Big Hole valley in southwestern Montana, running about 155 miles from the Bitterroot foothills near Jackson north and east to the Jefferson at Twin Bridges. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks designates much of the middle river as a Blue Ribbon trout fishery. The stretch from Wise River down to Melrose holds the heaviest concentration of fish; the upper river above Wisdom is the last refuge of the fluvial Arctic grayling in the lower forty-eight states.

— informed by Wikipedia — Big Hole River, Montana FWP — Blue Ribbon waters

— the water

The river runs cold, clear, and pocket-watered through the upper canyon between Wise River and Divide. Late June flows average around 2,000 cubic feet per second through Melrose, dropping below 500 by August in dry years. The salmonfly hatch usually begins near Glen around the second week of June and pushes upstream at four to six miles a day. Caddis and pale morning duns follow through July. By mid-August the river warms, and FWP issues hoot owl closures most years.

— informed by USGS — Big Hole River gauge at Melrose

— the visit

Public access is good. FWP fishing access sites are spaced every six to ten miles between Wisdom and Twin Bridges; Maidenrock, Salmon Fly, Brownes Bridge, and Jerry Creek are the most used. Float fishing from Wise River to Glen is the standard one-day trip. Outfitters in Wise River, Melrose, and Twin Bridges run guided floats from late May through September. Non-resident fishing licences are sold at the Wise River Mercantile and at most of the lodges along the river.

— informed by Montana FWP — Fishing Access Sites

— where

United States · Beaverhead and Silver Bow Counties, Montana

— within

Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest

— position

45.7800° N · 112.9400° W

— the neighborhood

What's nearby.

A handful of named places within an hour's walk or short drive. Some we've already painted; some we will.

at the lake

Wise River

town

25 km E

Melrose

town

15 km S

Pioneer Mountains

mountain range

55 km E

Twin Bridges

town

Big Hole River fly fishing

Wise River

Melrose

Pioneer Mountains

Twin Bridges

— common questions

What people ask.

A few questions we get about Big Hole River fly fishing — and about bringing the piece home.

— about the place

About 155 miles, from headwaters near Skinner Lake above Jackson, Montana, north and east to its confluence with the Beaverhead at Twin Bridges, where the two form the Jefferson River.

Brown trout, rainbow trout, brook trout, mountain whitefish, and fluvial Arctic grayling. The grayling population in the upper river is the last river-dwelling group in the lower forty-eight states.

The hatch typically starts near Glen around the second week of June and pushes upstream over ten to fourteen days. Exact timing depends on water temperature; warm springs run early.

Yes. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks designates the river from above Wise River down toward Twin Bridges as a Blue Ribbon trout stream, the state's highest fishery classification.

Most summers FWP issues afternoon hoot owl closures during August heat. Stretches close from 2 p.m. to midnight when water temperatures exceed 73 degrees Fahrenheit at the monitoring stations.

The most-used FWP access sites are East Bank, Fishtrap, Dickie Bridge, Jerry Creek, Maidenrock, and Brownes Bridge. Most floats run from Wise River through Melrose down to Glen.

— about the piece in your home

It has been for many of our angler customers. The piece reads as the river, not as gear. A Medium suits an office or fly-tying room; a Small sits well on a desk near the vise.

The river greens, willow gold, and cold blue water of the artwork settle into Lodge-traditional, Mountain-modern, and Sporting-room palettes. The piece sits well against unbleached linen, leather, and natural wood.

Yes. The clear water and willow bank fit the lodge-modern direction that has held through the late 2020s. The Medium works as a single anchor; the Mural opens the canyon as a window.

A single Large covers most sofas. Above a long console, a 4-tile Mural extends the river through the room; a 9-tile Mural is the room-defining option for a great room or office.

Yes, in the Dura Satin or Matte finish. Both tolerate steam and splash. The Glossy finish is for dry-wall display only.

A soft microfibre cloth, lightly dampened with plain water. No solvents, no abrasive pads. The colour lives in the surface, not on it.

Yes. Every WenderVista piece is painted in our own studio language and is not licensed from any outside source.

— if this one stayed with you