Bighorn River Report

Tricos!  Hoppers! (wind dependent)  Streamers!

Finally the in flow is less than the outflow.  Which means that probably by the end of the week, we will likely see drops in the river flows.

The hopper fishing has started and has been pretty good.  We still have PMD’s hatching as well as black caddis.  Have seen some tan caddis as well.

Nymphing has been excellent with San Juan worms, sow bugs and PMD’s.

We are looking forward to the lowering of the water although the fishing during the high water has been fantastic.  Now there will be more wading and easier access to the fish.

We have openings in August, but don’t wait too long.  Everyone that has been waiting for the flows to decrease are now making their plans to fish the Bighorn.

Give us a call to check availability.

Our best wishes,

Ellyn and Michael

406-666-2550

www.bighornriverguides.com

www.flyfishingthebighorn.com

MONTANA'S BEST BET IN THIS BIG WATER YEAR!

The fishing continues to improve as the water temperature rises.  It is now about 40 degrees.

SPRING IS HERE! MAYBE...

Well our guide school finished up Friday night and most of the class left Saturday morning for a little fishing before they left Fort Smith. Everybody was very happy and increased their skills and knowledge tremendously. Hopefully you will be able to come to our next session in March of 2012.

Spring is still delayed in coming. We have had a few Spring like days, but not that many.

This past Friday was the first day I fished that I could take my jacket off.

Water is still pretty cold...38-39 degrees depending on the weather. The flow is up to 3000 cfs, maybe the Bureau of Reclamation is going to do the right thing this year. They are raising the flow to make some room for run off for the first time in several years.

The fishing

This past week it was mostly nymphing. All I used was a size 18 Ray Charles in gray or tan and a black midge pupae as the trailing fly. If we presented it correctly (mended well) the trout ate.

This is why I continually harp on good mending. In the immortal words of Bob Turner " no mend, no fish."

The other patterns that will work are natural sow bug size 16-18, pink and orange scuds, size 16-18, baetis nymph size 18-20, and streamers will work especially on overcast days. Use black, blue, brown and yellow, ginger, and white and gray.

There are some midges hatching during the afternoon and on cloudy days they can come off all day. You've got to hunt to find spots where you will find a pod of fish. If it gets very windy, it usually blows them off the water. Baetis do appear at times, but I still think the water is too cold. They should hatch more consistently when the water does warm up a few more degrees.

We hope you will come and see us and fish the fabulous Bighorn this season.

Email or call us to check availability.

Our best wishes,

Ellyn and Michael

www.flyfishingthebighorn.com

406-666-2550

Weather has warmed up a bit.  Seems like Spring has arrived.

The flow has been around 2390 cfs and the river is in great shape from the Afterbay down to Mallards.  The water temperature is still very cold at 39-40 degrees.  Each day there has been approximately a 4 hour window from 11-3 where the fish are eating lots of midges.  There are a handful of baetis as well.  Streamer fishing and nymphing are very good.

Our snow pack is a little above normal and hopefully we will have a great water year.

The fishing conditions are typical for this time of year.
With nymphing and pulling streamers being the best way to catch fish. There are some midges happening at the warmest part of the day usually anywhere from 12:30 to 3:00. Most of the fish are in the deeper slower water but there are some fish that will move up into the shallower riffles for an hour or two each day. But once again I reiterate that the fish do not move far for the nymph. You have to hit them right on the nose. Set the hook on anything.  The takes are extremely subtle.

The brown trout spawn went well which is always a good sign for the river.

The flow is up to 2750 cfs.  Fishing continues to be good.  There are some hatches on going on.  Midges and on cloudy days some baetis.
Nymphing is good all day long and streamers are working for those inclined to throw streamers.

There has been some remarkable dry fly activity with the fish taking notice of midges and baetis.

Our snow pack is a little above normal and hopefully we will have a great water year.

The fishing conditions are typical for this time of year.
With nymphing and pulling streamers being the best way to catch fish. There are some midges happening at the warmest part of the day usually anywhere from 12:30 to 3:00. Most of the fish are in the deeper slower water but there are some fish that will move up into the shallower riffles for an hour or two each day. But once again I reiterate that the fish do not move far for the nymph. You have to hit them right on the nose. Set the hook on anything.  The takes are extremely subtle.

The brown trout spawn went well which is always a good sign for the river.

July 30, 2010

The water levels have come down to 3000 cfs, where hopefully they will remain the rest of the season (however I doubt it).

Grasshoppers are finally here.  Yesterday was the first day the fish really ate them well.  It was pretty windy in the afternoon and they got blown into the water and the fish gorged.  There is also a black caddis hatch as well as some PMD's, yellow sallies and pseudo cloens.

December 8, 2009

Season Overview

Considering all the flow fluctuations, I thought the fishing was pretty good throughout the year. We had decent midge and baetis dry fly fishing in April-May into June. Nymphing was also good. In July we got the big flows peaking at 13K cfs. The nymphing really got good. It was pretty much boat fishing but the trout ate everything. The water stayed high until the end of July then started to drop.

November 26, 2008

I was out guiding yesterday for the first time in three weeks.  The weather was beautiful, in the 50’s and sunny.  The flow has been averaging about 2400 cfs. The water temperature is in the mid 40’s and the grass is disappearing. 

September 30, 2007

Nymphing is good with small sow bugs, midges, and small baetis nymphs.

October 12, 2006

Fall is here.  Weather has turned cooler.  Brown trout are getting a little more aggressive.  The fishing has been good.  But remember, fishing is always weather dependent. 

October 9, 2005

River flows have been steady at 2500 cuffs for the last couple of months. Water clarity is a little off because the Lake is turning over.  However, this hasn’t affected the fishing.  Most of the fishing is with nymphs.  Using the usual suspects… orange and pink scuds, sow bugs, worms in brown, red, wine, and small pheasant tails.

October 2004

Overall 2004 was a great season of fishing on the Bighorn. The fish were bigger and badder then ever. SUPER TROUT. It was a mental and physical battle to land these fish. Many were hooked for a second or two until your line came shooting back at you without flies. I have never seen so many anglers with sore shoulders at the end of the day.

Year End Report

Overall we had a very good season.  The drought that the West has been in for four years lessened a bit.  This is great news for next year.  The reservoir behind the dam went from 60 feet below normal all the way up to 7 feet below normal. 

December 2002

As of December the fishing is very good. River flow is a legitimate 1300 cfs which is actually higher than what it was most of the summer. Water temperature is still in the 40’s.Snow pack in Wyoming is looking pretty good. It is almost at normal. The brown trout are just finishing up with their spawning, rainbows are very active downstream of the REDDS (spawning beds) eating tan sow bugs, size 16 to 18, pink and orange scuds, size 14 to 16, and baetis nymphs (pheasant tail and quill nymphs) size 18 to 20.

November/December 2001

Overall the weather was above average for the two months.  There were some tricos hatching until the first week of  December.  The tan caddis tapered off in November. Fall baetis were coming off especially on overcast days but also during sunny periods.