Big Hole RiverBitterroot RiverBitterroot River, East ForkBitterroot River, West ForkBlackfoot RiverLower Clark Fork RiverClark Fork RiverMiddle Fork Flathead RiverNorth Fork Flathead RiverFlint CreekGallatin RiverGeorgetown LakeKootenai RiverMadison River, Between Quake Lake and EnnisMadison River, Below Ennis LakeMissouri, Below Holter DamRock CreekYellowstone River, Water temperature at mid-day: 46 Degrees F, Best time of day to fish: Mid Morning to late Afternoon, Best access point: Afterbay Ninety-one miles later, the Bighorn joins the Yellowstone River near Custer. A challenging aspect of Bighorn River streamer fishing is the presence of algae and aquatic grass. Location: The Bighorn River enters Montana from Wyoming at Bighorn Reservoir. My answer to checking off all the requirements is as follows: April 11th. This river always lives up to the legendary status that it has become. We are blessed to live in a very rural setting but we have to stay vigilant with what is happening in our country...please stay healthy and safe... Madison River, Between Quake Lake and Ennis. Of course, if you hook a trophy, algae specimen, a manual release is still required, but most of the time you can avoid this. Shooting line is easy. I’m talking fish over five pounds. The fish numbers are smaller due to the water quality by tributary run off as well as irrigation returned ditches on this lower section of the river. Say you have snagged a sizeable, stringy piece of algae. This year we’ve had problems meeting the ideal conditions requirements, yet we’ve also enjoyed outstanding fishing, especially if you can throw streamers. If the algae is small you can often knock it off with the standard, wind-mill slap we use for nymph fishing. As mentioned the Bighorn is arguably one of the finest streams in the state, and in the world. We just had one of our earliest and most extreme cold snaps for the late Fall season. With a floating line you get more of that up-and-down, jigging action when you strip your streamer, plus you can pause your retrieve without having to worry about snagging bottom. Hatches are prolific the entire year and because the Bighorn is in the southeastern corner of the state and at a lower elevation than many Montana streams it can, and does fish well, the entire year. This will take care of some of your casting inadequacies. With less then normal snow fall, it looks perfect for water flows... Back to the old Bighorn! Other anglers have caught some very large, former, lake fish. BILLINGS- Trout numbers in the Bighorn River hit record lows this spring, which state biologists say corresponds with high river flows below Yellowtail Dam … Fish numbers this spring were similar to the early 2000s, when drought conditions forced dam managers to limits water flow below the threshold required for trout to thrive in the river, according to the agency. “I never do well with them.” I can help you with that. Billings Montana is a the nearest major city which is a 90 minute drive and nearest major airport with commercial service. Using a drift boat, or other floating craft is the most effective way to fish the Bighorn. Water temperature remains around the 47. Rainbow trout eggs typically hatch in the early summer and may have also been harmed by heavy water flow, Ruggles said in a news release. The fish was restocked in the upper river beginning in 1996. If offers the fly fisherperson the experience of a life time. And you may have to fish a nymph dropper now and then. During the different hatches it is not unusual to have 10-20 fish with in easily casting distances. Now, rip the fly out of the water back towards you with significant force. The result is constant flows year round. It’s common to see trout rolling, slashing, and leaping out of the water to gorge themselves on these little baitfish. The Bighorn is the ideal river for anyone wishing to head to one destination and intimately fish one river. Bighorn River Conditions and Fishing Report for June 3,2020. Please note that weather wasn’t one of the requirements. The landscape is equally impressive with rolling plains, sparsely places cottonwoods and willows are the backdrop for this section. These lines have, short, aggressive 30’ heads, and you can pound the bank with a minimum of false casting. Be aware that streamer fishing and algae removal is not the domain of wimpy fly rods. All this is way early, but water temps have been in the 60-degree range for several weeks now, and warmer water temps accelerate the hatch schedule. A fast-action, seven-weight is ideal. 3 Mile Floating or intermediate tips are perfect for this, but when water temps drop and you need to sweep the bottom, the OutBound Short I/S6 or the SA equivalent is surprisingly easy to cast for a line that gets down quickly. Biologists cited a bright spot from the survey: Many fish counted were longer than 15 inches, likely from earlier hatches in 2014 to 2016. That does somewhat retract from the solitude of the fly fishing experience. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The upper Bighorn River is also home to shovelnose sturgeon, a once-native fish that died off after the river was dammed. I hope everybody has a wonderful Fourth of July! This year we’ve seen a number of trophy trout landed. Don’t panic. The majority of fish are now feeding on nymphs. The most popular float is Afterbay to Bighorn access. Current Report. After flowing through much of Wyoming the river flows into Bighorn Lake which is created by Yellowtail Dam. The water clarity is remarkable, and the moss and grass are extremely low. The Bighorn River starts from the tailwater at Boysen Reservoir in Wyoming. I constantly get this question from customers, “When is the best time to fish the Bighorn?” By “best time”, they envision low flows, crystal-clear water, minimal algae and aquatic grass, and rising fish. Nymph fishing is slow to fair depending on the day. Most of you know that the Bighorn River has experienced record water flows this spring. The first 14 miles of the Bighorn are the most heavily fished, and the best trout water. It definitely helps to fish this river from a drift boat as it is a large river, and there is limited and hard to reach public access. Since 1856, Bighorn River, Montana Fly Fishing Reports & Conditions. “Challenging aspect” is fly shop speak for “this moss pisses me off!” There are methods to deal with algae’s grim reality, and you must master them to keep your fly clean enough to catch lots of fish. Fishing is pretty slow overall. Good line management and weed removal techniques are essential, and those who cover the most water win. "Must-have" fly fishing patterns in descending order of importance: The most easterly of Montana's fine rivers, the Blue Ribbon waters of the Bighorn, is also the finest in terms of numbers of fish. A challenging aspect of Bighorn River streamer fishing is the presence of algae and aquatic grass. The Bighorn River is well known for both its great nymph fishing and its incredible seasonal hatches. NETTED A 24" BROWN TROUT 09/17/20 April 11, 2018. With an average of 50 degrees the aquatic bug life is truly a biologists dream. People like specific answers. We reached a high of 14,000 cfs back in May —we’re at 9,500 now —but we’re almost to the point where the river can finally be drawn down and life can return to normal. Lake fish have a more silvery color cast than their river brethren, but as they spend time in the river, the browns develop the golden hue that Bighorn trout are known for, and the rainbows shed their chrome exterior. When the water temps are optimal and the fish are grabby, floating lines are outstanding. Streamers :Wully Bugger - Olive & Black 6-10 Current flows are at 2250 CFS with plans to be increased to 2500 CFS within a few days. Mike Ruggles, the agency’s regional manager, said brown trout eggs typically hatch in March and April, which is when high spring flows from the Yellowtail Dam likely moved enough riverbed gravel to crush unhatched eggs and kill small fish. Catching Big Fish average 18 to 22"!! Strip the fly close to the boat, lift the line to bring the fly close to the surface, then make an anemic roll cast. It is a very The Bighorn River in Wyoming is an absolutely amazing fishery that you can fish year-round for big healthy browns, rainbows, and the occasional cutthroat trout. Bighorn trout love to eat the fly when it’s falling or sitting still, kind of like most people prefer their snacks to be stationary when they reach for them. The Bighorn's course is as unique as its fishing. I recommend the RIO Outbound Short or the Scientific Anglers Sonar Titan lines in a floating or intermediate-tip. This roll cast shouldn’t bring the fly completely out of the water, rather it should roll the fly over so that it is now pointed away from you. I predict that some lucky Bighorn River angler will catch a double-digit fish this summer. This sudden change of direction will usually tear the algae free. Flows are steady at 2400cfs, however the Bighorn is experiencing a lake turnover that has dirtied up the water. These islands create unique riffle corners, side channels and drop offs that always yield some great fish and great memories. However, they added that those fish are starting to die off, leading to a significant decline over the next two years. It flows north/northeast, and is located southeast of Billings.. Prime flows for the Bighorn range from 2,000 to 5,000 CFS. Good stream access and consistent river flows make the Bighorn River one … The sections to float are Afterbay to Three Mile access, which is the most popular and premier section of the river. Fortunately, as isolated as the Bighorn may seem, there are a few quality lodging options located near the premier top 3 mile section of the river.

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