Filed under: Fly Fishing
April 14 to April 18
George and Christine Fieldings are from New York City. On a recent visit to Forrester’s Bighorn River Resort they landed some very big fish on a midge pattern. Fishing was excellent all week and is best if you were fishing between Noon and dark (8:45).
We’ve had some of the best dry-fly-fishing of the year so far.
Right now the peak time for dry-flies is from 6 p.m. until 8:45 p.m.
George Fielding on the Bighorn
Filed under: Fishing Report
*Current Report*
Excellent Dry Fly Fishing and Nymph Fishing
*View of the Aquarium* – from my office
Boat traffic and walk in wade fisherman are picking up, of course busier over the weekend
*Best Techniques*
From 11:30a.m. – till dark look carefully for quiet rises along slick edges of riffles and quiet flats. Rising fish may not be visible from all angles. Patience may pay off as you may see only sporadic rises for BWO’s but fish will continue to look for them. The steadier rises may require matching size of bugs closely; otherwise try a size or two bigger. Also try BWO pattern for midging fish, they sometimes look for them all day. Best to approach from below, but adjust your position for current and lighting. Nymphing w/indicator in shallow water has been extremely productive. Start light and use stealthy indicators. Look for shelves with slow to moderate current and soft edges of riffles. Also seams along heavy water for biggest
fish. Adjusting weight and length of rig is important to keep your fly close to the bottom. Mending carefully to keep it drag free, will get the most action, look closely as
strikes are mostly very subtle, any pause or twitch deserves a response. From 7 pm till Dark (8:45pm) Midges are creating pods of feeding fish.
*One-Week Fishing Forecast*
This is going to be one of the best weeks to be on the Bighorn this year. Dries fly fishing will do nothing but pick up. All week the highs are to be in the mid to upper 70’s. This could cause the wind to blow some but has usually been dying down a couple hours before dark. Forecast is for winds 5 to 15 mph through the week.
*River Sections*
0 to 3 mile Access – Best Dry Fly Fishing – Great Nymphing
3 to Bighorn Access – Good Dry Fly activity, great nymphing, Best bet for streamers. Soap Creek starting to effect the water clarity the farther you go down to 13 mile the more it looks like chocolate (Bighorn Access).
Bighorn Access to Mallards Landing – Not much due to water clarity, Nymphing is ok.
*Hatch Info*
Peak hatch times 1pm-3pm for BWO’s and 7pmtil dark for midges. BWO patterns still effective over some midging fish.
*Hot Fly Patterns*
Olive Comparadun size 20, Griffiths Gnat size 20-22, Black Midge 22-24,
Black and red Midges in both warped and bead head size 18-20. Brassies
Red In 18-20. Black Quills in 18-20, Ray Charles in orange, pink, gray or
tan (16-18), Soft Hackle Sowbugs in tan, gray, or pink (14 16 and 18)
Scuds in brown (16-18), Baetis Wonder Nymph in 18-20, Red Midge Larva in 16-20, Black Zebra Midge in 18-20, Pheasant Tail in 18-20
*River Flows*
Pool Elevation is 3625.6 Feet
Pool Elevation to Fill 14.4 Feet
Reservoir Storage is 919237. Acre-Feet
Reservoir Storage to Fill 150792.0 Acre-Feet
Reservoir Inflow is 2394.7 CFS
Reservoir Outflow is 2918.6 CFS
Reservoir Active Conservation Pool is 85.9 % Full
Reservoir Flood/Surcharge Control Pool is 0.0 % Full
Mean Daily Flow Below After bay Flow is 2983.5 CFS
Mean Daily Canal Diversion is 0.0 CFS
Mean Daily Total Flow at After bay is 2983.5 CFS
Current Flow Below After bay is 2996.6 CFS
Current Canal Diversion is 0.0 CFS
Current total Flow at After bay is 2996.6 CFS
*Water Temperature*
39 degrees at the Afterbay 40 degrees at 3 mile.
Filed under: Fishing Report
*Current Report*
The river is fishing great. The warmer weather is bringing a few more
people to the river, but there’s lots of room.
*View of the Aquarium – from my office
Boat traffic is picking up and should increase through the week but looks to be mostly locals. Rover was fairly busy over Easter, but has dropped back off.
*Best Techniques*
From 10am -7pm look carefully for quiet rises along slick edges of riffles and quiet flats. Rising fish may not be visible from all angles. Patience may pay off as you may see only sporadic rises for BWO’s but fish will continue to look for them. The steadier rises may require matching size of bugs closely; otherwise try a size or two bigger. Also try BWO pattern for midging fish, they sometimes look for them all day. Best to approach from below, but adjust your position for current and lighting. Nymphing w/indicator in shallow water has been extremely productive. Start light and use stealthy indicators. Look for shelves with slow to moderate current and soft edges of riffles. Also seams along heavy water for biggest fish. Adjusting weight and length of rig is important to keep your fly close to the bottom. Mending carefully to keep it drag free, will get the most action, look closely as strikes are mostly very subtle, any pause or twitch deserves a response. (set the hook!)
*One-Week Fishing Forecast*
We have another winter storm forecasted for this week. Starting tonight through Saturday the 18th. Snow 2 to 8 inches and 1.25 inches in addition to the snow!!! Highs in the upper 30’s Low in the upper 20’s to low 30’s.
*River Sections*
0 to 3 mile Access – Best Dry Fly Fishing – Great Nymphing
3 to Bighorn Access – Dry Fly activity increasing, should just get better, great nymphing, Best bet for streamers. Soap Creek starting
to run so water clarity drops the farther you go down to 13 mile (Bighorn Access).
Bighorn Access to Mallards Landing – Not much due to water clarity
*Hatch Info*
With higher water this past week rising fish limited to peak hatch times 1pm-3pm for BWO’s and 7pmtil dark for midges. BWO patterns still effective over some midging fish.
*Hot Fly Patterns*
Olive Comparadun size 20, Griffiths Gnat size 20-22, Black Midge 22-24,
Black and red Midges in both warped and bead head size 18-20. Brassies
Red In 18-20. Black Quills in 18-20, Ray Charles in orange, pink, gray or
tan (16-18), Soft Hackle Sowbugs in tan, gray, or pink (14 16 and 18)
Scuds in brown (16-18), Baetis Wonder Nymph in 18-20, Red Midge Larva in 16-20, Black Zebra Midge in 18-20, Pheasant Tail in 18-20
*River Flows*
Pool Elevation is 3626.5 Feet
Pool Elevation to Fill 13.5 Feet
Reservoir Storage is 927205. Acre-Feet
Reservoir Storage to Fill 142824.0 Acre-Feet
Reservoir Inflow is 1902.3 CFS
Reservoir Outflow is 2886.9 CFS
Reservoir Active Conservation Pool is 86.7 % Full
Reservoir Flood/Surcharge Control Pool is 0.0 % Full
Mean Daily Flow Below Afterbay Flow is 2979.1 CFS
Mean Daily Canal Diversion is 0.0 CFS
Mean Daily Total Flow at Afterbay is 2979.1 CFS
*Water Temperature*
39 degrees at the Afterbay 40 degrees at 3 mile.
Filed under: Fly Fishing
*Current Report*
The river is fishing great. The warmer weather is bringing a few more people to the river, but there’s lots of room.
*View of the Aquarium – from my office
Actually I can see all the way to the Hot Dog Hole! No leaves on the trees. Boat traffic is picking up and should increase through the week but looks to be mostly guides and locals.
*Best Techniques*
From 10am -7pm look carefully for quiet rises along slick edges of riffles and quiet flats. Rising fish may not be visible from all angles.Patience may pay off as you may see only sporadic rises for BWO’s but fish will continue to look for them. The steader rises may require matching size of bugs closely, otherwise try a size or two bigger. Also try BWO pattern for midging fish, they sometimes look for them all day. Best to approach from below, but adjust your position for current and lighting. Nymphing w/indicator in shallow water has been xtremely productive. Start light and use stealthy indicators. Look for shelves with slow to moderate current and soft edges of riffles. Also seams along heavy water for biggest fish. Adjusting weight and length of rig is important to keep your fly close to the bottom.
Mending carefully to keep it drag free. Will get the most action, look closely as strikes are mostly very subtle, any pause or twitch deserves a response. (set the hook!)
*One-Week Fishing Forecast*
Should be a great fishing week. At this time wading for rising fish the only option, Both wading and floating productive while nymphing.Streamer fishing is spotter but some cloudy days can be good, banks and deep pools. Cloudy days better for rising fish, but some have been in bright sun.
*River Sections*
0 to 3 mile Access – Best Dry Fly Fishing – Great Nymphing
3 to Bighorn Access – Dry Fly activity increasing, should just get better, great nymphing, Best bet for streamers. Soap Creek starting to run so water clariity drops the farther you go down to 13 mile (Bighorn Access).
Bighorn Access to Mallards Landing – Not much due to water clairity
*Hatch Info*
Black Midges size 22-24
Midge Clusters size 18-22
Blue-winged Olives size 18-22 (mostly 20’s)
*Hot Fly Patterns*
Black and red Midges in both warped and bead head size 18-20. Brassies red 18-20. Black quills in 18-20, Ray Charles in orange, pink, gray or tan (16-18), tan, gray, or pink soft hackle sowbugs in (14 16 and 18) scuds in tan or pink in 14-18), baetis Wonder Nymph in 18-20, Worm in
Micro2 Tone in brown/orange.Steel Worm in Fire Orange, and Red/Wine.
*River Flows*
*Pool Elevation is 3627.6 Feet
Pool Elevation to Fill 12.4 Feet
Reservoir Storage is 937440. Acre-Feet
Reservoir Storage to Fill 132589.0 Acre-Feet Reservoir Inflow is 2402.8 CFS Reservoir Outflow is 2356.9 CFS Reservoir Active Conservation Pool is 87.6 % Full Reservoir Flood/Surcharge Control Pool is 0.0 % Full Mean Daily Flow Below Afterbay Flow is 2431.0 CFS Mean Daily Canal Diversion is 0.0 CFS Mean Daily Total Flow at Afterbay is 2431.0 CFS Current Flow Below Afterbay is 2434.5 CFS Current Canal Diversion is 0.0 CFS Current total Flow at Afterbay is 2434.5 CFS
*Water Temperature*
39 degrees at the Afterbay 40 degrees at 3 mile.
