Forresters’s Bighorn Fishing and Wingshooting Blog

 *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.