Forresters’s Bighorn Fishing and Wingshooting Blog

*Current Report*
Excellent Dry Fly Fishing and Nymph Fishing

*View of the Aquarium* – from my office

Lots of boat traffic, form 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. If you launch at the after bay after 1 p.m. most traffic is way down river.  After bay access very busy this 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*

The Bureau of Reclamation will be testing gates and gauges on the 5th, 6th and 7th of May. The water flow will fluctuate between 1,500 cfs to 4,500 cfs for short periods. Never know how this will affect the fishing. There is a slight chance of precipitation all week (20 to 30%) in the form of rain. High in the Mid 60’s and lows in the mid 40’s. Every day looks like we will have some clouds, so hatches should be fairly good.

*River Sections*

0 to 3 mile Access – Good Dry Fly Fishing – Great Nymphing

3 to Bighorn Access – Good Dry Fly activity, great nymphing, best bet for streamers. Soap Creek affecting  the water clarity where it enters the river the farther you go down to 13 mile (Bighorn Access) the more it is affected..

Bighorn Access to Mallards Landing – Not much due to water clarity, Nymph fishing is hard.

*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, Worm wax or wire wrap in red, orange, and 2 tone in

 
*River Flows*
Pool Elevation is 3622.9 Feet
Pool Elevation to Fill 17.1 Feet
Reservoir Storage is 896941. Acre-Feet
Reservoir Storage to Fill 173088.0 Acre-Feet
Reservoir Inflow is 2233.6 CFS
Reservoir Outflow is 3476.3 CFS
Reservoir Active Conservation Pool is 83.8 % Full
Reservoir Flood/Surcharge Control Pool is 0.0 % Full
Mean Daily Flow Below After bay Flow is 3495.9 CFS
Mean Daily Canal Diversion is 0.0 CFS
Mean Daily Total Flow at After bay is 3495.9 CFS
Current Flow Below After bay is 3492.4 CFS
Current Canal Diversion is 0.0 CFS
Current total Flow at After bay is 3492.4 CFS
*Water Temperature*
40 degrees at the After bay 41 degrees at 3 mile.