Forresters’s Bighorn Fishing and Wingshooting Blog

*Current Report*
Fair to Good Dry Fly Fishing and Great Nymph Fishing

*River Flow & Water Temperature*
6,040 CFS   -     42 degrees at the after bay 43 degrees at 3 mile.
*View of the Aquarium* – from my office
Cooler weather, rain and increase flows have lessen pressure on the river. Fewer boats and walk down wade fisherman.

*Best Techniques*

With increasing flows and cooler weather dry fly fishing is a little more sporadic, however with as a slightly overcast days BWO’s still 1pm till 7pm midges off and on all day till dark. Look closely for risers can be hard to see with higher flows. Patience will pay off as you may see only sporadic rises for BWO’s but fish will continue to look for them all day.  It is best to approach from below, but adjust your position for current and lighting. Nymphing with indicator in slightly deeper water, below drop offs. Look for shelves with slow to moderate current and soft edges of riffles. Also seams along heavy water for biggest fish. Use enough weight to touch bottom occasionally.  Any unexplained movement might be a strike. From 7:30 pm till Dark (8:50) Midges may attract pods of feeding fish.

*One-Week Fishing Forecast*

Well we had SNOW Sunday the 7^th in the morning, then cooler and rain all day. The forecast is for cooler days with thunderstorms in the p.m.  Still some overcast each day which should be good for the hatches. Wind is forecasted to be light all week. Dry fly fishing is sporadic because of the increase flow and weather but should settle in to be more constant latter in the week with increase temperatures and Nymphing is excellent good.

*River Sections*
0 to 3 mile Access – Fair to Good Dry Fly Fishing – Great Nymphing
3 to Bighorn Access – Fair to Good Dry Fly activity, great nymphing, best bet for streamers. Soap Creek is still affecting the water clarity but not as much with the cooler temperatures. With the rain we have and an a lot of snow on the mountains, we should start seeing more runoff and increase flows. Taking into consideration the higher temperatures the 5 creeks that enter the Bighorn will start to decrease clarity the farther you go down.
Bighorn Access to Mallards Landing – Cooler increase flows have caused a lot of moss and water clarity to really affect the fishing. Some guides have even been skunked.
*Hatch Info*
Peak hatch times 1pm-5pm for BWO’s and 7:30pm till dark for midges. BWO patterns still effective over some midging fish. BWO’s 1pm till 5pm.

*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 Flow*

*Water Temperature*
40 degrees at the after bay 41 degrees at 3 mile.