Forresters’s Bighorn Fishing and Wingshooting Blog

The major runoff for the Bighorn Basin Drainage has passed. There are 3 major reservoirs that release flows ending up in the Bighorn Lake and directly affect the flows in the Bighorn River. Here are their flows and capacity. First there is Buffalo Bill on the Shoshone River near Cody Wyoming – 4,346cfs at 93% full. Next there is Bull Lake on the North Fork of the Wind near Dubois Wyoming – 1,220cfs at 94% full.  It releases into Boysen Reservoir near Shoshoni Wyoming – 6,600cfs and is 100% full with 23% Flood Pool full. Then there is the Bighorn Reservoir at Fort Smith – 7,887 at Afterbay and 100% full with 20% Flood Pool full. Although we are not affected by run off to the same degree as other non tailwater fisheries, the flows are higher and very clear. With the higher flows, the temps come up a bit which makes for very active feeding fish. Higher flows make for great fishing. Increase the weight of your fly to get it down. The emergence of aquatic earth worms (San Juan Worms) in huge numbers creates the opportunity for some big fish! I suggest Red or two tone red and tan chenille in size 8. Hoppers are starting to appear. The fish are starting to look at some of the ants that are being washed down, and they will appear as random splashy rises. This week PMD’s and a few Black Caddis are also starting to appear. Lastly, the water is at a perfect flow rate for some side stream dry fly action.