Forresters’s Bighorn Fishing and Wingshooting Blog

The hot weather has broken and it is going to be cooler (80 degrees) perfect wet wading still. The hoppers will continue into the fall now. With the lake still full, the flows will stabilize to this flow 3500-3900cfs for the rest of the year. Water temps are near perfect. The Caddis in the evenings will continue to get better.

The fish are moving into the more oxygenated heavy water now with the water temps being near perfect for browns and rainbows Sight fishing is great. Fishing the banks with hoppers is very exciting, productive and fun! Dry fly fishing is best done from down stream from the fish, presenting the fly as a dead drift. Nymph fishing below indicators with 9′-3X leaders (Orvis Superstrong # KM0714-61) 2 BB’s shot seem to be the right weight. Orvis’ Helios Rod with it’s strong backbone, is really handling extra weight and bigger fish very well. I prefer the Helios 6 weight. (ZG Helios 906-4 Tip 9.5)

The flows are at 3,960cfs. Great sight nymphing for Big Fish! Check out the techniques section. Both floating and wading productive while nymphing. Wading only option for rising fish except fishing hopper’s, then you want to drift and fish the banks. Streamer fishing is spottier but some cloudy days can be good, banks and deep pools. River Sections- Although we have been floating the entire 13 mile stretch from Afterbay to Bighorn this is how it breaks down. HOPPERS ALL THE WAY DOWN! 0 to 3 mile Access – Great Nymphing a few drys 3 to Bighorn Access – Better dry fly activity, great nymphing, best bet for streamers. Bighorn Access to Mallards Landing – Water clarity fair. The warm week created allot of run off. Fishing very slow. River Flows —- 3,960 cfs

Water flow: 3,960cfs

Visibility: 60 inches

Water temperature at mid-day: 60 Degrees F

Water condition: Clear

Best time of day to fish: 9:00am till 7:00pm

Best stretch: After Bay to 3 mile, then 3 mile to Bighorn, Bighorn to Mallards(lots of jet boats this weekend on this stretch)

Best access point: 1st – After Bay 2nd – 3 mile

Fly fishing hatches in order of importance:

Peak hatch times late afternoon till 7:00
Few PMD mid day 2:00-5:00
HOPPERS ALL DAY!
Caddis in the evenings.

“Must-have” fly fishing patterns in descending order of importance: