Forresters’s Bighorn Fishing and Wingshooting Blog

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 3,040cfs. 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 and hoppers, 3 to Bighorn Access – Better dry fly activity, Great Nymphing, best bet for streamers and hoppers. Bighorn Access to Mallards Landing – Good Hopper fishing. Some of our guides have been doing 3 mile to Mallards and drifting all the way. Mainly only hopper fishing. Water clarity fair. The bottom tributaries are starting to clear up so the lower river is getting better.