Even with cooler weather, the dry fly fishing is hanging in there. Baetis are starting to be heavier every day now. Streamers are effective as the browns are starting to get their spawn personality going which will start some time next month. Mid day temps are expected to be in the mid 50’s. . Water temps are near perfect at 59.

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. 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 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.

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.

April 14 to April 18
George and Christine Fieldings are from New York City.  On a recent visit to Forrester’s Bighorn River Resort they landed some very big fish on a midge pattern.  Fishing was excellent all week and is best if you were fishing between Noon and dark (8:45).

We’ve had some of the best dry-fly-fishing of the year so far.
Right now the peak time for dry-flies is from 6 p.m. until 8:45 p.m.

George Fielding on the Bighorn

*Current Report*
The river is fishing great. The warmer weather is bringing a few more people to the river, but there’s lots of room.

*View of the Aquarium – from my office
Actually I can see all the way to the Hot Dog Hole! No leaves on the trees. Boat traffic is picking up and should increase through the week but looks to be mostly guides and locals.

*Best Techniques*
 From 10am -7pm 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 steader 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 xtremely 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. (set the hook!)

*One-Week Fishing Forecast*
 Should be a great fishing week. At this time wading for rising fish the only option, Both wading and floating productive while nymphing.Streamer fishing is spotter but some cloudy days can be good, banks and deep pools. Cloudy days better for rising fish, but some have been in bright sun.

*River Sections*
0 to 3 mile  Access  – Best Dry Fly Fishing – Great Nymphing

3 to Bighorn Access – Dry Fly activity increasing, should just get better, great nymphing, Best bet for streamers. Soap Creek starting  to run so water clariity drops the farther you go down to 13 mile (Bighorn Access).

Bighorn Access to Mallards Landing – Not much due to water clairity

*Hatch Info*
Black Midges size 22-24
Midge Clusters size 18-22
Blue-winged Olives size 18-22 (mostly 20’s)

*Hot Fly Patterns*
Black and red Midges in both warped and bead head size 18-20. Brassies red 18-20. Black quills in 18-20, Ray Charles in orange, pink, gray or tan (16-18), tan, gray, or pink soft hackle sowbugs in (14 16 and 18) scuds in tan or pink in 14-18), baetis Wonder Nymph in 18-20, Worm in
Micro2 Tone in  brown/orange.Steel Worm in Fire Orange, and Red/Wine.

*River Flows*
*Pool Elevation is 3627.6 Feet
Pool Elevation to Fill 12.4 Feet
Reservoir Storage is 937440. Acre-Feet
Reservoir Storage to Fill 132589.0 Acre-Feet Reservoir Inflow is 2402.8 CFS Reservoir Outflow is 2356.9 CFS Reservoir Active Conservation Pool is 87.6 % Full Reservoir Flood/Surcharge Control Pool is 0.0 % Full Mean Daily Flow Below Afterbay Flow is 2431.0 CFS Mean Daily Canal Diversion is 0.0 CFS Mean Daily Total Flow at Afterbay is 2431.0 CFS Current Flow Below Afterbay is 2434.5 CFS Current Canal Diversion is 0.0 CFS Current total Flow at Afterbay is 2434.5 CFS
*Water Temperature*
39 degrees at the Afterbay 40 degrees at 3 mile.

*Current Report*
The river is fishing great. There are very few people on the water. Wind has really been blowing from afterbay to about 2 miles down river.
Steady winds 25 to 35, Gusts over 70 MPH! Every day now since December 24th. Not as bad down river. Browns are stacked on the reds, so watch were you are walking when wading!

**
*Hot Fly Patterns*
Black quills in 18-20, Ray Charles in orange, pink, gray or tan (16-18),
tan, grey, or pink soft hackle sowbugs in (14 16 and 18) scuds in pink,
tan or pink in 14-18), baetis Wonder Nymph in 18-20, and of course the
wire worm in red, orange, or two tone.

*River Flows*
*Pool Elevation is 3633.3 Feet
Pool Elevation to Fill 6.7 Feet
Reservoir Storage is 992853. Acre-Feet
Reservoir Storage to Fill 77176.0 Acre-Feet
Reservoir Inflow is 1765.5 CFS
Reservoir Outflow is 2243.0 CFS
Reservoir Active Conservation Pool is 92.8 % Full
Reservoir Flood/Surcharge Control Pool is 0.0 % Full
Mean Daily Flow Below Afterbay Flow is 2431.4 CFS
Mean Daily Canal Diversion is 0.0 CFS
Mean Daily Total Flow at Afterbay is 2431.4 CFS
Current Flow Below Afterbay is 2395.6 CFS
Current Canal Diversion is 0.0 CFS
Current total Flow at Afterbay is 2395.6 CFS

*

*Water Temperature*
46 degrees at the Afterbay 48 degrees at 3 mile

Current Report
The river has really cleared and streamers would be HOT if it warmed up enough to fish. Since December 6th we have had 1 day above freezing. The average high has been 15 degrees with lows every night below zero.

One-Week Fishing Forecast
Should be good Streamer fishing after Christmas when the high are scheduled to be 36 to 38 degrees between December 28 and 30th.

Pool Elevation to Fill 5.3 Feet
Reservoir Storage is 1007646. Acre-Feet
Reservoir Storage to Fill 62383.0 Acre-Feet Reservoir Inflow is 1845.4 CFS Reservoir Outflow is 2341.5 CFS Reservoir Active Conservation Pool is 94.2 % Full Reservoir Flood/Surcharge Control Pool is 0.0 % Full Mean Daily Flow Below Afterbay Flow is 2441.3 CFS Mean Daily Canal Diversion is 0.0 CFS Mean Daily Total Flow at Afterbay is 2441.3 CFS Current Flow Below Afterbay is 2421.5 CFS Current Canal Diversion is 0.0 CFS Current total Flow at Afterbay is 2421.5 CFS

Water Temperature
Warmer than the Air Temperature!

Waterfowl Hunting
Have not seen near the number of Geese and ducks up here on the upper 3 miles this year and compared to last year. However, during the trips I have taken to Hardin, have seen a lot of activity below 13 mile to Hardin. Have people coming in to hunt and fish from the 26th to 31st so will report then.

Lower river is still the best waterfowl hunting.

At Forrester’s Bighorn River Lodge, you get private access to prime fishing holes on Montana’s Bighorn River, fantastic Wingshooting trips, and to top it all off, our very own Francine is an Internationally trained gourmet chef. So the food is beyond compare.

Here is a look at a sample menu for one evening, and few photos of the fare. Bon Appetite!

Current Report
The river has really cleared and streamers are HOT. Fishing is good on nymphs, using worms, sowbugs, Ray Charles and scuds. Browns are starting to stage. Has been really windy the last 4 days, and warm. Water flows are at 2,442 CFS.

One-Week Fishing Forecast
Snow today and temps are cooling significantly. Highs in the 30’s to low 40’s later in the week. If it warms too much wind will be a factor!

Hot Fly Patterns
Black quills in 18-20, Ray Charles in orange, pink, gray or tan (16-18), tan, grey, or pink soft hackle sowbugs in (14 16 and 18) scuds in pink, tan or pink in 14-18), baetis Wonder Nymph in 18-20, and of course the wire worm in red, orange, or two tone.

River Flows
Pool Elevation is 3637.4 Feet

Pool Elevation to Fill 2.6 Feet
Reservoir Storage is 1038356. Acre-Feet
Reservoir Storage to Fill 31673.0 Acre-Feet
Reservoir Inflow is 2059.8 CFS
Reservoir Outflow is 2535.2 CFS
Reservoir Active Conservation Pool is 97.0 % Full
Reservoir Flood/Surcharge Control Pool is 0.0 %
Full Mean Daily Flow Below Afterbay Flow is 2442.8 CFS
Mean Daily Canal Diversion is 0.0 CFS
Mean Daily Total Flow at Afterbay is 2442.8 CFS
Current Flow Below Afterbay is 2408.5 CFS
Current Canal Diversion is 0.0 CFS
Current total Flow at Afterbay is 2408.5 CFS

Water Temperature
52 degrees at the Afterbay 54 degrees at 3 mile

Waterfowl Hunting
With the warm weather ducks have slowed, however this snow and cold weather has pushed a few new ducks into the area. Geese are still few.

Lower river is still the best waterfowl hunting.

Current Report
Streamers are working good especially on the lower river. Fishing is good on nymphs, on the upper 13 miles using worms, sow bugs, the Ray Charles in tan or gray. Water flows are at 2,434 cfs.  Water clarity has improved substantially and fish are feeding more consistently. Aquatic grass is still a factor. A few fish are being taken on tricos and tan caddis.

Sowbugs, scuds, Baetis nymphs, and Zebra midge pupa are working subsurface. Have had a some Cast in Blasts trips on the lower river, Bighorn to Mallards stretch with good action on streamers and slow on Ducks.

Has not been much traffic on the upper river the last two weeks. However we have been doing allot of upland birds and fishing the upper 13 miles river. Not may people out. Also worked the lower river the last 2 days fishing and duck hunting. Not enough weather to push the waterfowl in yet.

Special Report
Flows are at 2,434 cfs and should remain at 2,500 or higher for the rest of the year. Algae is still and issue.

One-Week Fishing Forecast
Temps still cooling some fog in the am. Highs in the upper 40’s to low 50’s.

Hatch Info
Overcast and rainy days produce some surface action.

Hot Fly Patterns
Streamers! Ray Charles in orange, pink, gray or tan (16-18), tan, gra y, or pink soft hackle sow bugs in (14 16 and 18) scuds in tan or pink in 14-18), baetis Wonder Nymph in 18-20, and of course the worm is working well in the flat wax or wire style in red, orange, or two tone.

River Flows
2,434 CFS at the Afterbay Dam.

Water Temperature
50 degrees at the Afterbay, 52 degrees at 3-mile.