Forresters's Bighorn Fishing and Wingshooting Blog

Bighorn River Fishing Report

forresters — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 15:54:59 +0000

Water flow: 2,487cfs

Visibility: 50 inches

Water temperature at mid-day: 48 Degrees F

Water condition: Clear

Best time of day to fish: 8:00am till dark (about 4:30)

Best stretch: Afterbay to Bighorn is the best stretch right now.

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

Fly fishing hatches in order of importance:

Small baetis
A few midges

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

Fly Name:	Fly Color:	Fly Size(s):
Sparkle Dun Dry Fly	olive and gray	20
Cdc Comparadun Dry Fly	Tan	20
San Juan Worm	Red or red and tan	8-10
Mottos Minnow Streamer	White	8
Bluewing Olive	Olive	18-20
Adams	Grey	20
Yellow sulpher dun	Yellow	20
Soft Hackle Ray Charles	Pink	16-18
Soft Hackle Ray Charles	grey

Fish species: Wild Rainbow & Brown Trout

Fishing season: Year Round (Prime: April 1 – October 31)

Nearest airport: Billings Logan International Airport (BIL)

Recommended fly fishing leader: 9 Foot Leader

Recommended fly fishing tippet: 5X Tippet Size

Best fly fishing rod: 9′ 5 Weight Fly Rod

Best floating fly line: Trout WF

This week it’s going to get into Mid to Upper 40′s, with little to no wind. The fishing should really start picking up with the longer and warmer days. With a slight overcast should produced some Batis hatchs and the water is still about 48 so it feels warm. The dry fly fishing is ok on warmer days with slight overcast. Baetis are starting to be heavier every day now. Mid day temps are expected to be in the mid to upper 40′s. Water temps are near perfect at 48.

7 Day Outlook for Bighorn River

forresters — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 16:03:54 +0000

Colder temps! This week it’s going to get into low to mid 30′s but should be good as the water is still about 48 so it feels warm. 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. Mid day temps are expected to be in the mid 30′s. Water temps are near perfect at 48.

The flows are at 2,749cfs. Streamer fishing is starting to be the preference for the angles this week. Casting toward the bank and stripping it back 20 feet or so. Out in the deeper pools can be exciting letting your streamer sink near the bottom before starting to strip. A light sink tip line is ideal for this style of fishing. There are some blue winged olives starting to appear and the fish are on them through out the day. River Flows —- 2,850cfs

Bighorn River Fishing Report

forresters — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:15:35 +0000

Water flow: 2,749cfs

Visibility: 50 inches

Water temperature at mid-day: 48 Degrees F

Water condition: Clear

Best time of day to fish: 8:00am till dark (about 4:30)

Best stretch: Afterbay to Bighorn is the best stretch right now.

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

Fly fishing hatches in order of importance:

Small baetis
A few midges

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

Fly Name:	Fly Color:	Fly Size(s):
Cmo Caddis	black, tan	16-18
Cdc Comparadun Dry Fly	Tan	20
San Juan Worm	Red or red and tan	8-10
Blue Wing Olive Parachute	Bluewing Olive	18-20
Bluewing Olive	Olive	18-20
Adams	Grey	20
Yellow sulpher dun	Yellow	20
Soft Hackle Ray Charles	Pink	16-18
Soft Hackle Ray Charles	grey

Fish species: Wild Rainbow & Brown Trout

Fishing season: Year Round (Prime: April 1 – October 31)

Nearest airport: Billings Logan International Airport (BIL)

Recommended fly fishing leader: 9 Foot Leader

Recommended fly fishing tippet: 5X Tippet Size

Best fly fishing rod: 9′ 5 Weight Fly Rod

Best floating fly line: Trout WF

Bighorn River Fishing Report

forresters — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:07:41 +0000

Fair temps! This week it’s going to get into mid 30′s so it should be good as the water is still about 50 so it feels warm. The Browns are just finishing their spawn. They are coming off their beds looking for food so they are hungry and fishing is great! 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. Mid day temps are expected to be in the mid 20′s. Water temps are near perfect at 50.

7 Day Fishing Forcast for Bighorn River

forresters — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 22:13:39 +0000

WARM!!! This week it’s going to get into the 40′s so it should be perfect. . The water is still about 50 so it feels warm. The Browns are just finishing their spawn. They are coming off their beds looking for food so they are hungry and fishing is great! 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. Mid day temps are expected to be in the mid 20′s. Water temps are near perfect at 50.

Bighorn River Fishing Report

forresters — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 16:52:26 +0000

Water flow: 2,825cfs

Visibility: 50 inches

Water temperature at mid-day: 50 Degrees F

Water condition: Clear

Best time of day to fish: 8:00am till dark (about 4:30)

Best stretch: Afterbay to Bighorn is the best stretch right now.

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

Fly fishing hatches in order of importance:

Small baetis
A few midges

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

Fly Name:	Fly Color:	Fly Size(s):
Cmo Caddis	black, tan	16-18
Cdc Comparadun Dry Fly	Tan	20
San Juan Worm	Red or red and tan	8-10
Blue Wing Olive Parachute	Bluewing Olive	18-20
Bluewing Olive	Olive	18-20
Adams	Grey	20
Yellow sulpher dun	Yellow	20
Soft Hackle Ray Charles	Pink	16-18
Soft Hackle Ray Charles	grey

Fish species: Wild Rainbow & Brown Trout

Fishing season: Year Round (Prime: April 1 – October 31)

Nearest airport: Billings Logan International Airport (BIL)

Recommended fly fishing leader: 9 Foot Leader

Recommended fly fishing tippet: 5X Tippet Size

Best fly fishing rod: 9′ 5 Weight Fly Rod

Best floating fly line: Trout WF

Bighorn Fishing Report 12/30/2009

forresters — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 21:12:19 +0000

Bighorn River Fishing Report – 12/30/09.

Water flow: 2,825cfs

Visibility: 50 inches

Water temperature at mid-day: 50 Degrees F

Water condition: Clear

Best time of day to fish: 8:00am till dark (about 4:30)

Best stretch: Afterbay to Bighorn is the best stretch right now.

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

Fly fishing hatches in order of importance:

Small baetis
A few midges

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

Fly Name:	Fly Color:	Fly Size(s):
Cmo Caddis	black, tan	16-18
Cdc Comparadun Dry Fly	Tan	20
San Juan Worm	Red or red and tan	8-10
Blue Wing Olive Parachute	Bluewing Olive	18-20
Bluewing Olive	Olive	18-20
Adams	Grey	20
Yellow sulpher dun	Yellow	20
Soft Hackle Ray Charles	Pink	16-18
Soft Hackle Ray Charles	grey

Fish species: Wild Rainbow & Brown Trout

Fishing season: Year Round (Prime: April 1 – October 31)

Nearest airport: Billings Logan International Airport (BIL)

Recommended fly fishing leader: 9 Foot Leader

Recommended fly fishing tippet: 5X Tippet Size

Best fly fishing rod: 9′ 5 Weight Fly Rod

Best floating fly line: Trout WF

7 day outlook

This week it’s cold but it looks like it’s going to get into the 40′s by the end of the week so it should be perfect. When fishing in this cold of weather you have to dunk your rod every few minutes to “de-ice” your guides. The water is still about 55 so it feels warm. The Browns are in full fall spawn now. They are being very aggressive and are jousting for there right to procreate. Streamers invite a fight for any brown that is in this courtship stage. 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. Mid day temps are expected to be in the mid 20′s. Water temps are near perfect at 50.Tips of the Week.

The flows are at 2,825cfs. Streamer fishing is starting to be the preference for the angles this week. Casting toward the bank and stripping it back 20 feet or so. Out in the deeper pools can be exciting letting your streamer sink near the bottom before starting to strip. A light sink tip line is ideal for this style of fishing. There are some blue winged olives starting to appear and the fish are on them through out the day. A cast and blast trip is always exciting and right now the ducks and geese use this river as a main flyway for their southern migration. Hunt in the morning over decoys on the river, then mid-day fish and finally, catch the evening hunt. Makes for a very full and exciting day. The bottom tributaries are starting to clear up so the lower river is getting better. River Flows —- 2,850cfs

Fly Fishing Techniquest and Tips

Stripping streamers is best done from the middle of the stream and casting toward the banks and seams. Either wading on bars or from the boat this is the choice of most anglers right now. 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, 1 BB and a B shot seem to be the right weight. Orvis’ Helios Rod with it’s strong backbone, is really handling these bigger fish very well. I prefer the Helios 6 weight. (ZG Helios 906-4 Tip 9.5)

Bighorn River Fishing Report

forresters — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 16:41:22 +0000

Water flow: 2,825cfs

Visibility: 50 inches

Water temperature at mid-day: 50 Degrees F

Water condition: Clear

Best time of day to fish: 6:00am till dark

Best stretch: Afterbay to Bighorn is the best stretch right now.

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

Fly fishing hatches in order of importance:

Small baetis are starting to appear
A few midges starting

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

Fly Name:	Fly Color:	Fly Size(s):
Cmo Caddis	black, tan	16-18
Cdc Comparadun Dry Fly	Tan	20
San Juan Worm	Red or red and tan	8-10
Blue Wing Olive Parachute	Bluewing Olive	18-20
Bluewing Olive	Olive	18-20
Adams	Grey	20
Yellow sulpher dun	Yellow	20
Soft Hackle Ray Charles	Pink	16-18
Soft Hackle Ray Charles	grey

Fish species: Wild Rainbow & Brown Trout

Fishing season: Year Round (Prime: April 1 – October 31)

Nearest airport: Billings Logan International Airport (BIL)

Recommended fly fishing leader: 9 Foot Leader

Recommended fly fishing tippet: 5X Tippet Size

Best fly fishing rod: 9′ 5 Weight Fly Rod

Best floating fly line: Trout WF

7 day Fishing Outlook for Bighorn River

forresters — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:16:55 +0000

The Browns are starting to stage up for their fall spawn. They are being very aggressive right not and are jousting for there right to procriate. Streamers invite a fight for any brown that is in this courtship stage. 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. Mid day temps are expected to be in the mid 50′s. . Water temps are near perfect at 55.

Bighorn River Fishing Report

forresters — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:45:41 +0000

Water flow: 2,825cfs

Visibility: 60 inches

Water temperature at mid-day: 59 Degrees F

Water condition: Clear

Best time of day to fish: 6:00am till dark

Best stretch: Afterbay to Bighorn is the best stretch right now.

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

Fly fishing hatches in order of importance:

Small baetis are starting to appear
A few midges starting

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

Fly Name: Fly Color: Fly Size(s):
Cmo Caddis black, tan 16-18
Cdc Comparadun Dry Fly Tan 20
San Juan Worm Red or red and tan 8-10
Blue Wing Olive Parachute Bluewing Olive 18-20
Bluewing Olive Olive 18-20
Adams Grey 20
Yellow sulpher dun Yellow 20
Soft Hackle Ray Charles Pink 16-18
Soft Hackle Ray Charles grey

Fish species: Wild Rainbow & Brown Trout

Fishing season: Year Round (Prime: April 1 – September 31)

Nearest airport: Billings Logan International Airport (BIL)

Recommended fly fishing leader: 9 Foot Leader

Recommended fly fishing tippet: 5X Tippet Size

Best fly fishing rod: 9′ 5 Weight Fly Rod

Best floating fly line: Trout WF