Bighorn River Fishing Report
Last Updated
05/29/2023
Current Report
Water flows are at 2,800 cfs. Fishing has been slow overall. Don’t expect to catch large numbers of fish, although the size of the fish is impressive. The best action occurs from late morning through early afternoon, and if you get in the right hole, you can do well. Baetis nymphs and midge pupa patterns are the most productive, but scuds and sowbugs are working as well. There are a few dry fly opportunities (2:00 to 5:00 PM) but the fish can be selective. A double-fly rig with a larger Baetis Sparkle Dun up with a Student or some other emerger pattern below has been working. Streamer fishing has been slow but should pick up as water temperatures slowly rise in June.
Weather Report
Hatch Info
Baetis and midges
One-Week Forecast
Same
River Flows
2,800 cfs
USGS Current Conditions
Water Temperature
44 degrees
Hot Fly Patterns
Nymphs
#14, #16 Soft Hackle Sowbug; #16 Jelly Bean (sowbug); #18 Red Midge Larva; #16 Orange Scud; #16 Jelly Bean Sowbug; #14,#16 Ray Charles (grey or tan), #14,#16 Two-Tone Scud; #18 Tung Teaser (black); #16, #18 Flashback Quill Nymph; #18 BP-3; #6 San Juan Worm (burgundy or brown color)
Dry Flies
#20 Smoke Jumper; #20 Sipper Midge; #20 Griffith's Gnat; #18,#20 CDC Baetis Sparkle Dun
Streamers
#6 Grinch, #12 Mayer's Mini Leech Jig (olive); #10 Black Leech; #6 Thin Mint Wooley Bugger (Hale's favorite); #6 Olive Zonker; #4 Dirty Hippie (cream), #4 Meat Whistle (brown)