Tailwater rivers provide the best option for anglers during the winter due to consistent water temperatures and ice-free flows. The Bighorn River is one of the best. Most anglers traveling from afar come the Bighorn River during the more predictable weather months of April – October, for those anglers in the know the Bighorn River is a prolific “off-season” fishery from November 1st to March 1st.
The benefit to anglers this time of year is being able to fish for the river’s 6,000 brown and rainbow trout per mile in solitude. An angler’s productivity is only limited by one’s ability to brave the elements. Consistent water temperatures and a steady supply of insects keep the trout feeding routinely throughout the winter season.
Most anglers focus their angling efforts during the winter season on the upper 13 miles of the river. These thirteen miles are the three miles from Afterbay Access to Three Mile Access and the ten miles from Three Mile Access to the Bighorn or “Thirteen Mile” Access. These thirteen miles offer anglers a variety of wade fishing and float options during the winter season.
The upper river also produces the highest populations of aquatic insects, because of its close proximity to Yellowtail Dam. Crustaceans – such as sow bugs and scuds, along with a prolific abundance of midges, provide a steady diet for the river’s trout throughout the winter months.
Anglers will find the most consistent fishing during the winter season using an indicator nymph rig consisting of two flies – most often a sow bug or scud trailed by a midge larva or pupa. Anglers should concentrate their efforts on the rivers slower runs and pools where trout will be more concentrated due to water temperatures hovering in the mid to upper 30’s most of the season.
Water temperatures remain stable throughout the season due to the massive water storage contained within the 70-
mile long Bighorn Lake. This creates warmer than average water temperatures during the winter and colder than average temperatures in the summer. The key during the winter season for anglers is that these stable winter flows keep the river free from floating and shelf ice, a key to the river’s productivity and appeal at this time.
It is also important to note that it takes a considerable amount of time for the lake’s water supply to cool compared to freestone rivers in Montana. Due to this lag, the rivers brown trout spawn into late November and mainly in December, much later than other areas of Montana. It also extends the life of the river’s fall hatches well into November and December. It is not uncommon for anglers to encounter Pseudocleons and Baetis well into December.
The majority of winter dry fly fishing consists of imitating size 18 – 22 midges. Most dry fly anglers should be prepared to imitate emerging midge adults on warm January and February days. Mating clusters become more prevalent towards the end of February as emergences intensify as we move towards the prime month of March to fish midges on the Bighorn.
Anglers venturing the Bighorn River during the winter season will be pleasantly surprised at the quality of the fishing that can be had during the winter season. The Bighorn Trout Shop stays open year round for all of your fly shop and accommodation needs and provide up to date fishing reports throughout the winter season.
