The Bighorn is settling into its classic mid-summer rhythm, holding steady at 1,500 cfs. If the past few weeks felt a little tight, river is beginning to change into steady fishing. The fishing continues to get better, so get out there and enjoy the river you love.
There are lots of bugs on the water, especially as you head below the 3-mile marker. We are starting to see consistent PMD and black caddis activity, and it’s a welcome sight to watch the river come alive in the afternoons. The trout are responding, and the bite has become much more active and reliable, making the fishing very high-quality and fun all day long.
What’s Working
As the hatches build in the afternoons, the fish are shifting their attention to match the bugs. It’s a great time to be cycling through your favorite summer patterns. We’re finding great success with Frenchies, split-case PMDs, Pheasant Tails, and a variety of go-to PMD patterns. Keep your standard Sowbugs and Midges handy for the morning, but don’t be afraid to switch over to those summer staples around noon or so.
A Note on the Season
With the great fishing comes a few more friendly faces on the water. It’s a busy time to be out, but there’s plenty of river to go around, so let's be kind to everyone else on the river. Take a moment to enjoy the camaraderie, be mindful of your fellow anglers, and appreciate the fact that we’re finally back into the swing of a true Bighorn summer.
The river is in great shape, the fish are active, and the conditions are finally falling right into place. We’ll see you out there!
View USGS Streamflows
Dries:
baetis patterns, midge clusters, brooks sprout, cdc emerger rs2
Nymphs:
worm, perdigons, scuds, sowbugs, ray charles, Hot Heads, split cases, frenchies, and zebra midges
Streamers:
Rusty trombone, thin mint, wooly buggers
