09-03-2004, 03:06 PM
Bighorn River - August 29th, 2004
supplied by: [url "http://www.fisheyesoup.com/redir.php?recKey=91,re"]Yellowstone Angler[/url]
FISHING: Good
Reports on the Bighorn have been mixed, so I ran down there this past Sunday to check out the scene and sample the fishing. I was pleasantly surprised and am anxious to get back down there, especially as the evening caddis hatches get stronger.
The Bighorn has been running at record low levels (1300-1500 CFS) for the past three years and this has hurt the fish populations as well as the insect hatches. The numbers of fish are down dramatically for sure, but the average size of the fish is UP, and I was impressed at their wonderful condition. These fish are real BRICKS- not the mushy soft non-fighters you used to catch when the water temperatures were much higher in mid-summer.
The colder water temperatures (they are drawing the water out well below the thermocline in Bighorn Lake, so it is coming out of the afterbay in the mid to high 40 degree range) have played havoc with the normal insect hatches though, so the best fishing is on nymphs.
Sowbug patterns are the hot item, in sizes from 14 down to 20's. These sow bugs are mostly medium to light grey. As well as sow bugs, small mayfly nymphs like PT's in 18-20's are perfect as a dropper. With the water crystal clear, you should be using 5X fishing nymphs.
I found that the low water opens up a tremendous amount of good new nymphing water—places where I'd never been able to fish before. On the other hand, lots of those side channels that used to be so good are bone dry!
For dry fly anglers, about the only way to go in mid-day is to fish hoppers. Cover a lot of water, fish a medium sized hopper with rubber legs, and twitch it a bit, especially in the slower, deeper water. You won't catch nearly as many fish as you will on nymphs, but the takes you'll get are exciting and the fish are huge! I landed several rainbows and browns in the 3-4 pound class on hoppers and lost a couple that looked larger. Don't think about using a tippet smaller than 3x or 4X unless you don't mind losing a lot of fish on explosive takes or when they dive into the weeds.
The fishing pressure is far, far less than a few years ago but you won't have the river to yourself. Looks to me like on an average day there might be 20-30 boats on that 3-13 stretch. Still, this gives you a lot of water to fish and those big fish certainly make the trip worthwhile. I'm looking forward to getting back down there!
supplied by: [url "http://www.fisheyesoup.com/redir.php?recKey=91,re"]Yellowstone Angler[/url]
FISHING: Good
Reports on the Bighorn have been mixed, so I ran down there this past Sunday to check out the scene and sample the fishing. I was pleasantly surprised and am anxious to get back down there, especially as the evening caddis hatches get stronger.
The Bighorn has been running at record low levels (1300-1500 CFS) for the past three years and this has hurt the fish populations as well as the insect hatches. The numbers of fish are down dramatically for sure, but the average size of the fish is UP, and I was impressed at their wonderful condition. These fish are real BRICKS- not the mushy soft non-fighters you used to catch when the water temperatures were much higher in mid-summer.
The colder water temperatures (they are drawing the water out well below the thermocline in Bighorn Lake, so it is coming out of the afterbay in the mid to high 40 degree range) have played havoc with the normal insect hatches though, so the best fishing is on nymphs.
Sowbug patterns are the hot item, in sizes from 14 down to 20's. These sow bugs are mostly medium to light grey. As well as sow bugs, small mayfly nymphs like PT's in 18-20's are perfect as a dropper. With the water crystal clear, you should be using 5X fishing nymphs.
I found that the low water opens up a tremendous amount of good new nymphing water—places where I'd never been able to fish before. On the other hand, lots of those side channels that used to be so good are bone dry!
For dry fly anglers, about the only way to go in mid-day is to fish hoppers. Cover a lot of water, fish a medium sized hopper with rubber legs, and twitch it a bit, especially in the slower, deeper water. You won't catch nearly as many fish as you will on nymphs, but the takes you'll get are exciting and the fish are huge! I landed several rainbows and browns in the 3-4 pound class on hoppers and lost a couple that looked larger. Don't think about using a tippet smaller than 3x or 4X unless you don't mind losing a lot of fish on explosive takes or when they dive into the weeds.
The fishing pressure is far, far less than a few years ago but you won't have the river to yourself. Looks to me like on an average day there might be 20-30 boats on that 3-13 stretch. Still, this gives you a lot of water to fish and those big fish certainly make the trip worthwhile. I'm looking forward to getting back down there!