Big Horn River Flows on the Drop

We got word that the river will be decreasing by 500 CFS at least once a day, possibly twice, until we hit ‘X” flow.  We’re still waiting to hear what ‘X’ is.  Current flows are at the 5500 cfs mark.  The Corps of Engineers is taking preventative measures to cut down on flooding in lower reaches of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. The fishing has been a lot better with the recent higher flows and hopefully will continue even with the dropping flows.  Water temps are dropping again, which is typical, but is still in a pretty ideal range. This is a good thing and will save us from 60+ degree water temps earlier in the summer.

Big Sowbugs (12-14) were the bugs of choice with the higher flows.  Carpet Bugs, Ray Charles and Jellybeans should be in your arsenal.  Definitely have a small Zebra or Baetis under your Sows in the afternoons, especially when wade fishing.  The fish are looking for them!!

This is the first time this year we’ve seen fish up on Baetis and Midges in the bright sun.  Expect the dry fly fishing to continue on with the flows down.  Evenings have been a really good time to be out as well.

Shiners were kicking through the Afterbay this past week and some of the fish have been on the lookout for them.  I don’t think we’re going to see what we saw in the past, but streamer fishing with white bugs has definitely picked up the past week and there are a ton of minnows up in the big lake.