Entries by Pete Shanafelt

Bighorn River Fishing Update 3/19

Spring fishing is full on here on the Bighorn and everyone is starting to figure it out.  It’s getting busy on the weekends, but the fish are eating well and looking great!

We had our first guided groups out this past week and great fishing was reported by all.  Nymphing with Jellybeans, Red Bead Carpet Bugs, Throat Lozenge Sowbugs and general midge patterns (zebras, green weenies, red midge larva) produced good numbers of fish.  Read more...

Bighorn River Fishing Update 3/6

Back to cold weather for a bit.  Our friends and guests were out this past weekend and had some excellent fishing, when they could feel their fingers!  The fish are plentiful this Winter and in great shape.

Same ol’ same ol’ for nymphing.  PINK stuff, zebras, red midge larva and some worms here and there are catching them.  Read more...

Bighorn River Fishing Update February 13

 

Just had a great break in the weather and many folks took advantage of it.  The fishing has been excellent when the wind is down and there’s no ice in your guides!

Nymphing with Pink stuff (Cotton Candy, Jellybeans, Softhackle Sows and pretty much anything with a pink Bead) followed up with a smaller Sowbug or Zebra is about all you need right now. Read more...

Bighorn Fishing Update 1/29

We’re stuck in the cold for a few more days but things should be back to normal shortly!  Fishing overall has been great this winter.  We’re seeing really good numbers of fish and a huge size variety.  From 12-22″, they’re all in the river.  It should be an excellent season ahead of us! Read more...

Bighorn River Fishing Update 12/6

The river is finally getting to its prime shape.  Clarity has really come back and grass is a minimal issue.  Water temps are dipping into the high 40’s.  The fish are happy and browns are in full spawn mode.  As we always preach, please don’t harass these fish!

Fly patterns will pretty much stay the same throughout the rest of the Winter.  Read more...

Bighorn River Update Nov 23

We hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving!  There is some nice weather on the way to the Bighorn valley, at least for a few days.  We were hoping the water would clear up by now, but doesn’t look to be the case.  I was on the Upper 3 a couple days back and clarity remains about 2′ at best.  Read more...

Bighorn River Fishing Update 11/1

We’re still a bit out from having clear Winter flows but overall fishing has been pretty decent.  There is still grass throughout the whole system and the clarity isn’t ideal, but better than past years.  The cold weather on tap for this week should help speed up the turnover process. Read more...

Bighorn Angler Fishing Update 10/22

We’re in the midst of turnover time on the Bighorn.  Green water and a good amount of drifting grass pose obstacles to the angler.  There have been some good reports from the streamer world and OK reports from the nymph guys.  We need some colder night time temps to speed the flush of the river up, which will probably be a couple/few weeks still..  Read more...

Bighorn Fishing Update October 9

It’s finally happening – Bighorn Lake is starting to turn and the river is getting its famous ‘Fall Green.’  For the conditions at the present moment, the fishing has been pretty decent.  I’ve seen it a lot tougher in previous years! We’re seeing good numbers of fish at certain windows of the day (late morning- mid afternoon) and we’ve seen some big boys come out of the woodwork as well (like the fish above). Read more...