Entries by Pete Shanafelt

Bighorn River Fishing Report 10/9

We are officially in a classic autumn transition period on the Bighorn. Bighorn Lake is experiencing its annual turnover, and the river has been taking on some characteristic “greener” water as things mix. Because of this seasonal shift, overall fishing has gotten a bit tougher. Hatches in general—and the caddis in particular—are definitely starting to fade.

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Bighorn River Fishing Report 10/1

River flows have bumped up to 1,800 cfs, a jump that has thrown the trout off just a bit and made the bite a little more technical as they adjust to the higher water. While the lake hasn’t fully turned over yet, we are starting to see a touch of “green” water up on the upper 3 miles—a classic early indicator of the seasonal turnover starting to signal what’s on the horizon.

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Bighorn River Fishing Report 9/17

Flows have leveled back down nicely and are currently holding steady between 1,400 and 1,500 cfs. The late-summer rhythm on the river is treating us well, and conditions are shaping up wonderfully as we move deeper into September.
Bug activity continues to offer great variety throughout the day. We are still seeing some good, reliable windows of black caddis, alongside a few PMDs and pseudos making an appearance during the afternoon hours to keep the trout looking up.

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Bighorn River Tactics – Fishing with the Grass

Late summer and early fall on the Bighorn River bring a distinctive set of challenges and rewards for anglers willing to navigate its changing aquatic landscape. Lush weed beds that start their growth in late July and August heat reach their peak density, choking backwater channels and creating a complex maze of submerged vegetation.

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Bighorn River Fishing Report 9/11

We are seeing a noticeable weather change move into the area, bringing cooler temperatures that might slow down the caddis activity a bit. But as any seasoned Bighorn angler knows, a shift in the weather usually brings its own kind of reward. With the cooler conditions settling in, streamer fishing is poised to pick up, and the nymph bite remains as reliable as ever.

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Bighorn River Fishing Report 9/4

Flows recently dipped down to 1,350 cfs, due to some blockage at the Afterbay gates.  We are expecting them to level back out at 1,500 cfs any day now. Even with the slight fluctuation, the late-summer rhythm on the Bighorn is holding strong, and September is shaping up to be an incredible month on the water since many of our hatches have run a bit later this season.

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Bighorn River Fishing Report 8/27

Flows have bumped up just a bit to 1,600 cfs, and combined with the seasonal grass growth along the banks, the river is fishing with a bit more depth and character right now. Conditions are setting up nicely, and the late-summer rhythm on the Bighorn is in full swing.
Bug activity remains pretty robust across the system.

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Bighorn River Fishing Report 8/16

Flows are holding steady at a reliable 1,500 cfs, and mid-summer conditions on the Bighorn are locked in. We are seeing a noticeable uptick in bug activity across the board, making for some very productive days on the water.
One of the big developments right now is the expansion of caddis.

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Bighorn River Fishing Report August 3, 2026

Flows are holding steady at 1,500 cfs, and the summer rhythm on the Bighorn is getting stronger by the day. As an update to our last report, the bug life is really starting to expand down in the 3-to-B section.

We are seeing more and more black caddis filling out the water, alongside an increasing presence of tan caddis and PMDs beginning to show up.

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Bighorn Fishing Report 7/27

If you caught our last report, you know the Bighorn was starting to turn a corner—and we are happy to share that the momentum is continuing right into a true, classic Bighorn summer. Flows are holding steady at 1,500 cfs, and the river is fishing the way we love to see it.

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