Bighorn River Fishing Report 7/17

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, you’ll be pleased to hear that the river is finally turning a corner. We are seeing that familiar “Bighorn magic” return, and the fishing is shaping up to be just like what we’ve all grown to love about summers on this river.

The BUG energy on the water is picking up, 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 for the kind of consistent, high-quality fishing we look forward to all year.

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 if we all keep that classic Bighorn courtesy in mind. 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!