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Bighorn River Status April 7, 2020
Sorry, no fishing report as the Afterbay and 3 Mile Access points remain closed, as well as other NPS sites. There are still checkpoints on Highway 313, allowing only Big Horn county residents to travel. We’re looking at least through the 30th of April with these rules in place.
BUT, on a positive note, our water is on track for a near perfect season, flow wise. Read more...
Tying the Jellybean Sowbug – Video
The Jellybean Sowbug is a very simple pattern to tie and works well throughout the season on the Bighorn. Guide Bryen Venema ties his version of the Jellybean in this video. This pattern is available to purchase on our online store here as well.
JELLYBEAN SOWBUG
Hook: 2X heavy wire scud (TMC 2457 or equivalent) Sizes 14-18
Thread: Fl. Read more...
Bighorn River Update March 31
About an hour ago, we received this notice from the Bighorn River Alliance via National Park Service. It looks like it’s going to be a bit before things are up and running again on the Bighorn. State FAS sites (Bighorn, Mallards, 2 Leggins) are still open for the time being to Big Horn County residents. Read more...
BIGHORN RIVER UPDATE MARCH 29
We have received word today that the Bighorn River is now closed to non-Big Horn County residents as per order of the Crow Tribe. There were several ‘check points’ on Highway 313 today and will continue to be there most likely for the next couple of weeks. Luckily Big Horn County has yet to report any COVID-19 cases, but is just a matter of time. Read more...
Fishing and Covid-19 Update for the Bighorn River March 26
COVID-19 UPDATE
Bighorn County remains closed to lodging, VRBO, Airbnb, and sit down dining. We will have an update for you over the next few days, but don’t expect these restrictions to lift anytime soon. Health officials are trying to keep outside tourists from coming into the area at this time. Read more...
5 TIPS for Fishing the Bighorn In the Spring
We consider Mid March – May as ‘Spring’ on the Bighorn. The river behaves a lot different than the Summer months. Water temps are cooler, days are a bit shorter and often times we deal with colder weather. To be a successful angler, sometimes you must break the rules and old habits. Read more...
Tying the Cotton Candy Sowbug – Video
The Cotton Candy has become a Bighorn Guides’ favorite Sowbug pattern for the past few years. It’s a fairly simple pattern to tie and holds up great. It’s definitely a ‘Must Have’ pattern for the Spring the Bighorn. If you don’t like tying them, you can order them straight from us HERE. Read more...
Bighorn River Report March 21
It looks like COVID-19 regulations have caught up to us in the Bighorn Valley. As of 5 PM yesterday, March 20th, all lodges and accommodations have been asked to close down for at least a week and then a reevaluation will take place. Luckily no cases, yet, in our region. Our retail fly shop will remain open most every morning for shuttles, flies and supplies. Read more...
Bighorn Fly Patterns – Pat Schelle and the LBF
Pat Schelle is one of our most valuable assets to our business and provides many of the custom patterns that fill our bins and put Bighorn trout in our nets. Here is a cool article Big Sky Journal did back in 2009 about Pat and his famous pattern, the LBF. If you haven’t fished this pattern yet, you need to! Read more...
Top Spring Sowbug Patterns for the Bighorn River
Sowbugs have no doubt become maybe the most abundant food source underneath the surface for Bighorn trout. We’ve come quite a ways from the Ray Charles, although still a very effective fly. There’s no doubt this year with a few less fish in the river, the fish will be more selective and having a range of different patterns will be a must. Read more...