The flow on the Bighorn has settled in at 4000 CFS. The fish seem to be pretty happy about it and overall the fishing has really picked up.
It appears that the fish are not dialed in on the tiny (20 and 22) Midge and Baetis nymph patterns as much as they were, and are turning in favor towards bigger Sowbugs. Read more...
Water levels have come up just a bit the past few days to around 2350 CFS. The increase in flows has helped out the fishing overall, but it’s not a gimme out there right now. We still have a good majority of rainbows in the system finishing up the spawn. Read more...
We lost another Bighorn legend yesterday. Brad Downey was a well known guide on the Bighorn and just a great guy! We wish his family peace and hope Brad is enjoying some margaritas with the fishing gods!
In honor of Brad, I am featuring the Wondernymph this week. This is a must have Baetis pattern and is a very cool and unique pattern overall. Read more...
Not a whole lot of things have changed the past week on the Bighorn. Flows are stable at around the 2K CFS mark and the river remains gin clear and there is some moss showing up on the lower river. This is something we used to see in the lower water years and it will eventually clear out when Summer rolls in. Read more...
Midges are available year round to Bighorn fish. They are especially important in the Spring. On a lower water year, which we are experiencing now, our Bighorn fish become very selective and you must carry a wide variety of Pupa and Larva versions in all sizes and colors. The Green Weenie dates back a good while in Bighorn fly pattern history and has resurfaced as a ‘must have’ pattern this past winter and Spring. Read more...
The Bighorn is looking great these days since the opening of the upper access points last week. We’re still surprised by the lack of people taking advantage of the prime spring conditions the river is offering. This past weekend there were a handful of folks out, but not like you’d think. Read more...
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...
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...
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...
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...