Booking

The Bighorn River is a tributary of the Yellowstone, is approximately 461 miles long and islocated in the western United States in both Wyoming and Montana. The upper reaches of the Bighorn, south of the Owl Creek Mountains in Wyoming, are known as the Wind River. The Wind River officially becomes the Bighorn River at the Wedding of the Waters, on the north side of the Wind River Canyon near the town of Thermopolis. From there, it flows through the Bighorn Basin in North Central Wyoming, passing through Thermopolis and Hot Springs State Park.  At the border with Montana, the river turns northeast, and flows past the north end of the Bighorns, through the Crow Indian Reservation, where the Yellowtail Dam forms the reservoir of Bighorn Lake.

For most anglers, this is where the action starts. The Big Horn is a classic tailwater fishery that is loaded with big fish – approximately 5,000 to 7,000 trout per mile. Browns to twenty plus inches are not uncommon. There is also a very healthy supply of large rainbow trout. They are fed by a smorgasbord of insects. Miles of cold water below the Afterbay Dam provide a productive trout fishery that is good to great throughout the season. It is arguably one of the finest western trout rivers in the United States or perhaps the world.
The most productive section of river starts at the Afterbay Dam in Fort Smith and runs approximately 46 miles to the town of Hardin. The river is fairly large averaging 150-200 feet wide and normally flowing around 4,000 cfs. Gravel and grass islands are found throughout the river. Sandstone cliffs rise from its banks.

From the dam in Fort Smith, anglers can float fish down to several access points along the river. Three Mile, Bighorn, Mallards Landing, and Two Leggins are the primary access points. The most popular stretch of the Bighorn is from Fort Smith to the Bighorn access. This stretch is the upper end of the river which runs the coldest during hot summer months. Bighorn access to Hardin is also a very productive stretch of river that should not be over looked. There are miles of river in this area all of which are very productive throughout much of the year-round season.

Dry fly fishing on the Horn can be excellent. Like other spring creek environments, overcast days help. Prolific hatches on cloudy days will keep the surface occupied morning to night. Nymph fishing is productive throughout the day and yields lots of big fish. Casting streamers to the banks will also lead to some very large western trout.

Hatches on the Bighorn include Midges, Blue-winged Olives, Tricos, Caddis and Pale Morning Duns. The hatches are not very diverse, but can be prolific. Tricos can be so thick that fishing larger cluster patterns mimic the mat of duns on the water.

Fort Smith is a tiny quiet town with a nice surrounding. Quality restaurants, accommodations, shops, and service is readily available along the Bighorn River. It is a favorite destination for many anglers throughout the country and especially for the locals who fortunately have this tremendous fishery at their dispose every day