Thompson's Angling Adventures

The Big Horn River

We consider the Big Horn River below Yellowtail Dam, on Bighorn Lake, to be the greatest and best tail water fishery in the west. The fish counts on this river are awesome, and so is the quantity of aquatic life that provides forage for the fish. It is a large river, usually with a volume of 2500 to 3500 cubic feet per second in the early spring. It offers premier fly fishing by using nymphs, streamers and dry flies. The most productive method in early spring is nymph fishing, although on dark, calm days there can be small mayflies hatching as well as midges and gnats. When this happens, dry fly fishing can be fantastic!

Because this is a great and productive fishery, it is also a very popular fishery. This is why we choose to fish it during the early spring. We begin our fishing in mid to late March, and continue into late April. Although this part of our state is usually warmer than Southwestern Montana, it is still early spring fishing, so warmer clothing will be necessary. We feel that the quality of the fishing makes it all worthwhile, considering the fact that this river is fishable and productive all winter long!

The Big Horn is a large river, approaching a width of 100 yards in many places. The flow is somewhat slower than many of the large western rivers, but it does have areas of fast riffles followed by deeper runs and drifts. There are some islands present in the river, offering channels of seclusion in some places. Most of the fishing is done out of the boat by walking and wading, with drift boats and rafts being the method of transportation to get from hole to hole and downriver to the exit point. The most common drift for a days fishing is about 10 miles, but can be much less if desired.

Of great interest is the fact that this river actually originates on the eastern side of the continental divide west of Dubois, Wyoming and is the Wind River until it reaches a point of name change between Riverton and Thermopolis, Wyoming. Big Horn Lake, which is directly above the dam, is a lake which lies in both Wyoming and Montana. The section of the Big Horn that we fish is approximately 40 miles southeast of Billings. It is best reached by driving east on Interstate 90 from Billings for about 40 miles to the town of Hardin. Then take state highway 313 south for about 40 miles to Ft. Smith. At Fort Smith, you are less than ˝ mile from the Afterbay access immediately below the dam.

Imagine yourself drifting a river that is crystal clear and very wide, lined along the banks with cottonwoods and willows, and as you approach an expansive and gentle riffle, your guide releases the anchor and silently steps out of the boat. He directs your attention to a long and wide riffle which can be comfortably fished by wading, checks your rig for proper flies and weight, then explains the water flow and where in the riffle he wants you to start fishing. You position yourself, make the cast and follow up with mending the line, and as your nymphs drift downstream your eyes are riveted to two orange dots attached to your leader. You are going to make three to four casts and drifts and then move downstream about four to five steps and repeat the process. You notice a disturbance or a slight pause as the orange dots drift, any you immediately raise your rod and tighten up. A heavy, throbbing fish races directly away from you, across the river and downstream. You apply pressure and eventually stop the run. The fish throbs and goes again, you apply pressure by rimming the reel when appropriate, but you are amazed by the strength and power of this fish. You will eventually gain the advantage and bring the fish to the surface and slide him into the net.