Fishing The Bighorn

High Country fishing doesn’t stop at the Colorado border. On the heels of a six-year drought, Montana’s Big Horn River is busting with monster trout.

By Michael Mastrangelo

The Bighorn River is a tailwater fishery located in the south central part of Montana 95 miles south of Billings and a 7-8 hour drive from Denver.

Many anglers believe this is one of the finest trout streams in the world.

The Yellowtail Dam, built in 1967, created the perfect trout habitat. Behind the dam is a 72 mile long lake in which limestone from the canyon walls leaches into the water to give the river the perfect PH and nutrients for producing large trout. It is essentially a big spring creek in both clarity, vegetation, and demanding trout.

In the past, the Bighorn was known as a place to catch 30-40 Browns and Rainbows per day. Due to the six-year drought in the Rocky Mountain area, the fishing has changed. Instead of catching many trout in the 15-16 inch range, we are catching less in numbers but bigger trout in the 18+ inch range, with many over 20 inches. There have been several trout caught in the 26 to 28 inch range this year. The river flow is averaging 1300 cfs.

Over the years the river was all things to all people. A beginner could come and catch fish and the experienced angler could find challenging fish. Now the Bighorn has become a technical, site fishing river for both nymphing and dry fly fishing. Since the low water the Bighorn has become a trophy trout fishery and I don’t recommend people come here without hiring a guide. I have witnessed unguided anglers struggling on the river, while my clients are catching many big browns and rainbows. The reason for this is big fish don’t become big by being stupid. They have to survive in low, clear, cold water with many predators, including anglers.

When an angler is not stealthy, wading too deep, making sloppy casts, ripping their line off the water, or not getting a dead drift with proper mends they won’t catch fish. The angler that is willing to be a hunter and presents the flies well will be rewarded. That is why I recommend a guide, to locate fish and facilitate fly selection and techniques that will work.

Tackle selection: 8-9 ft., 4-6 wt. Rod, good reel with reliable drag. Weight forward floating line. For nymphing – 9-12 ft. leaders to 4 or 5x. I use Fluorocarbon in slower water, in 4-5x on the flies.

For dry fly fishing  I use 16-20 ft. leaders tapering to 4x or 5x. The reason for this long leader is to keep the fly line away from the fish. If the trout see the line, they won’t eat. You need a variety of aerial mends in your casts in order to present the fly first to the fish. If they see the leader, tippet, or any drag, even micro-drag, they won’t eat your fly. To combat this you have to get slack into your system. The best presentations are accomplished by positioning yourself almost directly downstream of the fish or downstream and slightly to the side of the fish. Good casting technique is imperative. On the forward cast, you must come to a complete, hard stop. The reason for this is the hard stop will straighten out the leader, and it will bounce back a little and give you slack in the leader. Another necessary tactic is to lead the trout with your fly at least 5 or 6 feet. You must remember that where you see the fish rise is not necessarily where its position is. The way they take is to see the fly coming at them (in their lane), look at it closely, and drift back with the fly a few feet, and then eat it. Always lead the fish.

When nymphing, presentation is key as well. If you spot a fish, determine if he is feeding. That would be if he is moving side to side, up or down, and opening its’ mouth. Think before you make that first cast. You must get the best position on him in order to be successful. There is an old saying that I like, “cast less and catch more fish.”

The key question you must ask yourself is “What is the best position to cast from where I can get the fly down to the fish without drag?” Sometimes your position will be upstream, downstream, or across from the fish. It also depends on how spooky the trout is. If you can see the fish it is best to make the presentation without a strike indicator. These fish will run from an indicator at times. Grease the end of your fly line so it will float and either watch that for any movement, speed up, or slow down, hesitation etc. or watch the fish for movement when your fly is near. Set the hook with authority and raise your rod and keep it there (vertical). These fish will generally make a big run either across or downstream. On this first run do not try to stop him, just slow him down.  Any stopping of the line with these fish will result in a break off. During his initial run you want to walk downstream of him with your rod raised high (90 degrees vertical) and get downstream of the fish’s position. This allows you to leverage him out of the current and into the bank for landing. You use rod angle to fight the fish. That is why it is called angling. I have a quote of Ted Williams, the baseball great on my web site, he says, “ the direction and angle of pressure is more important than the amount of pressure. Put pressure against their lateral line.”

If you don’t move with these fish, chances are you won’t land them, or you will extend the fight and probably kill the fish. These fish are like steelhead, I call them Super Trout and they fight to the death. The techniques I have developed will help you land your fish quickly and give them a fast, healthy release.

The Bighorn is not for everyone. But if your goal is to catch wild, 18-24 inch rainbows and browns with the chance to catch the trout of a lifetime, you should come and give it a try.

 

About the Author

Michael Mastrangelo has been fishing the Bighorn River since 1985 and is the Outfitter for the Fort Smith Fly Shop and Cabins for the past 7 years. Michael has recently been elected as President of the Bighorn River Alliance, a non-profit organization to enhance, protect and preserve the Bighorn River. Michael can be contacted by mail at PO Box 7872, Fort Smith, MT 59035, by phone at 406-666-2550 or by email at michael@flyfishingthebighorn.com.

or visit their website at www.flyfishingthebighorn.com