…and some midge and fish are eating them! It’s been a long spring without any dry fly fishing to speak of but that has changed in the last couple of days. There were a bunch of olive sailboats out there yesterday and fish were eagerly on them as well as midge clusters and some singles. Streamer fishing should be decent this week with mostly over cast skies and cooler weather, rolled quite a few yesterday on tan and brown and olive and brown. Nymphins still remains great, but you’re going to need a little more weight with the increased flows. We are running about 3,600 cfs and the river is in great shape. The same patterns are still producing great results with more emphasis on the dries (midge and Baetis) and Baetis nymphs.

This is from the Bureau of Reclamation:

"During the daylight hours of May 5, 6, and 7, 2009, flows in the Bighorn River will fluctuate as the BOR tests new gate automation equipment at the Afterbay Dam. Flow rates in the river can be expected to vary between 1,500 cfs and 4,500 cfs for very brief periods, during which the USGS will be measuring flows in the river. The tests are being closely coordinated with Montana FWP to minimize fishery impacts. Bighorn River recreationists are cautioned to be aware of changing flow conditions during this time."

What this really means:

Fishing is going to be a little screwy on the above mentioned dates, or perhaps not as consistent. The plus side is that those surges of water are going to clean up the river a little bit and maybe keep us from getting high flows of 8,000 cfs plus during the run off period. And whose to say what impact it will have on the rainbows that are going to be in spwaning mode, though it should create a little more clean gravel for these fish.

Flows have gone up a little bit this past week, we’re currently running at about 3,000 cfs and it looks like it’ll remain steady. The dry fly fishing has been hit or miss with both midge and Baetis. Some days only the Upper 3 is getting the action and other days once you get into the Snag and below to 13 do you some heads. These fish ar definitely a little more finicky on the dry this Spring as opposed to last year. Some folks are doing great on streamers even on the bright days. When it comes to good streamer fishing out here you really have to look at the traffic ahead of you; if everybody’s throwing the same patterns to the same fish on the same banks, then switch it up, go deep and fish the troughs. Strikes still seem to be better on a slower strip with a pause in between. The fish still seem interested in chasing the big stuff and I find running a cone-head or weighted eyes to give it a good jig action is th best way to get ‘em to commit. Nymphing of course is great. Water temperatures are still right around 38 degrees (give or take a couple depending which day it is) so keep focused on the inside seams, deeper pools and the rainbows are moving around quite a bit so keep an eye out for holding water. There are a few redds being built out there, so please be mindful of this and let the ‘bows do their thing.

P.S. I did see some carp looking up on the lake the other day and caught ‘em….

…not yet. We’ve had a few teasing sessions on the dry. The midge have been out there with this string of warm weather, but apparently not enough to get these fish looking up. The Upper 3 has been the best bet to get into some dry fly fishing with trout sipping on emergers and singles and the handful of Baetis that appear every afternoon, there remains to be very limited dry fly action below Three Mile. Streamers have been hit or miss, some days better than others, spotty at best. I would recommend hucking the big ugly stuff if you’re either early or late on the river, perhaps the fish are just a little shy with the mid-day traffic. Nymphing has been steadily improving. I’ve been running just a natural sow bug and a red midge larvae through all of my favorite little boxes, buckets and holes and have been tearin’ ‘em up; a lot of rainbows in the two to three pound range. These fish are hard hitting and aggro, as soon as you hit ‘em they’re slugging ya right back and rippin’ off line… make sure you got a good drag. Focus on slower currents, inside seams and pools, and if the afternoon bite is growing slow throw on a Baetis nymph.

Suggested Patterns: Dries Dandelion Midge grey and black sz. 20-22; Brooks Sprout midge black and grey sz. 20-22; Sipper Midge 22; Griffiths Gnat and/or Posted Cluster sz. 18-20; Smoke Jumper brown and black sz. 20; CDC Hanging midge grey and black sz. 18-22; CDC Single Midge sz. 18-22; Midge Adult black and grey sz. 18-22; Parachute Adams sz. 16-24; CDC Baetis Sparkle Dun sz. 16-20; Baetis Comparadun sz. 16-20; No Hackle Baetis sz. 16-20; Crippled Thor sz. 18-22; Brooks Sprout Baetis sz. 18-22. Nymphs Grey, tan, or pink Ray Charles, Soft Hackle Ray Charles sz. 16-20; Grey, tan, pink Soft Hackles sz. 18-20; Firebead Sow Bugs tan and pink sz. 18-20; grey Poxyback Sow Bug sz. 16-20; Orange Bighorn Scud sz. 14-18; Spring Creek Scuds orange, tan, pink sz. 14-18; Micro Two-Tone worms sz. 14-16; Green Weenie sz. 18-20; Root Beer Midge sz. 16-20; Red Larva sz. 14-22; Black and grey glass bead Zebra Midge sz. 18-22; Killer Mayfly sz. 20-24; Killer Baetis Nymph sz. 18-22; Bighorn Baetis Nymph sz. 18-20; Grey RS2 sz. 18-20; Flashback Quill Nymph sz. 18-20; Poxyback P.T. sz. 18-20. Streamers Black and anything has been producing the best for me. A few boats have done well with white on these recent sunny days. Bow River Bugger sz. 4-6; Bighorn Bugger sz. 4-6; Brown Zonkers sz. 4-6

The flow has remained steady at 2,400cfs and water temps are hovering between 36-40 depending on the day.

The most current report is below this article.

Dave Palumbo and I guided a great group of guys in from Seattle this weekend. We had some great weather for two days and it got a little cold on one day. We caught few fish on Dries but the bread and butter was Streamers, and Nymphs. There were some fantastic runs on streamers where every cast seemed like it got a take or a fish hooked. We stopped and nymphed a few spots and had some great success there with seemingly endless fish, it was hard to leave some of those spots because of the consistency of the hookups. Our best streamer was a brown zonker with a flash belly. Our best nymph was a firebead sowbug size 16.

Here are a few pictures these guys were kind enough to send us. 

-Eric Anderson

We have just recently purchases our new fleet of Rental Boats. We now offer four 2009 Hyde Contenders and Three of the redesigned for 2009 Hyde Rocky Mountain Skiffs.

The 2009 Hyde Contender is a great 16 foot drift boat with front and rear casting braces and a full walk through deck. No more balancing acts climbing from the back of the boat to the front, just walk right by the rower as the rower seat is on a pedestal box with floor on each side rather than the typical bench seat for the rower. This also allows more room for coolers and bags. Another great feature is rot storage on both sides of the boat, no more broken rods! This low sided boat still has higher sides in the front and rear that provide safety and a feeling of security.

The 2009 Hyde Skiff is one of the finest boats available, especially for the Bighorn. They have redesigned this skiff for 2009 with higher side walls and a longer 16 foot length. With Front and rear casting braces and the same small footprint that make the skiff so agile it is a dream to row.  Rod Storage and plenty of dry storage make this a very efficient boat.

…in fact it’s already sprung here. Warm days and plenty of sunshine have triggered these fish to move around a bit. Fish are actually starting to look up at the clustering midge and the handfuls of Baetis. Streamer fishing remains excellent with some days better than others, and we have been moving a lot more fish off the banks. And a good deep drag-free nymph rig will produce some fish for ya, concentrate on the slower pools and inside seams.

Suggested patterns: DRIES Dandelion midge sz. 18-24, CDC hanging midge sz. 18-24, smoke jumper midge sz. 20-24, Parachute Adams sz. 16-24, CDC single mide sz. 18-24, Griffith’s Gnat sz. 18-20, Posted Cluster sz. 20, Crippled Thor sz. 18-20, No-Hackle Baetis sz. 16-20, Baetis Comparadun sz. 16-20 NYMPHS Red Lace Larva sz. 14-22, gun-metal pupa sz. 18-24, UV Midge sz. 18-24, Bionic Midge blk/brn sz. 18-24, Zebra midge sz. 18-24, Root Beer midge sz. 18-22, Killer Mayfly sz. 18-22, black/brown PT’s sz. 18-20, black Quill nymphs sz. 18-20, micro 2Tone worm sz. 16, orange/tan/pink scuds sz. 12-18, natural sow bug sz. 16-20, pink/grey/tan Ray Charles sz. 16-20, pink/grey/tan Soft Hackles sz. 14-22 STREAMERS Dirty Red sz. 4, Bow River Bugger sz. 4-6, Bighorn Bugger sz. 4-8, Black and Blue sz. 4, White and Blue sz. 4, black blue or red Quill Pig sz. 4-6, Yellow, brown, olive Zonkers sz. 4-8

Water temp’s are 38-41 and the flow has been steady around 2,400 cfs.

We have been recently blessed with great weather the last couple of weeks with with a lot of sunshine and temperatures even into the mid 60’s, so needless to say the fishing has been great! Water temp’s are definitely cold and probably around 40 degrees which force the trout to ball up into the deep troughs and slower currents. Right now anything is possible.

Streamers have been on fire! Any pattern with blue flash seems to be the most productive (white and blue, black and blue) on both cloudy and bright days. A lot of the patterns I have been tossing lately are un-weighted and adorn deer hair heads so that with a 300 (or more) grain sink tip I am able to hit the banks without hanging up and still have the ability to get the fly down into deeper water columns where the fish are more plentiful. On the lower river black/red and yellow/red have been moving fish consistently. I’ve also been out there with the Spey rod trying to perfect my technique, and instead of dead drifting nymphs I’ve been swinging traditional Spey patterns with  a Bighorn twist. Smaller brown trout imitations (sz 2) and big white/blue and black/blue (sz 1/0 or 2/0) have been good, though swinging is not the most productive way to catch trout, you can always catch a couple, on this river it is a fun and welcomed respite from staring at a "bobber."

There have been Baetis out there (18-22) and plenty of midge for surface activity as long as the wind lays down, and hell, I ran into a guy on the river yesterday who said he had about twenty or so fish go after his waking mouse pattern, I wouldn’t doubt it. For those of you who prefer to plunder and pillage go deep with your nymphs and concentrate on slower pools, currents, and seams. Orange and pinks scuds and sow bugs (14-20) have all been really good patterns. Tan, grey, pink soft hackles (16-20), midge larva and pupa (red, black sz. 18-24) will definitely catch fish.

The browns have wrapped up the spawn, but there is still visible gravel, please do your best not to tread on these redds as the eggs are still incubating. 

The flow is around 2,430 cfs today and should be stable between 2300 and 2500.

It’s a beautiful afternoon, the sun is shining, the breezes have calmed and I’m out the door for an Upper 3 float. See you out there!