Bighorn

[Jerritt]

I WANT TO HIT THE BIG HORN UP BY FORT SMITH MONTANA THIS YEAR. HAS ANYONE BEEN THERE? WHAT TIME OF YEAR IS BEST TO GO? WHAT FLY PATTERNS? AND ANYONE ELSE INTERESTED WOULD BE WELCOME. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE

[ScottT]

Have only been there once, but there's heel-marks down the road - I had to be dragged away from this great river!
Fished it last early May for 3 days - mostly in a very light drizzle, cloudy all day, from a kickboat. All dry action. The midges were so thick you could scrape them off your pontoons literally by the handful. Posted Griffith Gnats and Para. Adams were successful for me.

This was BY FAR my best experience with true trout "hunting". You would spot a fish and them work for him. So much food on the water that timing the rises and a perfect float seemed critical. It could take 15-20 minutes some times just to get bit, but to me this is the ultimate fly fishing experience.

Have fished all the "usual suspects" (San Juan, Lee's Ferry, Green, etc, etc...) but this was the greatest. Could have been 1st trip luck, but I'm planning a return trip soon.

**The preceding was not a paid endorsment**

BTW, There's a bazillion guides working this river. One even had the audacity to walk a 100 yds. upstream to where I was fishing and ask me to move on, for he was resting this stretch of water for his clients while they ate lunch!!! I "politely" declined his request. The guided folks were primarily chuck-n-duckers, so the dry action in the slicks against the trees was left alone for the most part.

[J.J. Thornton]

I have a group of 20 guys I am taking to the Bighorn on4/27 to 5/4. We will be staying in "Cottonwood Campground". This is in the Fort Smith area of the Bighorn south of Yellowtail Dam. Most of us have been there before so we know what to expect. Cottonwood has cabins for rent and is by far the most reasonable as far as lodging goes. They have cooking facilities in every cabin which is a must because there is only one eating establishment in town. This would be "Polly's". We have found that these tailwater fisherey's are best fished before the big spring flows. They are real tough to fish once the big water comes. Boats can be rented for from $75 to $100 per day and is recomended. Using the boats gets you away from the access areas where the river is less crowded. Do not think that you will have solitude, or the river to yourself. This is a very popular river at this time of the year. If there is anything more that you would need to know feel free to e-mail me.