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Fishing Reports

Rocky Mountains

Bighorn River Extravaganza!!!
May 09, 2005

Posted by JJ Thornton
Washingtonville, NY 10992 USA
Email: kmjjt@frontiernet.net

Current Report
Just returned from the Bighorn River at Ft. Smith Mt. This being the third trip to the Bighorn for my group of 16 people from all over the USA I was a little uneasy with all of the bad press and internet chat room talk I had been reading. Just to let everyone know the Bighorn is alive and well. These fish are the stongest I have ever seen them and their size is just incredable. I would say that the average fish was between 17-19 inches and full of fight. There were a few hogs caught in the 20 to 25 inch range. I would say that my group of 16 people for 6 days of fishing landed somewhere in the area of 1500 to 1800 fish. This is probably on the low side but will give you the idea of the fishing. We are somewhat experienced flyfishing people and do a lot of fly tying on site once we find out what the fish have zeroed in on as far as feeding preferance. My group stayed at Cottonwood campground with Rhoda and Alvin and rented boats from the Bighorn Angler for three of our 6 days. The other 3 days we waded the river on the upper stretch. Not much changed durning the week as far as the bugs we used. The hot bugs were a midge larva brown, black head ribbed in white or cream size 22 and a red thread worm size 20-22. A san juan worm in flesh tone also worked well. One of the keys to catching fish all day was to change up offen both on your flies and at the depth that you were fishing them. The water tempture for the week average somewhere between 43-48 degrees. All I can say is pack your bags and get out to the Bighorn and don't let those chat rooms and magazine articles scare you away and lead you to believe that the Bighorn is not still one of the greatest rivers in the west. Thanks for letting me share my trip with my fellow flyfishing friends. JJT

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