Today’s Bighorn Mountain and Buffalo Area Fishing Report
Mountain Streams:
(Including Clear Creek, Crazy Woman Creek, Rock Creek, Piney Creek and Tensleep Creek and their tributaries)
Bighorn mountain streams are all open and accessible. Water levels are low, and clear.
The fish are starting look up and Attractor Dry Flies will be effective. Good patterns would be Stimulators, Mini Chubbies, and Hippie Stompers. Drop a small Beadhead Nymph off the back of the dry in a "hopper/dropper" rig. There will also be sporadic Mayfly, Caddis, or Stonefly hatches at times, just try to match general colors and sizes of your flies to the naturals.
Spin fishermen may have luck with small spinners (Panther Martin, Mepps, or Rooster Tail) with gold, silver, or copper colored blades.
Worms will also be effective in pools and deeper, slower sections.
(Including Clear Creek, Crazy Woman Creek, Rock Creek, Piney Creek and Tensleep Creek and their tributaries)
Bighorn mountain streams are all open and accessible. Water levels are low, and clear.
The fish are starting look up and Attractor Dry Flies will be effective. Good patterns would be Stimulators, Mini Chubbies, and Hippie Stompers. Drop a small Beadhead Nymph off the back of the dry in a "hopper/dropper" rig. There will also be sporadic Mayfly, Caddis, or Stonefly hatches at times, just try to match general colors and sizes of your flies to the naturals.
Spin fishermen may have luck with small spinners (Panther Martin, Mepps, or Rooster Tail) with gold, silver, or copper colored blades.
Worms will also be effective in pools and deeper, slower sections.
Mountain Lakes:
(Including Tie Hack Reservoir, Meadowlark Lake, and Cloud Peak Wilderness Lakes)
Bighorn Mountain lakes are all open and fishing is good.
Fly Fishermen will have luck with Terrestrial patterns (Ants and Beetles), Renegades, Peacock Caddis and Small Beadhead nymphs, good patterns would be Hare's Ears, Copper Johns, and Pheasant Tails. Also small midge or chironomid patterns will be effect
Spin Fishermen may have luck with small Spinners (Panther Martin, Mepps, or Rooster Tails) or Spoons (Thomas Lures, or Jake's Lures) or a Fly and Bubble rig.
Worms, Salmon Eggs or Powerbait fished off of the bottom may also be effective.
(Including Tie Hack Reservoir, Meadowlark Lake, and Cloud Peak Wilderness Lakes)
Bighorn Mountain lakes are all open and fishing is good.
Fly Fishermen will have luck with Terrestrial patterns (Ants and Beetles), Renegades, Peacock Caddis and Small Beadhead nymphs, good patterns would be Hare's Ears, Copper Johns, and Pheasant Tails. Also small midge or chironomid patterns will be effect
Spin Fishermen may have luck with small Spinners (Panther Martin, Mepps, or Rooster Tails) or Spoons (Thomas Lures, or Jake's Lures) or a Fly and Bubble rig.
Worms, Salmon Eggs or Powerbait fished off of the bottom may also be effective.
Prarie Streams:
(Including Clear Creek, Crazy Woman Creek, Rock Creek and Piney Creek)
*** Watch water temperatures on warm afternoons. If water temperatures exceed 70 deg F, catch and release fishing will probably lead to fish mortality. Try to focus on fishing in the early morning hours or on cooler periods when water temperatures drop well below 70. ***
*** Middle Fork of Powder River west of Kaycee is especially prone to high water temperatures this time of year. If you are catch and release fishing you should avoid fishing this stream until we get an extended period of cooler weather. ***
Lower elevation streams are all open and fishing is fair.
Fly fishermen will have luck with Hopper Patterns and with small nymphs, or small streamers. There are also sporadic hatches of Mayflies, Caddis, and Stoneflies at times. Try to match the naturals by general, form, color and size to be successful.
Spin Fishermen may have luck with Spinners with Gold, Silver, or Copper Blades.
Worms fished in slower, deeper, sections will also be effective.
(Including Clear Creek, Crazy Woman Creek, Rock Creek and Piney Creek)
*** Watch water temperatures on warm afternoons. If water temperatures exceed 70 deg F, catch and release fishing will probably lead to fish mortality. Try to focus on fishing in the early morning hours or on cooler periods when water temperatures drop well below 70. ***
*** Middle Fork of Powder River west of Kaycee is especially prone to high water temperatures this time of year. If you are catch and release fishing you should avoid fishing this stream until we get an extended period of cooler weather. ***
Lower elevation streams are all open and fishing is fair.
Fly fishermen will have luck with Hopper Patterns and with small nymphs, or small streamers. There are also sporadic hatches of Mayflies, Caddis, and Stoneflies at times. Try to match the naturals by general, form, color and size to be successful.
Spin Fishermen may have luck with Spinners with Gold, Silver, or Copper Blades.
Worms fished in slower, deeper, sections will also be effective.
Lake Desmet:
Lake DeSmet is fishing pretty well right now. Early morning and late evening hours have the best action.
Anglers are reporting some luck with Power Bait fished off of the bottom..
Boat fishermen may have luck trolling with Krocodile Spoons, Rapalas, or Worm Harnesses.
Folks are fishing with large Flatfish lures on downriggers for Lake Trout.
Kokanee anglers are trolling with Wedding Ring Lures, or Apex Spoons pulled behind a small flasher and tipped with a piece of corn.
Fly Fishermen should try small nymphs like Pheasant Tails or Hare's Ears, or Streamers or Balanced Leech patterns.
Lake DeSmet is fishing pretty well right now. Early morning and late evening hours have the best action.
Anglers are reporting some luck with Power Bait fished off of the bottom..
Boat fishermen may have luck trolling with Krocodile Spoons, Rapalas, or Worm Harnesses.
Folks are fishing with large Flatfish lures on downriggers for Lake Trout.
Kokanee anglers are trolling with Wedding Ring Lures, or Apex Spoons pulled behind a small flasher and tipped with a piece of corn.
Fly Fishermen should try small nymphs like Pheasant Tails or Hare's Ears, or Streamers or Balanced Leech patterns.
Prairie Lakes and Ponds:
(Including Healy Reservoir, and Muddy Guard Reservoirs)
Muddy Guard Reservoirs are Fishing well. Early morning and late evenings are best.
Fly fishermen should try Damsel patterns, Water Boatman patterns, and Balanced Leeches fished below an indicator or with large streamers fished deep with a fast sinking line.
Some anglers are reporting luck using midge or chironomid patterns fished below an indicator.
Spin Fishermen might try Jake's Lures or Panther Martin Spinners.
Healy Reservoir is fishing very well.
Anglers are doing well catching Perch with Worms fished off of a Crappie rig.
Bass Fishermen are seeing some action with Crankbaits, Wacky Worm rigs, Spinner Baits, or Poppers. Focus on weed beds and along "reedy" banks with lots of cover.
For Tiger Muskies, try large Rapalas, or Large Mepps Bucktail Spinners.
(Including Healy Reservoir, and Muddy Guard Reservoirs)
Muddy Guard Reservoirs are Fishing well. Early morning and late evenings are best.
Fly fishermen should try Damsel patterns, Water Boatman patterns, and Balanced Leeches fished below an indicator or with large streamers fished deep with a fast sinking line.
Some anglers are reporting luck using midge or chironomid patterns fished below an indicator.
Spin Fishermen might try Jake's Lures or Panther Martin Spinners.
Healy Reservoir is fishing very well.
Anglers are doing well catching Perch with Worms fished off of a Crappie rig.
Bass Fishermen are seeing some action with Crankbaits, Wacky Worm rigs, Spinner Baits, or Poppers. Focus on weed beds and along "reedy" banks with lots of cover.
For Tiger Muskies, try large Rapalas, or Large Mepps Bucktail Spinners.
January thru Memorial Day
