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 in good condition and fishing is very good.
Fly fishermen will have luck with a wide variety of flies. Attractor patterns like Humpy's, Royal Wulff's, and Stimulators would be good bets. Small beadhead nymphs will also be effective at times, Prince Nymphs, Guide's Choice Hare's Ears, and Frenchie's being good choices.
A "Hopper/Dropper Rig" is a good technique, with a larger, visible and bouyant dry fly (think Hopper Patterns or Chubby Chernobyl's), trailed with a small beadhead, 18" or so below the dry fly.
Spin fishermen may have luck with small spinners, like Panther Martin or Mepps. Or with worms fished in the deeper pools and runs.
(Including Clear Creek, Crazy Woman Creek, Rock Creek, Piney Creek and Tensleep Creek and their tributaries)
Bighorn mountain streams are in good condition and fishing is very good.
Fly fishermen will have luck with a wide variety of flies. Attractor patterns like Humpy's, Royal Wulff's, and Stimulators would be good bets. Small beadhead nymphs will also be effective at times, Prince Nymphs, Guide's Choice Hare's Ears, and Frenchie's being good choices.
A "Hopper/Dropper Rig" is a good technique, with a larger, visible and bouyant dry fly (think Hopper Patterns or Chubby Chernobyl's), trailed with a small beadhead, 18" or so below the dry fly.
Spin fishermen may have luck with small spinners, like Panther Martin or Mepps. Or with worms fished in the deeper pools and runs.
Mountain Lakes:
(Including Tie Hack Reservoir, Meadowlark Lake, and Cloud Peak Wilderness Lakes)
Most Bighorn Mountain Lakes are open and fishing is good.
Fly Fishermen should try Terrestrial patterns, especially Ants and Beetles. Small nymphs like Hare's Ears, Pheasant Tails, or Copper Johns are good bets.
Spin Fishermen should try small Panther Martin or Mepps Spinners or Jake's Lures. Also, a fly and bubble rig will also be effective if the fish are hitting on top. Worms fished deep or below a bobber will also be effective.
(Including Tie Hack Reservoir, Meadowlark Lake, and Cloud Peak Wilderness Lakes)
Most Bighorn Mountain Lakes are open and fishing is good.
Fly Fishermen should try Terrestrial patterns, especially Ants and Beetles. Small nymphs like Hare's Ears, Pheasant Tails, or Copper Johns are good bets.
Spin Fishermen should try small Panther Martin or Mepps Spinners or Jake's Lures. Also, a fly and bubble rig will also be effective if the fish are hitting on top. Worms fished deep or below a bobber will also be effective.
Prarie Streams:
(Including Clear Creek, Crazy Woman Creek, Rock Creek and Piney Creek)
Lower elevation streams are fishing well. However, some sections have very low water levels and warm temperatures. If you are practicing "catch and release", try to fish in the morning hours before noon and the heat of the day. This is called "Hoot Owl" fishing hours.
One stretch of water where this is very important is The Middle Fork of Powder River near Outlaw Cave west of Kaycee. Water levels are very low and water temperatures are very warm. "Hoot owl" fishing is highly recommended, or just postpone your visit until fall when water temperatures drop. If you are practicing catch and release, it is very likely that your catch will be stressed by the high temperatures and will die.
Fly fishermen will have luck with Elk Hair Caddis, Purple Haze, or small hopper patterns. Also, small streamers and Wooly Buggers will be effective at times.
Spin fishermen may have luck with small spinners, like Panther Martin or Mepps. Or with worms fished in the deeper pools and runs.
(Including Clear Creek, Crazy Woman Creek, Rock Creek and Piney Creek)
Lower elevation streams are fishing well. However, some sections have very low water levels and warm temperatures. If you are practicing "catch and release", try to fish in the morning hours before noon and the heat of the day. This is called "Hoot Owl" fishing hours.
One stretch of water where this is very important is The Middle Fork of Powder River near Outlaw Cave west of Kaycee. Water levels are very low and water temperatures are very warm. "Hoot owl" fishing is highly recommended, or just postpone your visit until fall when water temperatures drop. If you are practicing catch and release, it is very likely that your catch will be stressed by the high temperatures and will die.
Fly fishermen will have luck with Elk Hair Caddis, Purple Haze, or small hopper patterns. Also, small streamers and Wooly Buggers will be effective at times.
Spin fishermen may have luck with small spinners, like Panther Martin or Mepps. Or with worms fished in the deeper pools and runs.
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 using Jake's Lures in the shallow bays, or 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.
Fly Fishermen should try small nymphs like Pheasant Tails or Hare's Ears, or small 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 using Jake's Lures in the shallow bays, or 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.
Fly Fishermen should try small nymphs like Pheasant Tails or Hare's Ears, or small 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 (both nymphs and dry flies) and Balanced Leeches fished below an indicator or with large streamers fished deep. Also there are reports of anglers doing well with Hopper Patterns fished on top, especially early and late.
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 (both nymphs and dry flies) and Balanced Leeches fished below an indicator or with large streamers fished deep. Also there are reports of anglers doing well with Hopper Patterns fished on top, especially early and late.
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
