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 high and off-color. Some streams will be too high to fish, some may have enough clarity and be slow enough to fish effectively.
The best bets for Fly Fishermen will be heavier, Beadhead Nymphs fished in softer water and along the edges. Good patterns would be Pat's Rubber Legs, Halfbacks, Prince Nymphs or bright colored Squirmie Wormies. There are a few streams in the Southern Bighorns (i.e. Middle Fork of Powder River) where the water has some clarity and fishing is excellent with stonefly imitations.
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 high and off-color. Some streams will be too high to fish, some may have enough clarity and be slow enough to fish effectively.
The best bets for Fly Fishermen will be heavier, Beadhead Nymphs fished in softer water and along the edges. Good patterns would be Pat's Rubber Legs, Halfbacks, Prince Nymphs or bright colored Squirmie Wormies. There are a few streams in the Southern Bighorns (i.e. Middle Fork of Powder River) where the water has some clarity and fishing is excellent with stonefly imitations.
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 mostly open and ice free below 10,000' elevation. Fishing is good, especially early in the morning and in the evening hours.
Fly Fishermen will have luck with smaller, 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 mostly open and ice free below 10,000' elevation. Fishing is good, especially early in the morning and in the evening hours.
Fly Fishermen will have luck with smaller, 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)
Lower elevation streams are all open and fishing is good, however flows are up and the water is slightly off-color. Concentrate on areas where there is "softer" flows and some water clarity.
Fly fishermen will have luck with Streamers or Wooly Buggers trailed with a small beadhead nymph, Perdigon, or Squirmie Wormie. Concentrate on slower flowing water next to banks and deeper pools. One may also encounter 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)
Lower elevation streams are all open and fishing is good, however flows are up and the water is slightly off-color. Concentrate on areas where there is "softer" flows and some water clarity.
Fly fishermen will have luck with Streamers or Wooly Buggers trailed with a small beadhead nymph, Perdigon, or Squirmie Wormie. Concentrate on slower flowing water next to banks and deeper pools. One may also encounter 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 well right now for Boat Anglers. Early morning and late evening hours have the best action.
Trout fishermen may have luck trolling with Krocodile Spoons, Rapalas, or Worm Harnesses for Rainbows.
Folks are fishing with large Flatfish lures on downriggers or are jigging with large white jigs for Lake Trout.
Kokanee anglers are trolling with Wedding Ring Lures, Squidders or Apex Spoons pulled behind a small flasher and tipped with a piece of corn.
Lake DeSmet is fishing well right now for Boat Anglers. Early morning and late evening hours have the best action.
Trout fishermen may have luck trolling with Krocodile Spoons, Rapalas, or Worm Harnesses for Rainbows.
Folks are fishing with large Flatfish lures on downriggers or are jigging with large white jigs for Lake Trout.
Kokanee anglers are trolling with Wedding Ring Lures, Squidders or Apex Spoons pulled behind a small flasher and tipped with a piece of corn.
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
