Today’s Bighorn Mountain Trail and Snow Conditions
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 at mid-lower elevations (below 10,000'). Water levels are high and slightly off-color, and fishing will be difficult in higher gradient sections. Concentrate your efforts in flatter, slower moving zones and along the stream edges.
Fly fishermen may have luck with Beadhead nymphs. Good patterns would be Pat's Rubber Leggs, Halfbacks, etc. trailed by smaller patterns like Prince Nymph, Pheasant Tail or Hare's Ear.
The fish are starting look up and Attractor Dry Flies will be effective at times. Good patterns would be Stimulators, Mini Chubbies, and Hippie Stompers. 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 at mid-lower elevations (below 10,000'). Water levels are high and slightly off-color, and fishing will be difficult in higher gradient sections. Concentrate your efforts in flatter, slower moving zones and along the stream edges.
Fly fishermen may have luck with Beadhead nymphs. Good patterns would be Pat's Rubber Leggs, Halfbacks, etc. trailed by smaller patterns like Prince Nymph, Pheasant Tail or Hare's Ear.
The fish are starting look up and Attractor Dry Flies will be effective at times. Good patterns would be Stimulators, Mini Chubbies, and Hippie Stompers. 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 opening up. Most lakes below 10,000' elevation should be ice free and fishable. Tie Hack Reservoir and Meadowlark Lake are open and fishing is good.
Fly Fishermen should try Small Beadhead nymphs, good patterns would be Hare's Ears, Copper Johns, and Pheasant Tails. Also small midge or chironomid patterns will be effect
If the fish are active on the surface, try small Ant or Beetle Patterns, Renegades, or small Caddis Patterns.
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 opening up. Most lakes below 10,000' elevation should be ice free and fishable. Tie Hack Reservoir and Meadowlark Lake are open and fishing is good.
Fly Fishermen should try Small Beadhead nymphs, good patterns would be Hare's Ears, Copper Johns, and Pheasant Tails. Also small midge or chironomid patterns will be effect
If the fish are active on the surface, try small Ant or Beetle Patterns, Renegades, or small Caddis Patterns.
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 good. 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.
Fly fishermen may have luck with larger nymphs, or small streamers. There are 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 good. 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.
Fly fishermen may have luck with larger nymphs, or small streamers. There are 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 now open and folks are fishing.
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.
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 now open and folks are fishing.
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.
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.
General Info:
Most areas below 10,000' are largely, snow and ice free, and lakes at that elevation and lower are now open. Bighorn Mountain streams have good flows and water clarity and fishing is good.
The weather has been very, hot and dry and fire hazard conditions exist. We have already had several major forest fires this season. Please be extremely careful with open fires and utilize camp stoves for cooking.
Most areas below 10,000' are largely, snow and ice free, and lakes at that elevation and lower are now open. Bighorn Mountain streams have good flows and water clarity and fishing is good.
The weather has been very, hot and dry and fire hazard conditions exist. We have already had several major forest fires this season. Please be extremely careful with open fires and utilize camp stoves for cooking.
Forest Service Road Conditions:
Most Forest Service roads are open and accessible.
Most Forest Service roads are open and accessible.
Cloud Peak Wilderness Trails:
Most trails are ice and snow free below 10,000'. Take extra care on stream crossings as many streams are still running relatively high and swift.
Most trails are ice and snow free below 10,000'. Take extra care on stream crossings as many streams are still running relatively high and swift.
Cloud Peak Wilderness Lakes:
Cloud Peak Wilderness lakes are mostly open up to 10,000' elevation.
Cloud Peak Wilderness lakes are mostly open up to 10,000' elevation.
Snow and Skiing Conditions:
Meadowlark Ski Lodge and Antelope Butte Ski Area are closed for the season.
Meadowlark Ski Lodge and Antelope Butte Ski Area are closed for the season.
January thru Memorial Day
