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 starting to open up, but the water is cold and high and fishing is tough.
Fly Fishermen should try stonefly nymphs, good patterns would be Halfbacks or Pat's Rubber Leggs.
Spin Fishermen should try small Mepps or Panther Martin Spinners in Gold or Copper.
Worms fished in the deeper holes will also be effective.
(Including Clear Creek, Crazy Woman Creek, Rock Creek, Piney Creek and Tensleep Creek and their tributaries)
Bighorn mountain streams are starting to open up, but the water is cold and high and fishing is tough.
Fly Fishermen should try stonefly nymphs, good patterns would be Halfbacks or Pat's Rubber Leggs.
Spin Fishermen should try small Mepps or Panther Martin Spinners in Gold or Copper.
Worms fished in the deeper holes will also be effective.
Mountain Lakes:
Most high-altitude Cloud Peak Wilderness Lakes are still frozen.
Tie-Hack is now open and accessible.
Fly Fishermen could try small nymphs, good bets would be Pheasant Tails, Hare's Ears, and Red Fox Squirrel Nymphs.
Spin Fishermen could try small spinners, fly and a bubble, or worms.
Most high-altitude Cloud Peak Wilderness Lakes are still frozen.
Tie-Hack is now open and accessible.
Fly Fishermen could try small nymphs, good bets would be Pheasant Tails, Hare's Ears, and Red Fox Squirrel Nymphs.
Spin Fishermen could try small spinners, fly and a bubble, or worms.
Prarie Streams:
Lower elevation sections or area streams are open, however conditions are tough. Stream flows are up and the water is off color. These streams are still fishable in slower pools and along the edges, be very careful if wading as high flows can be dangerous.
Fly Fishermen should try Stonefly Patterns like Pat's Rubber Leggs or Halfback. Wooly Buggers and Streamers can be effective at times.
Spin Fishermen could try small gold or silver spinners, or with worms fished in deeper holes.
Lower elevation sections or area streams are open, however conditions are tough. Stream flows are up and the water is off color. These streams are still fishable in slower pools and along the edges, be very careful if wading as high flows can be dangerous.
Fly Fishermen should try Stonefly Patterns like Pat's Rubber Leggs or Halfback. Wooly Buggers and Streamers can be effective at times.
Spin Fishermen could try small gold or silver spinners, or with worms fished in deeper holes.
Lake Desmet:
Lake DeSmet is starting to pick up. There has been some sizable Lake Trout being caught lately by trollers.
Fly fishermen should try small nymphs, good patterns would be Pheasant Tails, Hare's Ear's, and Prince Nymphs.
Spin Fishermen may have luck with Powerbait fished off the bottom, good colors are Rainbow Glitter, and Sherbet Glitter.
Boat Fishermen may have luck trolling with worm harnesses, small cowbells trailed with a nightcrawler, or Krocodile Spoons.
Lake DeSmet is starting to pick up. There has been some sizable Lake Trout being caught lately by trollers.
Fly fishermen should try small nymphs, good patterns would be Pheasant Tails, Hare's Ear's, and Prince Nymphs.
Spin Fishermen may have luck with Powerbait fished off the bottom, good colors are Rainbow Glitter, and Sherbet Glitter.
Boat Fishermen may have luck trolling with worm harnesses, small cowbells trailed with a nightcrawler, or Krocodile Spoons.
Prairie Lakes and Ponds:
(Including Healy Reservoir, and Muddy Guard Reservoirs)
Muddy Guard Reservoirs are fishing pretty well right now.
Fly Fishermen should try small midge larvae (#18-#20) and chironomid patterns (#12-16). There have been some sporadic Callibaetis Hatches on warm afternoons, try a Hare's Ear Nymph or Parachute Adams when they fish are turned onto these Mayflies.
When it is sunny and warm the fish are going deeper into the water column, they have been holding 10'-20'. A full sinking line might be helpful getting down to the fish.
Spin fishermen could try Lil' Jakes or Kastmaster Lures.
Fishing at Healy Reservoir is starting to pick up as the weather is warming.
Perch can be caught with worms, small jigs, or small spinners. Try Spinner Baits for Bass and large Swim baits and Crank baits for the Tiger Musky.
(Including Healy Reservoir, and Muddy Guard Reservoirs)
Muddy Guard Reservoirs are fishing pretty well right now.
Fly Fishermen should try small midge larvae (#18-#20) and chironomid patterns (#12-16). There have been some sporadic Callibaetis Hatches on warm afternoons, try a Hare's Ear Nymph or Parachute Adams when they fish are turned onto these Mayflies.
When it is sunny and warm the fish are going deeper into the water column, they have been holding 10'-20'. A full sinking line might be helpful getting down to the fish.
Spin fishermen could try Lil' Jakes or Kastmaster Lures.
Fishing at Healy Reservoir is starting to pick up as the weather is warming.
Perch can be caught with worms, small jigs, or small spinners. Try Spinner Baits for Bass and large Swim baits and Crank baits for the Tiger Musky.
General Info:
On the eastern slope of the Bighorns there is 12" snow above 8000'. Many Forest Service Roads are still closed due to wet and snowy conditions. There is more snow on the western slope and conditions are similar there. Most all the lakes are still frozen over, streams are starting to open up, but the water is high and off-color, so fishing is tough.
On the eastern slope of the Bighorns there is 12" snow above 8000'. Many Forest Service Roads are still closed due to wet and snowy conditions. There is more snow on the western slope and conditions are similar there. Most all the lakes are still frozen over, streams are starting to open up, but the water is high and off-color, so fishing is tough.
Forest Service Road Conditions:
Many Forest Service Roads are still closed due to wet and snowy conditions. However, there are a few roads that have opened, Tie Hack is open, Hunter Corrals is open, and Circle Park is open. More areas will become accessible soon with the warming weather.
Many Forest Service Roads are still closed due to wet and snowy conditions. However, there are a few roads that have opened, Tie Hack is open, Hunter Corrals is open, and Circle Park is open. More areas will become accessible soon with the warming weather.
Cloud Peak Wilderness Trails:
All Cloud Peak Wilderness trails snow covered, use snowshoes or skis to travel.
All Cloud Peak Wilderness trails snow covered, use snowshoes or skis to travel.
Cloud Peak Wilderness Lakes:
All major lakes in the Cloud Peak Wilderness are frozen over.
All major lakes in the Cloud Peak Wilderness are frozen over.
Snow and Skiing Conditions:
Meadowlark Ski Area is Closed for the season.
There is some snow left for Backcountry skiing, the Powder River Pass area is still skiing pretty well, but the warmer weather will end that soon. The best snow will be found above 10,000'.
Meadowlark Ski Area is Closed for the season.
There is some snow left for Backcountry skiing, the Powder River Pass area is still skiing pretty well, but the warmer weather will end that soon. The best snow will be found above 10,000'.
January thru Memorial Day
