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 still fishable, but water levels are low and the fish are a little "spooky".
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 all still fishable, but water levels are low and the fish are a little "spooky".
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
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
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 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.
Fly Fishermen should try small nymphs like Pheasant Tails or Hare's Ears, or small 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.
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, Water Boatman patterns, 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, Water Boatman patterns, 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.
General Info:
The Bighorn Mountains are mostly snow and ice free, and all lakes and peaks are open and accessible.
Overall conditions are dry and hot and the fire danger is also very high. There are fire bans in effect. No open fires except in approved Forest Service grills in formal Campgrounds. So plan accordingly.
Hunting Seasons are open and active on National Forest lands, if you are recreating in those places, you may want to wear Hi-Visibility clothing. Also respect others and share these lands with all users.
Be sure to stay on approved and established trails and routes when traveling on Public lands. Also, make sure that you pick up your litter and minimize your impact on the resource as much as possible. With increased usage of our Public lands all users need to be cognizant of other users and need to respect each other and the resource.
The Bighorn Mountains are mostly snow and ice free, and all lakes and peaks are open and accessible.
Overall conditions are dry and hot and the fire danger is also very high. There are fire bans in effect. No open fires except in approved Forest Service grills in formal Campgrounds. So plan accordingly.
Hunting Seasons are open and active on National Forest lands, if you are recreating in those places, you may want to wear Hi-Visibility clothing. Also respect others and share these lands with all users.
Be sure to stay on approved and established trails and routes when traveling on Public lands. Also, make sure that you pick up your litter and minimize your impact on the resource as much as possible. With increased usage of our Public lands all users need to be cognizant of other users and need to respect each other and the resource.
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 open and accessible.
Most trails are open and accessible.
Cloud Peak Wilderness Lakes:
Cloud Peak Wilderness lakes are all open and accessible and fishing is good.
Cloud Peak Wilderness lakes are all open and accessible and fishing is good.
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
