Fishing Season: Winter

Bighorn River - WY

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

46

Jeramie Prine's Tip of the Week

The Bighorn River is fishing like winter. Start fishing smaller nymphs and getting down deep in runs. Nymphing is the name of the game. Use smaller nymphs 16-20 and run them deep. Nymphing is the name of the game with winter(ish) weather. To see the actual water flows, please visit: https://www.usbr.gov/gp-bin/arcweb_boyr.pl

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Map of Bighorn River

Water Flow Data

Tidal Conditions

Orvis-Endorsed guides nearby

Dunoir Fishing Adventures

5-Day Outlook as of 1/27/26

Temperatures are mild so far this winter. Keep an eye on weather patterns and choose the best day to fish.

Techniques & Tips as of 1/27/26

Nymphing, dry fly, and streamer fishing have been catching trout. Focus on deeper runs.

Local Species Available Winter

  • Fish Icon

    Trout

Jeramie Prine's Recommended Fly Patterns

"Must-have" fly fishing patterns in descending order of importance:

Name: Colors: Size(s):
Bead Head Hare's Ear Flashback N/A 16
Indicator Spinner - Trico N/A 16
Shaky Worm N/A 16
Rouse's J-Dub Sow Bug N/A 16
Schroeder's Parachute Hopper N/A
Schultzy's Red Eyes Leech N/A

Bead Head Hare's Ear Flashback

Fish love flies that have a bit of flash.

2.49

Item #803E

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Jeramie Prine's Recommended Gear

Description: About Bighorn River

The Bighorn River in Wyoming is an amazing fishery that can be fished year-round for big healthy Browns, Rainbows, and the occasional Cutthroat Trout. It definitely helps to fish this river from a drift boat as it is a large river, and there is limited and hard to reach public access. The Bighorn River boasts roughly 1100 trout per mile, and the scenery is not too bad either. The Bighorn River in Wyoming is similar to the stretch in Montana, but not nearly the amount of people the river sees up north. With that said, the Bighorn in Wyoming has been discovered and in the spring the river can get pretty busy. Winter can be a great time to fish the Bighorn with little to no crowds. In summer, anglers can count on moss but some great dry fly fishing. Fall can be a magical time on the river with cooler temps, less moss, and fish chasing streamers.

Nearest Airport:

Riverton Regional Airport

Hatches:

Midges, sow bugs, baetis, mud bugs, and annelids.

Best Time to Fish:

9:00-4:00

Best Stretch:

All of it!

Best Access:

Wedding of the Waters