Fishing Season: Summer

Bighorn River - WY

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

71

Jeramie Prine's Tip of the Week

The Bighorn River is back to fishing again with all restrictions lifted with fall bringing cooler temperatures. Traditional nymphing, dry dropper setups, and streamer fishing will catch fish. To see the actual water flows, please visit: https://www.usbr.gov/gp-bin/arcweb_boyr.pl

Directions open in app

Map of Bighorn River

Orvis-Endorsed guides nearby

Dunoir Fishing Adventures

5-Day Outlook as of 9/24/26

The weather looks great this week for fall fly fishing on the Bighorn River. Mornings are cooler and days are perfect for fishing.

Techniques & Tips as of 9/24/26

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

Local Species Available Summer

  • Fish Icon

    Fall

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

A realistic imitation of mayfly species, the Bead Head Hare’s Ear Flashback fly attracts fish to your line.

1.99

Item #803E

Buy Now

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:

6:00-12:00

Best Stretch:

All of it!

Best Access:

Wedding of the Waters