Bighorn River flooding subsides and the Bighorn River Lodge is back in action. The property has dried out and we are fully operational.

After nearly a week of heavy precipitation, the rain - and the mood - seems to be lightening up.  Roads are open from the Wyoming state line to Hardin and from Hardin to Fort Smith.  Many businesses were forced to shut down temporarily in order to deal with flooding canals and roads.  Thankfully, Bighorn River Lodge has seen minimal water damage.  With the forecast predicting sunshine for the following week, all of us in the Bighorn Valley are looking forward to drying out.    

Even though roads into Fort Smith were shut down last week, it didn't shut off the fishing.  The few who were stranded in town made the most of it and fished the upper 3 miles below Afterbay.  The murky water, according to some, triggered some of the hatches we have been waiting for all spring.  As the tributaries subside and the river begins to clear, drifters head down stream to 13 mile and the lodge, with good reports.  I fished 3 mile to the lodge yesterday with my dad, John, with an umbrella in tow.  Even though the prediction of 100% rainfall came through, we managed to catch a dozen fish each at two different wade spots.  Size #20 black midge, #16 pink sow bug and #12 two-tone wine colored worm worked best. 

As summer approaches, snowmelt will soon begin in earnest.  Soap Creek and Mountain Pocket tributaries will likely dry up in the days to come.  Experience tells us that the Bighorn will continue to provide great fishing under dynamic river conditions.  Nymph fishing is always productive in high water.  However, after last year's high river conditions, we had some of the best P.M.D. and Yellow Sally hatches people have seen in years.  Hopefully, the Bighorn will provide equal dry fly hatches when the river starts to drop mid to late June.  Who knows?  I even saw a grasshopper in the garden a couple of days ago . . .  See you on the river.

Written by Janel Boshoff