By Kirk Deeter

I will never forget my first trip, years ago, to Montana's Bighorn River. Until then, most of my fly-fishing experiences had been focused on smaller rivers and streams in Michigan and Pennsylvania. I'd been told by friends and family members who had fished the Bighorn that making the trek to this fairly isolated spot (far from the more "tourist-friendly" locales like Bozeman or Missoula) was worth the effort.  In my first few minutes of fishing the Bighorn, wading among hordes of eager trout, and learning about the area's huge volume of insects first hand, I knew they were right.  Fishing here can, at times, be a jaw-dropping experience.

I just spent three days fishing the river again with Tim Romano, and I have to say, the appreciation and appeal haven't diminished. The thing I like best about the Bighorn is it has many faces, and offers many opportunities. The fishing can be easy, or it can be technical.  It's completely up to you. If you want to nymph deep runs and pull on many fish, that's usually no problem. But posting up on a subtle dry fly run and casting at finicky risers can test your hatch-matching and casting abilities as thoroughly as anywhere you might go. 

Streamer fishing can be unreal. On any given day, you can try various approaches to push your limits. You can wade it or float it and, in fact, the Bighorn is also a great river for beginning rowers to hone their skills.

Granted, the allure of the Bighorn is no secret. The things you may have heard about massive "drift boat hatches" are true.  But even if you shudder at the prospect of sharing a river float with dozens of other boats, you'd be surprised at how easy it is to find your own little section of water that makes you forget the others are even there.

Not every angler is into tailwater fishing. And for those who are, there are dozens of wonderful options, like the Delaware, the Green, and the Colorado at Lees Ferry, to name a few. It is impossible, in my mind, to single out one as the best tailwater in America. They're all incredible and unique. But the Bighorn is no doubt special, and worth experiencing, whether you're a newbie to the sport, or a grizzled veteran. There's always a new wrinkle to be found here.

Comments (8)

from Dangle wrote 4 weeks 4 days ago

Lots, and lots of great tailwaters created by dams. Thank God for dams.

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from buckhunter wrote 4 weeks 4 days ago

Have not made it to the Bighorn yet but have fished other places in Montana. If you wish to wet a line in Montana, you'll be hard pressed to find a bad spot.

Dangle, there are those who will take exception to your comment but I think you know that.

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from Dangle wrote 4 weeks 4 days ago

Yes, I do know that. Many are just followers of the elitist bunch, and believe dams should be torn out. There are some great tailwater fisheries around the country. I will fish several of the good ones this Summer. Cool water during the dog days of Summer when other freestoners are too hot to fish. Great bug hatches created. Folks need to get ejucated.

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from Koldkut wrote 4 weeks 4 days ago

I've never fished it, maybe it's road trip time, What you say---fu? I could swing through ID falls and pick you up on the way :)?

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from Dangle wrote 4 weeks 4 days ago

I'm off to Montana for a road trip...Bitterroot, Big Hole, Jefferson, Rock Creek, Clarkfork, the Blackfoot.

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from Dangle wrote 4 weeks 3 days ago

And I forgot one of the best tailwater rivers of them all that I will fish...the Beaverhead.

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from tneal1987 wrote 4 weeks 2 days ago

ssshhhh don't tell others about the bighorn, it is a horrible place to fish, there are too many fish to choose from, and it is too nice of scenery, once you go bighorn you never go back.

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from Dangle wrote 4 weeks 1 day ago

The Bighorn for a lot of the season, can be very difficult fishing. Little dry fly action like it use to be at one time, and the bug to fish is a very small, pink sowbug. 6x leader tippets on a #22 fly can be very difficult fishing for all but the best fly anglers. Lots of weed growth, and strike indicator fishing using a small sowbug nymph doesn't excite a lot of anglers, but I digress.

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from buckhunter wrote 4 weeks 4 days ago

Have not made it to the Bighorn yet but have fished other places in Montana. If you wish to wet a line in Montana, you'll be hard pressed to find a bad spot.

Dangle, there are those who will take exception to your comment but I think you know that.

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from Dangle wrote 4 weeks 4 days ago

Lots, and lots of great tailwaters created by dams. Thank God for dams.

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from Dangle wrote 4 weeks 4 days ago

Yes, I do know that. Many are just followers of the elitist bunch, and believe dams should be torn out. There are some great tailwater fisheries around the country. I will fish several of the good ones this Summer. Cool water during the dog days of Summer when other freestoners are too hot to fish. Great bug hatches created. Folks need to get ejucated.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Koldkut wrote 4 weeks 4 days ago

I've never fished it, maybe it's road trip time, What you say---fu? I could swing through ID falls and pick you up on the way :)?

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Dangle wrote 4 weeks 4 days ago

I'm off to Montana for a road trip...Bitterroot, Big Hole, Jefferson, Rock Creek, Clarkfork, the Blackfoot.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Dangle wrote 4 weeks 3 days ago

And I forgot one of the best tailwater rivers of them all that I will fish...the Beaverhead.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from tneal1987 wrote 4 weeks 2 days ago

ssshhhh don't tell others about the bighorn, it is a horrible place to fish, there are too many fish to choose from, and it is too nice of scenery, once you go bighorn you never go back.

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from Dangle wrote 4 weeks 1 day ago

The Bighorn for a lot of the season, can be very difficult fishing. Little dry fly action like it use to be at one time, and the bug to fish is a very small, pink sowbug. 6x leader tippets on a #22 fly can be very difficult fishing for all but the best fly anglers. Lots of weed growth, and strike indicator fishing using a small sowbug nymph doesn't excite a lot of anglers, but I digress.

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