Bighorn River
Big browns and rainbows near Thermopolis, good spring and fall dry fly fishing, and smallmouth where the water warms. 90 mapped access points.
- 410 miRiver length
- May–JunBest season
- 19Game fish
- 90Access points
In the FlyFishFinder app
Live
Bighorn River at Kane, WY
857cfs
Below normal
Vs normal for the date45% below
Gage height2.04 ft
Today's rating
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Open in the app
About the Bighorn
The Bighorn is famous for its tailwater trout fishing below Yellowtail Dam in Montana. The Wyoming water deserves attention too.
Around Thermopolis the river holds big fish and has great dry fly fishing in spring and fall. Some sections also hold smallmouth bass, and that fishing picks up as the water warms.
Locals lean on midges and scuds, the classic tailwater bugs. Wyoming Game and Fish rates parts of the river as Red Ribbon water.
Bighorn River at Kane, WY
Flow, last 24 hours
USGS readings, provisionalIs the Bighorn fishing today?
See today's top 10 rivers near you, free. Go Premium to score the Bighorn, or any gage, on demand.
Nearby gages
- Shoshone River near Lovell, WY23.2 mi away 657 cfs Normal 48°F · 5.03 ft USGS 06285100
- Shell Creek above Shell Reservoir, WY36.5 mi away Not reporting USGS 06278300
No gages that close. Try a wider radius.
See every gage on the map and today's top 10 rivers in the free appData from the U.S. Geological Survey. Recent readings are provisional and may be revised.
Fish you'll catch
Tap a fish to see every Wyoming river that holds it.
Brown Trout
Bluegill
Crappie
26 other species
Hatching in November
What's on the water in the Big Horn watershed this month, and the fly to match.
All 11 hatches this year
Light bars show the season and dark bars the peak. The ringed month is this month.
Tips for fishing the Bighorn
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Carry midges and scuds
They are the core of any Bighorn box. Fish them small and deep when nothing is rising.
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Plan around spring and fall
That is when the dry fly fishing near Thermopolis is at its best.
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Switch to bass when it warms
Some stretches hold smallmouth. They get more active as the water warms up.
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Use the access map
With 90 mapped access points, there are many ways onto this river. The app shows them all.
Every access point on the Bighorn, in your pocket.
- 90 mapped access points, with parking and put-ins
- Today's Fishability score, so you fish the day that lines up
- 7-day flow and water-temp trends for every gauge on the river
Rivers near the Bighorn
Bighorn River FAQ
When is the best time to fly fish the Bighorn in Wyoming?
May and June are the usual pick. Spring and fall bring the best dry fly fishing near Thermopolis.
What flies work on the Bighorn River?
Midges and scuds are the local favorites.
Are there smallmouth bass in the Bighorn River?
Yes. Some sections hold smallmouth, and they get more active as the water warms.
Is there public access on the Bighorn River?
Yes. There are 90 mapped access points, all in the free FlyFishFinder app.
Is the Bighorn fishing well today?
This page shows the live gage. For a rating of how it is fishing today, open the river in the FlyFishFinder app.
