Montana’s Best Fly Fishing Destination
Montana’s Bighorn River is considered by many to be the best blue ribbon trout fishery in the United States. With the completion of Yellowtail Dam in 1967, the Bighorn River has become a clear, cool tail-water hosting between 5,000-6,000 rainbow and brown trout per mile. The average trout caught on the Bighorn ranges from fourteen to twenty inches. With controlled water flows and over twenty-six miles of fishable river, guests are often surprised by the abundance and size of trout caught each day. Fly fishing the Bighorn River is a truly unforgettable experience.
- 26+ miles of diverse waters and fish habitat
- 5,000-6,000 strong and healthy trout per mile
- controlled water flows through serene undeveloped agricultural valley
We are Only as Good as Our Guides
Bighorn River Lodge prides itself on proving our guests with the opportunity to be assisted by highly professional and seasoned guides. Not only is our lodge a top fishing destination, we attract some of the most talented guides in the industry. These men are devoted to their craft and typically spend over one hundred days on the river each year. Whether you are a beginner who is casting a fly rod for the first time or a world-travelled fly fisherman, our guides will adapt to your needs and requests to ensure your time on the water is the best Montana fly fishing experience possible. Our guides:
- display excellent people skills with the ability to adapt to our client’s individual talent levels.
- are extremely knowledgable of the fishery, averaging between ten and twenty years of experience and are gifted instructors.
- take pride in their profession by being well organized, punctual and hard-working.
Nymph, Dry Fly and Streamer Fishing
The Bighorn River is well known for both its great nymph fishing and its incredible seasonal hatches. Whether you are a dry-fly purist that enjoys the thrill of hooking a big fish out of an active pod of feeding heads or a greenhorn that is learning the art of “setting the hook” for the first time, opportunities abound. For those who enjoy the art of casting a fly rod, streamer fishing can be a highly interactive experience. As seasons and water flows vary, fish adapt to their changing food supply; it is our guides’ passion to adapt their techniques to these shifting patterns and your expectations.
- highly consistent nymph fishing provides great opportunities for beginners
- spectacular seasonal dry fly fishing
- great late summer/early fall streamer and hopper fishing
- trout display strong, aggressive, and diverse feeding tendencies
River Access and Fishing Opportunities
With limited access points and yet the freedom to walk the river bottom, the anglers at Bighorn River Lodge have the best of both worlds. We use drift boats to navigate and fish the river while allowing for the opportunity to stop and wade fish areas that have proven to hold a large number of feeding trout. The Bighorn River Lodge’s ideal location allows for angles to have maximum time on the river with your day concluding right at the Lodge itself.
- easy access to the river with great wading opportunities
- peaceful current allow for gentle drift-boat fishing
- fisherman friendly to all levels of physical ability
Gear
Our small fly shop offers fly fishing necessities and outdoor clothing. We are proud to offer high quality rods and reels available for purchase in the shop. Rental rods and waders are also available for a nominal fee.
