Sunset on the Bighorn. Photo by Joe Irons.

       Types of Fish:

      Brown and Rainbow Trout, Whitefish.

       Known Hatches:

      Year-round: Midges, Scuds, Sowbugs, Streamers, Craneflies, Leeches.

      Mid March-Late April: Baetis.

      Late April-Mid July: Caddis, Baetis.

      Mid June-July: PMDs, Caddis, Ants, Beetles, Tricos, Baetis, Yellow Sallies.

      August-October: Black Caddis, Hoppers, Tricos, Baetis, Streamers.

       Equipment to Use:

      Rods: 5-7 weight, 8½-9 feet in length.

      Lines: Floating line for dries and nymphs, sink tip line for streamers.

      Leaders: 12+' 4-5x for nymphs, 10' 5-7x for dries, 7' 0-2x for streamers.

      Wading: Best fished by a drift boat due to the size of the river and lack of accessibility. Chest-high waders with wading belt are recommended.

       Flies to Use:

      Dries: Parachute Adams #16-22, BWO #18-24, Goddard's Caddis #14-18, Elk Hair Caddis #14-18, Trico #18-22, Rusty Spinner #16-20, Griffith's Gnat #18-24, Disco Midge #18-22, Cluster Midge #18-22, PMX #8-12, Parachute Hopper #6-10, Red or Black Flying Ant #16-20, Yellow Stimulator #16-18, RS-2 #18-22, Olive Sparkle Dun #16-20.

      Nymphs: Brassie #18-22, Hare's Ear #16-20, Sparkle Pupa #18-20, Midge Pupa #18-22, Prince Nymph #16-18, Pheasant Tail #16-22, Lightning Bug #16-20, Serendipity #14-20, Red or Brown San Juan Worm #6-8, Pink, Orange or Olive Scud #14-20, Ray Charles #16-18, Green & Brown Bugger #2-6.

      Streamers: Green, Brown, or Black Bugger #2-6, Leeches #2-8, Green, White or Natural Zonkers #2-6, JJ's Special #2-6.

       When to Fish:

      The Bighorn is known for being a true year-round fishery. Call ahead for conditions in late fall when the algae breaks free and makes for challenging to impossible nymph and streamer fishing. If you loathe crowds, don't bother heading in that direction in the peak summer season.

       Seasons & Limits:

      The standard fishing regulations for the Central and Eastern fishing districts apply. Please check the Montana Fishing Regulations and Etiquette section.

       Exceptions to Standard Regulations

       Afterbay Dam to Cable 600 feet downstream and downstream from Bighorn FAS

      Open entire year.

      May use live nongame bait fish (as identified in standard district regulations).

      Combined Trout: 5 daily and in possession, only 1 over 18 inches and only 1 rainbow trout.

       Cable 600 feet below Afterbay Dam to Bighorn FAS

      Open entire year.

      Combined Trout: 5 brown trout daily and in possession, only 1 over 18 inches. Catch-and-release for rainbow trout, except anglers 14 years of age and younger may take 1 rainbow trout daily and in possession, any size. Artificial lures only.

       Nearby Fly Fishing:

      Stillwater, lower Yellowstone.

       Accommodations & Services:

      The Bighorn Angler stakes the claim to being the oldest lodge and fly shop on the Bighorn (406-666-2233: www.bighornangler.com). Another option is Forrester's Bighorn River Resort (800-665-3799) or the Bighorn Lodge (800-235-5450: www.bighornriverlodge.com).

       Rating: 9

      With several thousand trout per mile, many of which are over 18", the Bighorn is a fisherman's paradise…unfortunately, the price of paradise is overcrowding.

       Bighorn treasure. Photo by Brian Grossenbacher.

       Another nice Bighorn brown. Photo by Joe Irons.

       Big Spring Creek

      Considered to be one of the few significant trout streams in Central Montana, Big Spring Creek is the third-largest freshwater spring in the world and bubbles to the earth's surface in the foothills between the Judith and Big Snowy Mountains. The cold water is quickly absorbed back into the porous strata and reemerges again at Big Spring flowing at over 50,000 gallons per minute. Once a sacred site to Native Americans, and later a valuable resource to early settlers, Big Spring Creek is still a prized water source. According to the EPA, Big Spring has been rated one of the purest springs in the U.S., and it is pumped directly into the homes of Lewistown residents without any purification. Big Spring water is also bottled and shipped across the country under a variety of labels. A portion of Big Spring is diverted and it serves as a fish hatchery in which over three million trout, including brown, rainbow and cutthroat trout, as well as kokanee salmon, are raised annually. Last but not least, Big Spring Creek is a year-round red ribbon (Class II) trout fishery that provides high-quality habitat for trout, aquatic insects, and also serves an invaluable riparian corridor to regional flora and fauna.

      Big Spring Creek begins nine miles southeast of Lewistown and flows a mere 30 miles to join with the Judith River. It is not a large river, averaging only 35-45 feet wide and 18"-24" deep. True to its spring creek roots, Big Spring Creek is gin clear and flows over beds of vibrant green aquatic plant life. The nutrient-rich water provides an excellent habitat for aquatic insects, primarily midges, baetis and caddis with some PMD activity in June and July. The lush vegetation and surrounding hay fields allow for excellent hopper fishing from late July through September. Big Spring Creek is easy to wade, and access is prevalent throughout the upper 20 miles of the creek. The last 10 miles from Cottonwood Creek to the Judith braid and deteriorate from erosion and pollution, and is arguably not worth fishing. Regardless of where you choose to fish, make sure you watch out for rattlesnakes at all times as there are regular sightings along the entire length of this river.

       Big Spring brown trout heading home. Photo by Brian Grossenbacher.

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