I'm an avid fly fisherman, and when I heard about the legendary Bighorn River, I was intrigued but also hesitant. The images of crowded rivers with fishermen lined up like soldiers didn't appeal to me. I value my solitude when fishing, and so the idea of a busy waterway initially put me off.
However, the promise of an abundance of trout, some of which are reportedly larger than the average salmonid, was too tempting to resist. I decided to book a trip to the Bighorn River, and it turned out to be an extraordinary experience.
The Kingfisher Lodge, where I stayed with my family and friends, exceeded my expectations. The staff, from the general manager to the kitchen crew, went above and beyond to ensure a memorable stay. It was a luxury I don't often indulge in, but for my 65th birthday, it was a treat I won't forget.
The river itself did not disappoint. Despite the presence of numerous drift boats, the guides seemed to have a system in place, and we found our own space to fish. The scenery was a unique blend of plains, foothills, and red cliffs, offering a stark yet beautiful backdrop to our adventure.
Our group had a wide range of fishing experience, but thanks to our knowledgeable guides, everyone caught fish. Even my son-in-law, a novice fly fisherman, landed a 23-inch brown trout on his third day of fly fishing! It was a moment that will likely spoil him for any other fishing trip.
The trout on the Bighorn are strong and feisty. I caught my personal-best brown trout and rainbow there, and the fighting spirit of these fish made the experience all the more memorable. We primarily used nymph indicator rigs with sowbugs as our go-to pattern, and while our fish counts weren't extravagant, it was partly due to the guides' respect for the fish on their redds.
One challenge we faced was the notorious moss on the river. It's an ever-present nuisance, and you'll find yourself constantly de-mossing your flies and leader. But as one of the guides pointed out, the abundance of weeds and moss is a sign of a fertile fishery, and it provides excellent habitat for the insects that the trout feed on.
I learned a lot from this trip, as I often do when fishing with experienced guides. One guide used 3X fluorocarbon tippet with size 16 or 18 sow bug patterns, and the results were impressive. It made me question my own leader size choices. Additionally, both guides used barrel swivels in their nymph rigs to prevent line twist, a technique I plan to adopt in my future fishing adventures.
Despite the challenges, the trip was an overall success. I caught some impressive fish, learned new techniques, and enjoyed the company of my family and friends. The Bighorn River certainly lived up to its reputation, and I hope to return one day. As I approach the back nine of my life, I'm grateful for experiences like these, and I look forward to creating more memories on the water.
