Perhaps no other river has intrigued fishermen more than the Bighorn. But if you're hoping to find large, cart-wheeling rainbows or line-peeling browns, you'll need to know what type of equipment to bring on this once-in-a-lifetime fly-fishing experience. We encourage you to contact us prior to your visit if you have any questions regarding gear.

Fly Rods
While most of today's popular graphite rods will work on "the Horn," a 7.5' to 9', 3- to 5-weight rod equipped with weight-forward floating line is preferred for dry fly fishing. Nymphing with an 8.5' to 9', 5- to 6-weight rod is recommended.

• Dry Fly Rod 7.5 - 9, Line weight 3-5
• Neoprene Waders 2mm to 5mm
• Rain Gear
• Rod & Reel Combination Case
• Polarized Sunglasses
• Insect Repellent
• Head Wear
• Sun Protection

All items are available for rent from the lodge.

And of course, the flies
Our guides often use strike indicators and a combination of nymphs to work the riffles, until flies begin to hatch. Popular fly patterns include Bead-Head Pheasant Tails, Scuds and Caddis Larva. Surprisingly, these patterns work throughout the season.

Springtime Favorites
Prime fishing gears up during the spring season. Millions of Midges can be found skimming the water's surface during this time. These Midges account for almost 87% of the insect life in the river. Adult Midges form little clusters that entice trout to rise for hours on end. A good cluster Midge pattern, subsurface Midge Pupae, Griffith Gnat or Parachute Adams should bring great results. Blue-Winged Olives appear later in spring producing an impressive hatch that summons anglers from across the country.

Summer On the Bighorn
Anglers and guides watch for two trout favorites during the summer: the Pale Morning Dun (PMD) and the little Yellow Stonefly (Yellow Sally). PMDs typically make an appearance between mid-July and August 1.

It's important to note that trout will key in on certain stages of a hatch on select days. So we suggest that you vary your patterns and be creative. Remember to watch the river and see what's coming off. Keep your PMD nymphs, emergers, duns and spinners close at hand and use them to your best advantage.

Black Caddis by the millions start to appear once the above insects dissipate. They swim to the surface to hatch, then swim to the bottom to lay their eggs, so during the late afternoon you can have a good hatch while mating flight is occurring.

Fall A time we all love.
Fall means Tricos and the height of dry fly fishing. For every angler, this a magic time on the Bighorn. Spinners begin to fall each morning - sometimes lasting for two months.