Two years ago this May, I stood on the banks near the Afterbay and realized I couldn't hear a single engine. No drift boats, no distant highway hum—just the steady swirl of the river and the occasional splash of a rising trout.
It struck me then, as it does every year: May is the "Ghost Month."
While many anglers wait for the heat of July, those who know the Bighorn know that May offers some of the most consistent, high-energy fishing of the year. The water is cold and clear, the rainbows are mint-bright, and the river is practically empty.
Looking back at my journals from two springs ago, the entries are all the same: “Massive hatches. Didn't see another boat for three miles. Fish are hitting everything.” There is an emotional reset that happens in May. The air is crisp, the Pryor Mountains are still dusted with snow, and the pressure of the "season" hasn't arrived yet. It is just you, the guide, and miles of blue-ribbon water.
If you want to experience the Bighorn not just as a destination, but as a sanctuary, come see us in May. You’ll see why it’s our favorite time to be alive in Montana.