Vail Daily Writer Chases Brown Trout on Montana's Bighorn River

Aspen —"This will be my sixth trip to the Bighorn. The anticipation is still genuine."

Those words, from Michael Salomone of the Vail Daily, capture the enduring pull of a specific stretch of water in Montana. For fly fishers across the country — and indeed around the world — the Bighorn River near Fort Smith sits firmly on the list of dream destinations. It is not a hidden gem; it is a well-known fishery with a reputation that precedes it. For folks in the valley, it represents the kind of serious angling trip that requires planning, patience, and a willingness to chase big water far from home.

Salomone focuses his attention on the 13 miles of river below the Yellowtail Dam. This section offers distinct points of access for float fishing, including the Afterbay, the 3-mile mark, and the 13-mile mark. Anglers often combine methods, floating the river while anchoring on islands to wade fish key sections. The strategy shifts with the weather and the time of day. Midday dry fly action can be productive, particularly under cloudy skies, but the true character of the Bighorn lies in its streamer fishing.

The river is dominated by brown trout. While rainbows are present, they lack the regularity of the browns. This makes the Bighorn a unique environment where heavyweight browns are the primary target. These fish are aggressive, driven by spawning instincts and the approach of winter. Their competitive nature means that prime spots often hold multiple fish, leading to frequent double hookups. The water itself is varied, featuring rocky runs, soft tailouts, and island ambush points. Cutbanks along island edges and eroded banks on major bends create ideal conditions for deep dredging flies.

Fighting these fish requires skill. Keeping heavyweight browns out of weed growth is a challenge that demands experience. The river is big water, and while it lacks major whitewater, it deserves respect. Safety gear, such as a life jacket, is recommended for anglers navigating these foreign waters. The goal is to land fish that are worth a grip-and-grin photo, creating memories that can be framed on a wall. The kind of fish that might be worth a grip-and-grin photo, after all it is the Bighorn. Big fish photos on famous waters are the kind of memories everyone wants framed on their wall.

The Bighorn River is a streamer fishing paradise where six- and seven-weight fly rods are standard equipment. The combination of sinking lines and long, shiny streamer flies produces notable results in this environment. It is a place where the kind of fish that might be worth a photo are regularly caught, offering anglers the chance to experience the kind of memories that everyone wants to keep.