Bighorn River, Montana

The Bighorn River is indisputably one of the finest trout fisheries in the world, providing miles and miles of blue ribbon fly fishing for rainbow and brown trout. Its cool temperatures and steady flow, combined with prolific insect life, provide an ideal environment for trophy trout.

Montana Trophy Trout Fly Fishing

The Bighorn River holds a greater number of large trout — fish in the 15-20 inch range — than any river in the United States. With around 8,000 trout per mile, it is not uncommon for an average angler to land 20 fish between 15 and 20 inches in a day, and most manage to hook into fish over the 20 inch mark during their stay.

Year-Round Fly Hatches

Host to phenomenal hatches nearly year round, the Bighorn provides excellent fishing from April through November. From the blue winged olives of spring to the mid summer pmds and yellow sallies to the black caddis and tricos of late summer, there is dry fly fishing to be had nearly every day of the season. As a tailwater fishery heavy run-off is never a problem, making it one of the few fisheries in the west where fly fishing is as good in April and May as it is during summer and fall.

Our Bighorn River Fly Fishing Guides

The professional fly fishing guides at Eagle Nest Lodge are knowledgeable, courteous, and gifted with unlimited patience and enthusiasm. As qualified fly fishing instructors, they can teach the fundamentals to beginners, help intermediate anglers improve their casting form, or introduce experts to new techniques for taking trophy trout.

Bighorn River Fly Fishing Equipment

A first time angler can arrive almost empty handed and receive personal instruction, utilize our quality Orvis fly fishing equipment and depart Eagle Nest with the skills to begin a lifetime of fly fishing enjoyment. You can even allow our staff to assist you in purchasing your personal tools of the trade from our on site Orvis retail shop.

Upper and Lower Bighorn River

The Eagle Nest crew is one of the few outfits to guide on both the upper and lower stretches of the Bighorn River. Our experience on the lower Bighorn presents opportunities for exceptionally large trout and allows guests to fly fish this world famous river in near solitude. Bighorn River trips combine float fishing trips from McKenzie-style drift boats with traditional stalk and wade techniques. See the fishing equipment that we use.

Bighorn River trips combine float fishing from McKenzie-style drift boats with traditional stalk and wade techniques. See the fishing equipment that we use.