Wyoming Bighorn River (Thermopolis, Wyoming)
Date and Time: April 10th, 2025
Weather Conditions: Weather Forecast
Spring weather is here, one minute it is 70 degrees, next minute it is windy, the next minute it is snowing, then the sun comes out and we get a hatch.
Water Conditions: Current Flows
Flows out of Boysen are fluctuating between 680 and 720 CFS. This will continue until the end of April when they turn the water on for irrigation.
Hatches, Insects, Other dietary options for fish:
Hatches: Baetis and Midges
Insects: Sowbugs, Leeches, Worms, Bloodworms
Other: Eggs, Minnow, Crawdads
Fish Activity:
Some Rainbows are still actively spawning; although, they are towards the tail end of their spawn.
Browns are moving to faster water looking to hunt.
Cutthroats are also activity feeding and loving the new Baetis hatches.
Flies:
Baetis: Olive or Black Perdigones, Day Saver Baetis, Darth Baetis, Juju Baetis, To-Bit hooker, RS2, WD-40, Flashback Pheasant tail, Antonios Emerger, Mercury Baetis, Top Secret Baetis, Bubble Back Baetis, Radiation Baetis
Midges: Black Beauty, Mercury Midge, Two-Bit Midge, Zebra Midge, Manhattan Midge, Top Secret Midge, Mayhem Midge
Sowbugs: Carpet Bug, Ray Charles, Soft Hackle Sow Bugs, Gut Sack Sow Bugs, Walt’s Worm
Other: Sunny Side Up, San Juan Worm, WireWorms, Thin Mint, Pine Squirrel Leech,
Catches and Success Rates:
Fishing pressure has picked up a bit, which is making the fish a little more selective, but we’re still seeing solid numbers. Most of the fish we’re bringing in are rainbows, with a few browns mixed in—especially in the faster runs. Right now, we’re averaging about 15 to 20 fish in the net per day, so there’s still plenty of action out there.
Local Regulations and Updates:
2025 Current Fishing Regulations
General Fishing Tips: Right now, we’re running fairly deep in the mornings, then shortening things up as the day progresses. Once the BWO hatches kick off, fish start suspending and keying in on emergers. In the mornings, we’re typically running about six feet from weight to indicator, adjusting depth as needed depending on the water we’re working.
Crowd and Access Information: The Bighorn is definitely getting busy this spring, with a lot of folks knocking the rust off and hitting the water. The number of boats has been on the rise the past few years, and this season is the busiest we’ve seen in a while. To avoid the crowds, consider spreading out, varying your launch times, or finding some wade fishing spots.
Future Predictions: Spring weather is gradually giving way to hot, dry temperatures, which will bring an uptick in both moss and insect activity on the river. As the water warms, expect fish to become more active during the morning and evening hours. Additionally, we should see flows increase once farmers start requesting water for irrigation, which typically happens around May 1st when the canals are turned on.
