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Monthly Archives: May 2010

Bighorn River Fishing Report

Current Report
Flows have increased to 9500 CFS. However, fishing remains good. Nymphing will be the way to go, as top water fishing will be greatly diminshed. Think heavy rigs with aquatic worm patterns followed by midges and sowbugs.

One-Week Fishing Forecast
NOAA forecasts that temperatures will be going up into the mid 70s and lower 80s throughout the week with chances of rain possible.

Hot Fly Patterns
The worm patters will be making a come back. Wire worms and San Juans in reds, two tones and even pinks (sz 4-6). Midge patterns in cream, root beer and olive are picking up lots of fish, too. The usual Ray Charles (plain and soft hackle) in pink or gray (14-16), orange, tan, grey, or pink fire bead soft hackle sowbugs in (14 and 16) scuds in orange or pink (14-16). Egg patterns in Chartreuse or Orange may also still be working (6-8).

River Flows
9500 CFS

Water Temperature
44 degrees at 3 Mile 45 degrees at St. Xavier
 

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Bighorn River Fishing Report

Current Report
Fishing is excellent, and BWOs are everywhere! Both nymphing and dry fly fishing is producing lots of fish.

Special Report
The bump in river releases has really triggered some spectacular blue wing olive hatches the last several rainy days. Heads are up all over the river! The higher flows has also helped with the algae accumulation.

One-Week Fishing Forecast
Temperatures are finally expected to warm up. River releases will most likely continue to increase as runoff begins.

Hot Fly Patterns
Small BWO emergers and nymphs are working very well. Midge patterns in cream, root beer and olive are picking up lots of fish, too. The usual Ray Charles (plain and soft hackle) in pink or gray (16-18), orange, tan, grey, or pink soft hackle sowbugs in (14 16 and 18) scuds in orange or pink (14-16). Egg patterns in Chartreuse or Orange (6-8).

River Flows
5,000 cfs by Friday

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Bighorn River Flows increase to 5,000 CFS

Flows increase to 5,000cfs for the weekend

 May-5-2010_SWE

As we were expecting, this just arrived from Reclamation:

“We will be increasing our river releases from the Yellowtail Afterbay Dam by an additional 500 cfs at 4:00 pm today and another 500 cfs at 8:00 am tomorrow morning.  This will bring our total release to the
river to 5,000 cfs for the weekend.  Why the change?  The storms that finished up last night were a real difference maker for the basin.  I have attached some snow water equivalent graphs which tell the story.
We need to make these adjustments now to control the reservoir rise at this time and be mindful with the warmer weather forecast for the weekend.”

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Bighorn River Report – More great news!

“Our Wyoming Area Office has notified us today that they will be making additional increases in releases from Boysen Dam to control the reservoir’s rate of fill.  We will be stepping up our releases to the Bighorn River in a similar fashion so we can hold our current reservoir elevation and remain favorably poised to intercept the rule curve in early June. 

This means we will be increasing our releases to the Bighorn River to 3,000 cfs on Thursday, May 6 and then increasing to 3,250 cfs on Friday, May 7.  Further adjustments may be necessary this coming week. “

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Bighorn River Flows

Flows to increase another 500cfs this week!

More good news! This just arrived from Reclamation:

Our Wyoming Area Office has notified us that in response to recent precipitation above Boysen Reservoir, they will be increasing releases from Boysen Dam immediately to control the reservoir’s rate of fill.  Since we are approximately 10 feet from the top-of-conservation elevation at Yellowtail, we will be stepping up our releases to the Bighorn River in a similar fashion.  That means we will be increasing to 2,500 cfs on Tuesday, May 4 and then increasing to 2,750 cfs on Wednesday, May 5. 

These changes are necessary now so we can hold our current reservoir elevation and remain favorably poised to intercept the rule curve in early June. 

Reports indicate these flows will be sustained through the runoff period.

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