Hello All,
Things haven’t changed much since the last post of November 10th mainly because the weather has been so nice. We have had a couple of cold days, but other than that we have been enjoying our banana belt status with highs in the 50′s and even a few days getting above 60.
Needless to say this has delayed the browns from getting up on the beds. They have been hanging out in their pre-spawn holes for a long time now and this bunching up of trout has made for some great fishing. There are a few more redds every day and right now is really going to be the start of it with a peak in a couple of weeks.
When the fish are spawning don’t fish on or trample the beds, be respectful and if you see some brighter patches of gravel stay away The most fish you will find during the spawn won;t be on the beds and it is not good to pull them off of their spawning grounds. instead focus on the pools below the beds where the trout really congregate to eat all the eggs getting washed off the beds.
This congregation of aggressive rainbows and browns in the deep pre-spawning holes has created some great streamer fishing. Finding the right depth with your sinking line is the key in getting down to the fish. Once you find them though, there is usually a bunch of them there. Brown and yellow streamers like the Bighorn Special and Bighorn Bugger have been best. The yellow really seems to help the trout locate that streamer in the slightly chalky water we have right now.
Nymphing has been consistent with the trout’s main diet right now being sow bugs, scuds, and worms. There ar e some fish moving to the softer edges now finding that semi-slow water to relax in as the water temps are now below 50.
Fishing is good, come on down, mention this fishing report before Dec. 15 and receive 15% off lodging. Give us a call at 866-658-7688 or stop by the Bighorn Angler we are open daily from 8 to noon.