Bighorn River Fly Fishing in September
Summer crowds start to diminish as the first signs of fall appear in the surrounding high country. Cloudy days and early morning starts are essential for the dry fly enthusiast.
Increasing growth of aquatic vegetation can be a headache for novice anglers, but also a rewarding experience for the technical dry fly angler. Small flies and accurate casts are the keys to success.
Floating grass continues to be a challenge well into late October.
September Fly Fishing Hatches on the Bighorn River
Trico, BWO, and Pseudocleon mayfly hatches continue to bring rising trout to the surface with cool, cloudy days providing ideal conditions for the dry fly angler. Caddis activity continues on warm days with better angling success happening on pupa patterns fished below the surface.
Bozeman Fly Fishing Guide Pro Tip:
Nymph fishing with a tandem rig that includes a tan Caddis pupa pattern followed by a small, black Zebra Midge can be incredibly effective in September. Black flies are rarely observed but are particularly active in the morning hours. These aquatic insects are often mistakenly identified as midges or Trico nymphs.
Bighorn River Fly Box in September
Bighorn River Fly Fishing Techniques in September
“The early bird gets the worm” when fly fishing the Trico hatch on the Bighorn River. Early morning sessions begin at sunrise with a brief intermission before the spinner fall. Trico spinners will last through mid-morning followed by the challenge of nymph fishing for the remainder of the day.
Short leaders of 3 to 5 feet in length should be fished in shallow riffles, along slow foam lines, in back eddies, and along the edges of matted grass islands. A heavy lead fly such with a sunken Trico spinner as the dropper nymph is an effective September setup.
Streamer fly fishing presents the challenge of keeping your flies clean of floating grass. Focus on the casting to the center of the river with a heavy sinking line to quickly cut through the grass floating near the surface.
Bighorn River Fly Fishing Trips in September
Fins and Feathers Guide Service has been outfitting Montana fly fishing trips on the Bighorn River for over two decades. Join our team of seasoned Bozeman fly fishing guides for a few days of exploring this legendary tailwater fishery in the fall.
Advanced reservations with a 3-day minimum at $725 per day for 1-2 anglers are required for our Bighorn River fishing trips. Consider combining these with a few days of fly fishing in Bozeman for a custom-tailored Montana fly fishing vacation.
Bighorn River fly fishing trips can be secured online, via e-mail, or by calling us at 1-406-468-5019.