7-day U.S. Geological Survey chart
Recent flow
Discharge
838 cfs585 cfs
Sep 5Sep 12
Latest reading: 650 cfs. Stable over about 6 hours. Chart covers Sep 5 through Sep 12; readings are provisional and may be revised.
All Wyoming reports
Bighorn River Fishing Report — Wyoming
Photo: Paul Hermans Opens in a new tab. · CC BY-SA 4.0
Should I go fishing?
Check the water temperature first.
Water temperature is unconfirmed. Use a stream thermometer; stop trout fishing at 70°F or warmer, or sooner if fish show stress.
Fishing rating73
Rating updatedRiver local time:
Why this recommendation?
USGS shows 650 cfs. The flow has been stable over about 6 hours. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (1930-2025, 96 readings) show a median near 1,270 cfs and a low-water marker near 696 cfs; today's flow is unusually low for the date. Low water can make fish spooky, warm, pressured, or concentrated; check temperature and handling risk.
Available live dataHighHow much of the live flow, weather, and alert data came back.
Confidence in this recommendationMediumWater temperature not verified; do not use this score to clear warm-water risk.
Usually checks again about every 45 minutes
If you go
- Check first
- Use the Thermopolis source for reach context and the Kane gauge as downstream live flow trend.
- Try
- Start with indicator or tight-line nymphing through walking-speed seams.
- Leave when
- Skip or reset the plan when Wyoming rules are unclear, when wind makes casting or boat control poor, when downstream flow is rising hard, when public access boundaries are not obvious, or when the day depends on Montana Bighorn assumptions.
Flow and weather
Showing server-checked river conditions while current readings refresh.
- Flow
- 650 cfs
- Stable over about 6 hoursU.S. Geological Survey may revise this reading
- Air forecast
- 50°F
- Next 24h high
- 77.0°F
NWS air forecast near
- Rain chance
- 0%
This is an air forecast, not a river-temperature reading. Check the water with a stream thermometer before fishing in hot weather.
Latest stored weather check
Mostly Cloudy
- Wind
- 2 mph
- Weather checked
More forecast and source details
Mostly Cloudy
National Weather Service
Bighorn River near Thermopolis, Wyoming
The National Weather Service forecast is temporarily unavailable.
Live data
Where these readings come from
Current U.S. Geological Survey gauge: Bighorn River at Kane downstream context
Stable over about 6 hoursU.S. Geological Survey may revise this readingObserved
Flies for this time of year
Seasonal starting points, not a live hatch report. Match what you see on the water.
- Chubby ChernobylView fly guide ↗
- Grasshopper PatternshopperView fly guide ↗
- Ant PatternsantView fly guide ↗
- Beetle PatternsbeetleView fly guide ↗
- X-CaddisView fly guide ↗
See flies for every season
SeasonWhat to look forFlies to try
March to April
What to look forMidges, little black stones, early BWOs, and cold-water nymph windows
May to June
What to look forRunoff edges, salmonflies where present, caddis, PMDs, and Green Drakes on some water
July to SeptemberThis season
What to look forCaddis, PMDs, terrestrials, small olives, ants, beetles, and hopper banks
October to February
What to look forBWOs, midges, October caddis in places, streamers, and slow winter nymphing
Each fly name opens its matching Fly Box guide.
More fishing tips
Methods, fish species and trip notes
How to fish Bighorn River today.
Stable flows and mild weather give the best mix of nymphing and streamer fishing. Avoid unsafe pushy flows, floating debris, and days when wind makes line control poor.
Stable tailwater flow
Nymph seams, buckets, and walking-speed edges before switching to dries.
Slight stain
Use streamers and larger nymphs along banks and soft inside bends.
High or fast
Limit wading, use heavier rigs from safe banks, or choose a calmer access point.
Low and clear
Lengthen leaders, fish smaller nymphs, and avoid repeated casts over visible trout.
Wading, bank fishing or floating?
Access choicesNo single best option
Wading, Bank fishing, and Floating have the same top score. Use current access, footing, weather, and local rules to choose.
Wading73/100
Wading is in play only where your chosen access has clear footing, legal entry, and no forced crossings.
Bank fishing73/100
Bank and edge fishing remains a practical low-commitment option if access is legal and footing is safe.
Floating73/100
A float is in play where this report supports boat access and wind, releases, and shuttle logistics are manageable.
Full river report
Is Bighorn River worth the trip today? Check flow, weather, hatches, access, and rules for Wyoming before you go.
This page covers the Bighorn around Thermopolis, where the Wind River becomes the Bighorn near Wedding of the Waters. The Montana Bighorn below Yellowtail is a separate fishery with separate flows and rules.
Fishing words used on this page
- U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) gauge
- A USGS gauge is an official river station that measures flow or water height.
- Cubic feet per second (cfs)
- Cubic feet per second, or cfs, shows how much water passes the gauge each second.
- Nymph
- A nymph is a young water insect. Anglers also use the word for a fly that copies it.
- Seam
- A seam is the line where fast and slow water meet.
- Blue-winged olive (BWO)
- Blue-winged olives, or BWOs, are small mayflies that often hatch in cool or cloudy weather.
- Caddis
- Caddis are small water insects. The adults look a little like tiny moths.
- Dry-dropper
- A dry-dropper rig has a floating fly with an underwater fly tied below it.
- Emerger
- An emerger copies an insect as it rises from below the water toward the surface.
- Indicator
- An indicator is a small floating marker that can show when a fish takes an underwater fly.
- Midge
- Midges are tiny flies and a common trout food, especially in cold water.
Why this call
Why this score
FlowUse caution
USGS shows 650 cfs. The flow has been stable over about 6 hours. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (1930-2025, 96 readings) show a median near 1,270 cfs and a low-water marker near 696 cfs; today's flow is unusually low for the date. Low water can make fish spooky, warm, pressured, or concentrated; check temperature and handling risk.
SeasonHelps
Fall: Streamer and nymph fishing can improve as temperatures cool.
WeatherHelps
The current NWS air forecast is about 50F, and the next 24-hour high reaches about 77F. Mostly Cloudy.
Public alertsHelps
No active NWS alert was returned for this forecast point.
Fishing usefulnessHelps
Skip or reset the plan when Wyoming regulations are unclear, when wind makes casting or boat control poor, when downstream flow is rising hard, when public access boundaries are not obvious, or when the day depends on Montana Bighorn assumptions.
Trip notes
Check these before you choose a reach.
Use USGS 06279500 at Kane as the live downstream flow trend and keep the Thermopolis source for reach context. Stable flow is the best fit. Fast rising water, heavy wind, or unclear access boundaries should shorten the plan.
Skip or reset the plan when Wyoming rules are unclear, when wind makes casting or boat control poor, when downstream flow is rising hard, when public access boundaries are not obvious, or when the day depends on Montana Bighorn assumptions.
Start at the Wyoming reach you actually plan to fish: Wedding of the Waters for the name change and public access context, Longwell for WGFD access-area planning, or Thermopolis-area banks for a shorter local session. Then choose nymphs, streamers, or dry-dropper work based on water clarity and wind.
If the Wyoming Bighorn is windy, rising, crowded, or access-limited, compare the Wind River for upstream context, the Shoshone for a Cody-area tailwater plan, or the Snake River for a different Wyoming trout trip.
Bighorn River access and rules.
Use these places as starting points. Open the access link below and check posted signs before you park or enter.
Before you go
Check current Wyoming Game and Fish rules for Area 2 and any Bighorn River exceptions before fishing. Do not apply Montana Bighorn rules to this page.
Where to access the river
Wedding of the Waters PAA
Core name-change and access reference near Thermopolis. Confirm posted boundaries.
Longwell PAA
WGFD public access option for the Thermopolis-area Bighorn.
Thermopolis area
Use the USGS Thermopolis gauge and local access signs before committing to a reach.
- Public access areas can be narrow and site-specific.
- This page intentionally avoids Montana Bighorn rules, flows, and access language.
- Private property and riverbank rules should be checked before walking beyond signed access.
Sources and report details
Official agencies and primary river operators come first. Secondary tools are labeled so you know what carries the most weight.
Rules and closures
Check what is allowed, where the rule applies, and whether the river is open.
Flow and weather
Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.
Access and land
Check public entry points, land rules, and seasonal access changes.
More helpful links
Use these links for stocking, safety, and other local details.
See all 8 checked sources
Rules and closures
Check what is allowed, where the rule applies, and whether the river is open.
What this source covers
Open the current rules and check the river section, season, and special limits.
What this source covers
Open the current rules and check the river section, season, and special limits.
Flow and weather
Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.
What this source covers
Open this page and check the latest safety advice before your trip.
What this source covers
Open this river reading to check the latest level, flow, and update time.
What this source covers
Open this river reading to check the latest level, flow, and update time.
Access and land
Check public entry points, land rules, and seasonal access changes.
What this source covers
Open the land or access page, then check signs before you park or enter.
What this source covers
Open the land or access page, then check signs before you park or enter.
More helpful links
Use these links for stocking, safety, and other local details.
What this source covers
Open this page for more river information and check when it was last updated.
How this report was checked
How this report was checked
Reviewed byBlueStreamFly River Review Team
Trip guidance checked
What was checked: This report is maintained from current regulation, access, flow, weather, and public planning sources so anglers can make better trip decisions than a raw gauge or generic overview would allow.
Live measurements and forecasts keep their provider timestamps. Rules, access, and trip guidance use the source-review date shown here. BlueStreamFly planning advice is editorial interpretation, not an agency notice.
First-hand experience: BlueStreamFly does not claim a first-hand visit or local field test for this report unless a real contributor is explicitly named and linked.
Quick questions
What should I check before fishing Bighorn River?
WGFD Area 2 rules, public-access-area boundaries, USGS Thermopolis flow, weather, and private land
Which flow should I use for Bighorn River?
Use the USGS 06259500 Bighorn River at Thermopolis station page for the exact reach. The embedded official USGS graph uses 06279500 at Kane only as downstream Bighorn context because the Thermopolis graph endpoint was not usable during review.
Where should I start on Bighorn River?
Start with WGFD Wedding of the Waters and Thermopolis-area public access areas, then confirm each posted boundary.
Can I wade Bighorn River?
Yes in some edge water at manageable flows, but the Bighorn is a large river. Treat deep channels and fast seams with caution.