Fishing On Bighorn National Recreation

Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area is an amazing contrast of high desert, deep lake and shallow river, mountains and canyons, primitive backcountry and modern technology.

Whether you choose to fish from a boat or from the shoreline, Bighorn Lake provides abundant opportunities to catch numerous species of fish while being surrounded by some of the most beautiful outdoor scenery in the northwest United States. The information given below will give you a good idea of the opportunities for fishing either from the shoreline or a boat.

Shore Fishing
The Wyoming end of the lake has over 50 miles of accessible shore line including the Yellowtail Wildlife Unit. These shore lines are close to nearby roads. Thye also have ample driftwood for shore line evening fires if needed. Please check about any fire restrictions that may be in effect during high fire danger periods. There is limited shore fishing in the Montana end of Bighorn Lake.

When shore fishing on the bottom of the lake a heavy fishing pole rigged with 20 pound plus line is best. Bait can be:

* minnows
* crawfish
* worms
* cut bait
* artificial bait and plastics

When bait casting use a lighter rig with spinners, crankbaits, minnows, worms and artificial baits.

During the warmer months please be aware that rattlesnakes and scorpions occupy the area and take proper precautions. Please remove all trash when you leave your shore fishing area.

Boat Fishing
Bighorn Lake is over 70 miles in length and provides thousands of acres of wonderful boat fishing. The lake is between 70 and 450 feet deep in the Montana end. The Wyoming end is 70 feet deep at the state line, 30 feet deep in Horseshoe Bend, gradually becoming shallower going south. South of the causeway at Highway 14A, the river channel expands onto the flats at full lake.

There are several ways to fish this lake:

1. trolling using crankbaits, bottom bouncers, spinners and planer boards
2. casting using crankbaits, worms, spinners and plastic jigs
3. jigging using weighted jigs tipped with a minnow, crawfish, leech, cut bait or artificial/plastic bait

You may want to use an electric trolling motor for jigging to keep your boat on the hot fishing spot. The use of a small gas outboard motor is useful for trolling and as backup should your main motor fail.

Things to Remember
Remember when in the canyon portion stay with your boat if you have engine trouble; do not try to climb the canyon walls to get help. Most of the shore line in the southern portion of the lake is suitable for beaching your boat if needed.

Some fishermen like to use an anchor or windsock to keep the boat in position when fishing the south portion of Bighorn Lake. Small boats or jet boats work well south of the causeway in the shallow water and the river channel. These can be launched from the Kane, South Causeway and ML ramps except during the ice period.

Horseshoe Bend Fishing Dock
At Horseshoe Bend beach is a large floating fishing dock that has pole holders, benches and a handicap ramp. This is a great place to fish for all the species of fish in the lake. One can drive right up to the walkway in your vehicle for easy access. The catching is usually good from this dock!

Pond Fishing
The Yellowtail Unit has ponds for fishing too. Pond 5 and Cemetery pond provide shore and small boat or canoe fishing. You can catch large mouth bass and trout in Pond 5. Cemetery pond provides bullhead, crayfish and cat fishing.

Fishing For Carp
The large carp population in Bighorn Lake and the other ponds provides a great opportunity for bow and fly fishing. This can be done by wadding in the shallows or with a push boat setup. Carp are a supreme fly-rod challenge equal to or excelling trout or bone fish according to many fly fishing magazines. Each year many carp fly fishing tournaments are held with the number of fishermen competing increasing!