Spring runoff is in full-swing in area rivers. We all know most of Western states have had severe winter with lots of snow accumulations. This is the frustrating period in terms of fishing options under gorgeous spring/early summer weathers, but over all this is an important event for rivers' health and our fishing through summer.
- I wouldn't predict anything for Yellowstone River at this point. Still lots of snow in Yellowstone National Park, of which weather can be unpredictable. I usually have some ideas by the end of June as I commute to guide at Livingston's spring creeks. Keep your eyes on the changes on USGS website = Not only Yellowstone River but also Soda Butte Creek, Lamar River, and Gardner River. For visual observations, I keep you posted from here.
- Looks like we can be optimistic for Bighorn River this year, after some turmoils and unusual conditions of last year (again, fishing was excellent for those who had accurate info and who did show up). This year, Bureau of Reclamation's management seems working for every party's interest at this point. Actually I wish the spring flow would have been somewhat smaller for excellent dry-fly fishing but it was alright (I reported last month). And thanks to fore-thinking reservoir release early in the year, there is plenty of room to accommodate runoff water from both Montana and Wyoming. Keep checking this website and click Bighorn Lake, in which Inflow = runoff basically & Outflow = Bighorn flow that we fish. I would expect we still see some high flows during the peak of runoff = June, perhaps = but we can anticipate summer flows wouldn't be as crazy as last year, so now is the time start booking guide trips for July, August, and September!!
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Then here comes our story along Wyoming's Bighorn from the other day............
Immediately after a trip to Idaho Falls, we headed to Laramie, WY for some other businesses. I have passed Wyoming many times, just like the route we took on the way, but on the way back, I was able to see and feel more of Wyoming intimately for the first time.
Over all Wyoming is still cold, dry, and full of desolated lands😂, we were able to visit and see some of landmarks and special features that have been on our "someday" list.
We headed to Thermopolis. Along the way, we passed Boysen Reservoir, Wind River Canyon, and Wedding of The River = all the upper sources of Bighorn River. We stopped by Hot Spring State Park. It rivals to Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone Park😲. We saw something very particular and "fishy"😏 Seeing is believing, folks😉
We then reached to Lovell. At just outskirt of this small cozy town, we can see the upper portion of Bighorn Lake/Reservoir.
We also knew that we were close to Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Refuge. After we collected information from a nice lady at the visitor center, also in Lovell, we might as well have made a detour. Now we were in the middle of Bighorn Canyon - we have not been from Montana side yet. It was immense😲😎
Then just as the lady told us, we spotted wild horses🐎🐎😲
And this is the level, as of our visit 4/26, at Horseshoe Marina.
Perhaps our last trip while we are still two of us🤰👫⇨👪
We enjoyed another road trip to our neighbor state. We hope to explore more😉
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