River Information and Etiquette
The Bighorn River Alliance welcomes you to the
Bighorn River. This information will help make your angling
experience here as pleasant and productive as possible. The Bighorn
is one of the most heavily fished streams in Montana. We must, as
anglers, show courtesy to, and COMMUNICATE with one another in order
to maximize this superb angling experience. Understanding and
adhering to these standards of angling etiquette will go far to
eliminating conflicts and misunderstandings with other anglers.
The popular "upper 13" miles of the river has over 26 miles of
shoreline as well as a number of islands from which we can fish.
This river can accommodate many anglers. Though there are many
"holes" on the Bighorn most will only accommodate one, or two or
three anglers. Don't create a crowd. COMMUNICATE with the anglers in
the area and you will soon enough find out if you are welcome to
join in.
The key to avoiding problems is to COMMUNICATE with each other
before problems arise ... shouting matches solve nothing ... don't
spoil your day or someone else's. Remember, the Bighorn is a BIG
RIVER.
BOAT HANDLING
If you don't know how to row a boat, a busy day on the Bighorn River is neither the time nor the place to learn rowing skills. You must have control of your craft in order to avoid floating through water where other anglers are fishing. Even the most docile angler will experience a rage when his fish are disturbed by an out of-control drift boat. There are also real hazards throughout the river that you must be able to navigate around and through in order to avoid serious accidents. If you choose to rent a drift boat, please take the time to let the rental agency personnel teach you how to row the boat. One of the most common conflicts on the river is caused by out-of-control rental boats. Don't be the cause of this type of conflict.
RAINBOW SPAWNING AREAS
The Bighorn River Alliance Recognizes that the
practice of fishing rainbow spawning beds during April, May and June
is not illegal, but considers it highly unsportsmanlike and unfair
to future rainbow populations in the river. These rainbow
populations are still in the developing stage. We must do all we can
to insure that as many rainbows as possible will reach maturity.
Spawning rainbows have enough natural problems to overcome; they
don't need to be constantly bombarded by fishermen. The Alliance
believes that wading and fishing to spawning rainbows in the gravel
spawning areas not only overly stresses the fish but can damage or
destroy eggs already in the gravel. There are plenty of other fish
in the river that aren't as critical to your future angling
opportunity. Any fly shop employee or guide will be more than happy
to show you, or tell you how to recognize these areas.
Should you choose to fish these spawning areas you should also
expect to be admonished by those anglers who recognize the value and
importance of a successful rainbow trout spawn.
HANDLING AND RELEASING FISH
Proper handling and releasing of the Bighorn River
trout will give other anglers an opportunity to enjoy these trout.
The use of barb less hooks is recommended. You will not catch fewer
fish if you do so. Land your fish as fast as possible. Long fights,
although they make for good stories, are not good for trout. Use a
large, soft-mesh net. Small nets or nets made of coarse or hard
plastic or poly netting will damage the protective slime coating of
the fish. Keep the fish in the water, remove the hook and release
the fish as quickly as possible. Keeping a fish in a net or out of
the water any longer than you can hold your breath can be fatal. A
fatally exhausted fish may seemingly swim away just fine - but he
may just be swimming away to die. If you measure or photograph your
fish do so quickly and keep the fish in the water. Don't take the
fish to shore where it may drop on the rocks and injured. Don't
carry the fish around in a net. Keep your hands and fingers well
away from the gill area -most of all don't pick up a fish by the
gills or gill covers. Release the fish pointing upstream in flowing
water. Hold the fish only until it is willing to swim away. Properly
handled fish are often caught more than once on the same day.
Improperly handled fish may never be caught again.