Wind River - Upper Bighorn River Wyoming Hatch Chart

Central Wyoming, flowing northeast from its headwaters near Dubois in the Wind River Range through the Wind River Canyon at Thermopolis, where it becomes the Bighorn River at the Wedding of the Waters, then continues north through the Bighorn Basin toward Montana. The Wind and Bighorn are the same river with two names - separated by a geographic and geological transition at Thermopolis that marks one of the most interesting confluences of fishery types in Wyoming fly fishing. From wild cutthroat and browns in the upper Wind River Valley to the geothermally influenced transition zone at Thermopolis to the remote canyon browns downstream, the system offers three distinct fishing experiences on a single river.

Check current Wyoming Game and Fish Department regulations before you go. Regulations vary by section throughout the system. The Wind River Indian Reservation encompasses significant stretches of the river between Riverton and Thermopolis - tribal fishing permits are required on reservation water and are separate from state licenses. Know your section boundaries before fishing and carry the appropriate permit.

Shop by type: dry flies, nymphs, Euro nymphs, hoppers and terrestrials, streamers.

The river

The upper Wind River from Dubois downstream through Riverton is classic Wyoming freestone water - a valley and canyon river with good populations of wild brown trout and Snake River cutthroat in the upper reaches, transitioning to browns and rainbows in the lower valley. The Dubois area and the canyon sections above Boysen Reservoir offer the most consistent wild trout fishing with the least pressure. The river above and below Riverton has significant agricultural influence and is managed differently - the upper canyon sections are the primary destination for most fly anglers.

The Wedding of the Waters at Thermopolis is the geographic dividing line. At this point the Wind River officially becomes the Bighorn River - one of the quirks of western river naming that has no hydrological basis whatsoever. The Thermopolis area is worth fishing in its own right, with the warm springs influence moderating temperatures and the transition zone holding good brown trout populations with easy public access through Hot Springs State Park.

The Bighorn River below Thermopolis flowing north through the Bighorn Canyon is a remote and underappreciated fishery - large wild browns in a dramatic canyon setting with minimal pressure compared to the famous tailwater sections downstream in Montana. This is wade and float fishing for brown trout in Wyoming canyon country, well worth the exploration for anglers willing to do the research on access points.

Year at a glance - upper Wind River (Dubois area)

Month Primary hatches Also carry Typical sizes
Jan Midges Small nymphs, streamers 20-26
Feb Midges, BWO Small nymphs, streamers 18-24
Mar BWO, midges Stonefly nymphs building BWO 16-20, midge 20-24
Apr BWO, midges, caddis start Stonefly nymphs BWO 16-20, caddis 14-16
May Salmonfly, caddis, BWO Golden stone, PMD start Salmonfly 2-6, caddis 14-16
Jun Salmonfly, golden stone, PMD Caddis, yellow sally Salmonfly 2-6, PMD 16-18
Jul PMD, hoppers, caddis Yellow sally, ants, golden stone PMD 16-18, hopper 8-12
Aug Hoppers, PMD, caddis Ants, beetles, trico Hopper 8-12, PMD 16-18
Sep BWO, hoppers, caddis Mahogany dun, streamers BWO 16-20, hopper 8-12
Oct BWO, midges Streamers, mahogany dun BWO 16-20, midge 20-24
Nov Midges, BWO Streamers, small nymphs 20-24
Dec Midges Small nymphs, streamers 20-26

January - February

The upper Wind River is a year-round fishery. January and February are midge and streamer months - the valley location and high-desert climate mean cold air temperatures but consistently fishable water in the canyon sections above Dubois and in the accessible reaches below. Midges and small nymphs on a Euro rig in the deeper pools and slower runs. Streamers for large browns in the canyon. Minimal pressure - the upper Wind in winter is genuine solitude fishing.

  • Midges - 20-26. Red zebra midge and small Euro nymphs subsurface in the deeper pools and slower runs.
  • Streamers for large browns in the canyon sections - streamers.
  • BWO begin on overcast afternoons in February.

March - April

BWO hatches strengthen through March and April on the upper Wind - the canyon sections above Dubois produce good dry-fly fishing on overcast afternoons with strengthening olive hatches and minimal pressure before runoff begins. Caddis begin by mid-April. Stonefly nymphs building toward the May hatch. Snowmelt from the Wind River Range begins pushing flows up in late April - fish the pre-runoff window aggressively.

May - June: salmonfly season

The salmonfly hatch on the upper Wind River is one of Wyoming's finest and least pressured - the remote canyon sections above Dubois produce excellent salmonfly fishing with a fraction of the crowds found on more famous Wyoming rivers. The hatch moves up the canyon from lower to upper reaches through May and into June as temperatures warm. Golden stones and large caddis overlap with the salmonfly. PMDs begin on the flatter valley sections by late May and build through June into the signature summer hatch. The combination of salmonfly early and PMD late makes May and June the most productive months on the upper Wind.

  • Salmonfly - 2-6. The signature early-season hatch. Large adult stonefly dries when the hatch is active - see dry flies. Stonefly nymphs below the hatch front.
  • Golden stone - 6-10 in the faster riffles and pocket water.
  • Caddis - 14-16 evenings. Elk hair.
  • Yellow sally - 14-16 in the riffles on warm afternoons.
  • Late May - June: PMD - Pale Morning Dun on the flatter valley and canyon sections.

July - August: hopper season

PMDs continue through July mornings. Hoppers build along the sagebrush and grass margins of the valley sections through July and peak in August - the Wind River Valley concentrates grasshoppers and the brown trout respond aggressively. This is honest, straightforward hopper fishing without the crowds of more famous Wyoming rivers. Caddis evenings. Ants and beetles midday. The upper canyon sections above Dubois remain productive through the summer heat with consistent flows from Wind River Range snowmelt and glacial sources.

  • PMD - 16-18 mornings through July. Pale Morning Dun.
  • Hoppers - 8-12. Hoppers and terrestrials along the sagebrush and grass valley margins.
  • Caddis - 14-16 evenings. Elk hair.
  • Yellow sally - 14-16 in the riffles.
  • Ants and beetles midday. Hoppers and terrestrials.

September - October: fall BWO

September is the finest month on the upper Wind River. Crowds are minimal, BWO return strongly with the cooling temperatures, hoppers continue through mid-month, and the Wind River Range is spectacular in fall color. The combination of hopper mornings and BWO afternoons in remote canyon country with almost no other anglers is what the upper Wind River is all about. Streamers for pre-spawn browns building through October. Fall BWO on the Wind can be excellent through late October in good years.

  • Hoppers through mid-September. Hoppers and terrestrials.
  • BWO - 16-20. Parachute BWO and CDC Baetis emerger on overcast afternoons.
  • Mahogany dun - 14-16 on overcast afternoons in September and October.
  • Caddis evenings through September. Elk hair.
  • Streamers for pre-spawn browns October - streamers in the canyon pools.

The Wedding of the Waters - Thermopolis

At Thermopolis the Wind River officially becomes the Bighorn River at the Wedding of the Waters - a Wyoming geographical designation with no hydrological basis, but a genuine landmark worth a stop. Hot Springs State Park provides excellent public access to the river through the transition zone. The warm spring inputs at Thermopolis moderate water temperatures and extend both ends of the trout fishing season. Brown trout are the primary species here with good populations in the deeper pools and canyon sections adjacent to the park. The hatches generally mirror the lower Wind River above with midges and BWO anchoring the season and PMDs and hoppers through summer.

  • The Thermopolis section fishes with similar patterns to the lower Wind River - BWO, PMD, hoppers, and midges through the season.
  • Hot Springs State Park provides good public access - wade fishing from the park banks.
  • Streamers for the larger browns in the deeper canyon pools below the park. Streamers year-round.

Bighorn River Canyon - below Thermopolis

The Bighorn River below Thermopolis flowing north through the Bighorn Canyon is remote, dramatic, and largely unexplored by most Wyoming fly anglers. Large wild brown trout in a canyon setting with minimal fishing pressure - access requires research on public land boundaries and float options, but the effort is well rewarded. This section should not be confused with the famous Bighorn River tailwater in Montana below Yellowtail Dam, which is an entirely different and much more heavily managed fishery. The Wyoming Bighorn Canyon is freestone river fishing in genuine canyon wilderness.

  • Hatches in the canyon generally follow the Wind River pattern - BWO, PMD, hoppers, caddis, and midges through the season.
  • Streamers are the primary tool for the canyon browns - streamers in the deeper canyon pools and runs.
  • Float fishing is the most effective way to access the canyon - verify current access and put-in/take-out points before planning a float.
  • Do not confuse with the Bighorn River in Montana - a tailwater fishery below Yellowtail Dam with different character and regulations.

A western dry and nymph assortment covers the core season. Add a salmonfly pattern for May and June, a hopper box for July through September, and a streamer selection for the canyon sections year-round. The Wind River and Bighorn system is one of Wyoming's most diverse and least pressured trout fisheries - three distinct sections, excellent hatches throughout the season, and the unique geography of a river with two names flowing through some of the most dramatic country in the Rocky Mountain West.