Category: Articles & Tips

In 1966, the federal government took the variable waters of the Bighorn River and tamed them with a dam, creating one of Wyoming's best fishing lakes in the process. Bighorn Lake extends for 71 miles through Montana and Wyoming (31 of the miles are in Wyoming). Whether out on the giant lake itself, or on a narrow stretch inside the Bighorn Canyon, you'll find no shortage of brown and rainbow trout and other game species like Black Crappie, Burbot (Ling), Channel Catfish, Sauger, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye and Yellow Perch. Wyomingfishing.net ranks Bighorn Lake as the third best lake in the state for fishing. I'd bump it up to number one because of the scenery. When your arm gets tired from casting and pulling giant trout in, start warming up for Day 3 (backcountry fishing) by taking a short hike on the 120,000 acres of the surrounding Bighorn National Recreation Area. Oh, if you're passing through in the winter, there's quite the ice fishing scene on this lake too.