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What Are Your Favorite Big Horn Flies?

2K views 7 replies 7 participants last post by  Leroy Laviolet 
#1 ·
T'is the time of year for me to tie up a few hundred tailwater specials. I was hoping that some of you might chime in with your favorite and most productive flies from the Big Horn river, say for a late March trip...Any instructions would be appreciated:thumb:
 
#2 ·
San Juan Worm is one of the standards with a copper John dropper behind. I like fishing the Big Horn with a streamer. last time I was there I fished an epoxy minnow and caught some very large browns. The river can drive you nuts as you see hundreds of fish slurping the surface on little teeny tiny midges. If you have the ability tie up dome #22 griffiths gnats as well. If it were me going I would probably just fish the streamers and have a blast doing it.
 
#3 ·
On the Bighorn (or any tailwater) I keep my nymphs and dries very small and my streamers articulated and big. The time of year you're talking about it'll be midges and BWOs. Some people will undoubtedly mention scuds (Ray Charles) but I find the midge patterns more productive.

These are the flies I use.

Simple midge pattern size 18-22 in white, gray, black, red or brown. I tie a simple one with a goose biot body, a hint of flash and a very small black dubbed head, but this example is good http://www.fisheyesoup.com/article_details/240.html

A palomino midge makes a nice dry pattern if you have young eyes. http://www.westfly.com/fly-pattern-recipe/wet/palominomidge.shtml

BWO nymph: micro may (18 -22) I fish this fly everywhere. http://www.americanflyfishing.com/retail/common/tieit/pattern.asp?id=67&store_id=212

BWO dry: I love the DOA dun (I apologize for the uneven dubbing in this #18 swap fly, can't believe I let that one go)


And finally, I love streamers on the Bighorn. The bigger the better. Here are three Bighorn pics (Mike's Pecs, Peanut Envy and T&A rainbow).
 
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