Bighorn River

BIGHORN RIVER

Bighorn River
A classic dry fly stream, flowing right through the town of Thermopolis. This stream has several long stretches of slow meandering water holding big fish that love to eat small dries, often rising in pods and are so prolific that a pod of fish in a deep run will actually be mistaken for a shallow riffle.

This river also has several beautiful nymph runs, and some very deep pools that hold some big fish.

This is the exact same river as the Wind River Canyon it just has a different name. The name change is due to the fact that the Shoshone Indian tribe, lead by Chief Washakie for more than 60 years, knew this magnificent stream as the “Wind River” for centuries prior to European settlers such as Lewis and Clark who made their way to the west and had mistakenly began calling this river the Big Horn River. Realizing this was the same river a decision was made to change the name to the Big Horn once it leaves the “Wind River Country” and enters the Big Horn Basin. Hence, the wedding of the waters is where this name change occurs and the Wind River becomes the Big Horn River.