FISHING
Regardless of the time of the year always pack warm layers and a waterproof layers. During Spring and Fall plan for a cold front to pass through for a short time during your stay even though it will probably be pretty mild in the 60/70s. Summer is generally hot, we recommend a lightweight travel pant and long sleeve sunshirt. A sun buff for your face and full brim hats also recommended. Sunscreen, good pair of polarized sunglasses. But even in the heart of summer a cold front can move through and drop temps into the 50s/60s for a day or two so be prepared. Afternoon thunderstorms for an hour or two in the summer are common.
A stiffer 5 wt is a good all around option for nymph fishing. 6wt works really well too for nymph rigs and streamers. 4 & 5 weight for dry fly fishing. 7 wt rod probably too much, 3 wt too little.
Lunch, terminal tackle, water, soft drinks, and flies are all included with your guide trip. Waders, boots, and rods are also included should you need them although we always encourage clients to bring their own equipment if convenient, but not necessary
A Montana fishing license, guide gratuities, and alcohol are not included.
Normally a guide trip starts around 8am and ends around 4-5pm with 7-8 hours on the water. A half day trip normally starts at 8am and end around 12-1pm with around 4 hours on the water.
Our packages include lodging, and all meals starting with dinner the night you arrive through breakfast the morning you leave. Our fishing packages also include terminal tackle and flies, along with waders, boots, and fly rods should you need them. NOT INCLUDED is a fishing license, gratuities, and alcohol.
Most clients fly into Billings. Our lodge is an hour and a half south of Billings. From the airport take I-90 to Hardin (about 45 minutes) and highway 313 from Hardin to the town of Fort Smith (45 minutes)
No and no. Hardin is the last town to purchase alcohol before driving out to the river. The town of Fort Smith is within the confines of a tribal reservation and therefore the public sale of alcohol is prohibited. Consuming alcohol however is perfectly legal. There are no public restaurants in the town of Fort Smith. Most clients join us on site at Lynn’s Backcast Grill, but you must be a guest staying with us as we are not a public restaurant.
Standard guide gratuity is $100-150 per day. Gratuity of $10 per person, per day for the kitchen staff is also fairly standard.
LODGING
Yes. Forrester's Bighorn is the only Orvis-endorsed resort to offer our guests private, fully appointed log cabins with private, in-room telephones and complimentary wireless internet service – just in case you want to connect with the “real world.”
Like no other in the Bighorn River area. From your private Forrester’s Bighorn cabin, you’ll look out into the beautiful Bighorn river framed by our majestic Montana mountains.
Again, Forrester's Bighorn is unique. We are the Only Bighorn River resort to offer afour-star dining experience at every meal. Our chefs have been trained in Europe, the Caribbean, and North America. They have more than 60 years of combined experience in creating, preparing and serving four-star gourmet feasts.
LOCATION
We’re about a 90-minute drive from the airport and directly on the prime fishing waters of the Bighorn River. Other lodges may be closer to the airport, but we’ve found that guests put more value on being closer to the prime fishing waters.
Forrester's Bighorn River Resort is the only lodge with on-property access to the Bighorn River’s prime fishing waters. Here, instead of driving 55 minutes or more to and from the fish, our guests can step out of their private cabins, walk to the river and spend time doing more of what you’ve come here to do – catch big fish!
Forrester’s Bighorn River Resort is just ¼ mile from the dam – 3 minutes from front door to put-in. Other Montana lodges are a 55-minute or longer drive to the dam and river put-in.
We are the only Orvis-endorsed lodge with owners that are active, involved and on-property every day. Our owners are Nick Forrester, a wildlife biologist, and Francine Forrester, an executive chef. Both Nick and Francine are here, working hard every day to make sure you have the experience of a lifetime.
Forrester’s Bighorn River Resort is the 2010 Orvis-endorsed Fly Fishing Lodge of the Year and the first lodge to receive Orvis’ Top Five Distinctive Endorsements for Fly Fishing Lodge, Fly Fishing Expedition, Wingshooting Lodge, Wingshooting Guide and Endorsed Outfitter. At our Montana resort, you’ll find the sophistication and consistency expected of a world-class sporting lodge, plus a home-away-from-home atmosphere created by owners, Nick and Francine Forrester.
Our upland bird hunting property covers thousands of Montana's acres that are spread over four distinct regions that hold huge numbers of pheasant, partridge and grouse. Our exclusive Cast & Blast event, offered each September through December, features a unique Bighorn fly-fishing and upland bird hunt experience in the same day.
Compare our answers with those you get from other Montana lodges. When you do, you'll understand why more guests prefer to visit Forrester's Bighorn River Resort, where Montana keeps her promises.
OUR TRIP PLANNER
From the best time of year to travel to what you can expect and much more. We answer all of your questions in our trip planner.