fly fishing
Experience The Best of the Bighorn
fly fishing
The Best of the Bighorn
365 Days of Action
Cottonwood Camp is a complete and full-service lodging, outfitting, camping, and recreational facility for fly fishers and vacationers alike. Cottonwood Camp opened on Montana’s famed Bighorn River in 1981. A business built on word of mouth, Cottonwood Camp has become a tradition for those seeking the best of Bighorn River fly fishing.
The Bighorn River is well-known throughout the world for the superb fly fishing it offers. The first thirteen miles–from Afterbay Access to Bighorn Access–have more trout per mile and a bigger average trout size than any other river in Montana. You probably have a better chance of catching a trout over 20 inches on the Bighorn than on any other river in Montana.
Anglers of all shapes, sizes and skillsets can experience success on the Bighorn River. Each season represents a new opportunity. Scan below for a general overview for what to expect and contact us today to book your trip of a lifetime.
Early Spring - Great for anglers seeking seclusion and excellent catch rates. The fish hold in the deeper slow buckets, warmer days can usher in some great midge hatches that bring plenty of fish to the surface.
Late Spring - Warmer water temperatures increase fish activity and they start to feed on the shelf edges. Warmer water temperatures also jumpstart beats activity and we see our first honest days of BWO fishing.
Early Summer - Water temps in the middle 50’s put the fish on the hard feed and trigger increased insect activity for the rivers marquee hatches- the PMD’s and Black Caddis. Higher flows can produce the best boat fishing of the season.
Summer - Hatches of PMDs and Black Caddis keep fish interested in surface offerings all day. The evening emergences of Black Caddis can be absolutely stifling. A must see for the hard core dry fly angler.
Late Summer - Tricos and terrestrials provide good dry fly opportunities for both the float and wade angler. Nyphing through riffles can produce some nice fish.
Fall - Aquatic worms make an appearance putting the rivers resident wild trout into a tizzy. For those looking to have the opportunity to see a variety of events fall is hard to beat. Midges, BWO, some terrestrials, and even tricos make up the dry fly action. Worms and scuds dominate the subsurface activity.
Winter - Absolute solitude greets the angler. Fish feed heavily on sow bugs and midges throughout the warm hours. This is also an excellent time to strip streamers in search of a true leviathan!
A Bighorn River Tradition
Cottonwood Camp is a complete and full-service lodging, outfitting, camping, and recreational facility for fly fishers and vacationers alike. Cottonwood Camp opened on Montana’s famed Bighorn River in 1981. A business built on word of mouth, Cottonwood Camp has become a tradition for those seeking the best of Bighorn River fly fishing.
The Bighorn River is well-known throughout the world for the superb fly fishing it offers. The first thirteen miles–from Afterbay Access to Bighorn Access–have more trout per mile and a bigger average trout size than any other river in Montana. You probably have a better chance of catching a trout over 20 inches on the Bighorn than on any other river in Montana.
Bighorn trout are extremely healthy because of the river’s excellent food supply. They are wonderful fighters and very acrobatic. Dry fly fishing, nymphing, and fishing streamers can all be productive for much of the year. The Bighorn River is open and very fishable the entire year.
Peak fishing times are from April till the end of September. If you are looking for some solitude we recommend booking your stay during the months of October or March.
Deposit and Cancellation Policy
A 50% deposit is requested on advanced bookings, 61 or more days in advance of arrival. A full payment is requested for trips scheduled within 60 days of the time of booking. For advance bookings secured with a deposit, the remaining balance is due in full 60 days before the trip.
A written notice of cancellation is required. Cancellation fees will be applied as follows:
For cancellations 90 days in advance of arrival, 7.5% of the reservation total will be retained by Wet Net Outfitters LLC.
For cancellations 89 to 60 days before arrival, the deposit will be retained in full by Wet Net Outfitters LLC.
For cancellations inside of 60 days before arrival, the full price of the trip will be retained by Wet Net Outfitters LLC.
Due to the advanced nature of our bookings, we must make no exceptions to our cancellation policy. Wet Net Outfitters LLC fishes rain or shine and trips are not cancelled due to poor conditions. Should the weather provide an unsafe situation, Wet Net Outfitting LLC will cancel the trip and issue credit toward a future trip or a refund.
For all trips, anglers are responsible for a Montana fishing license that is valid for the day of the trip.
Gratuities are not included in the rates and are given at your discretion, a standard gratuity is between $45-$50 per angler.
Cottonwood Camp advocates the “catch and release” philosophy on all guided fishing trips.