Bighorn Lake

Bighorn Lake fishing

Fishing at Bighorn Lake is on a reservoir, stocked with Shovelnose Sturgeon. It is stocked about 0.9 times a year since 2012, most often in July and September.

Last stocked

September 1, 2020

Plants on record

8

Since 2012

Species recorded

1

Average size

4.4 in

Elevation

3,636 ft

Access and facts

Water type
reservoir
Nearest town
Lovell, WY
Boat ramp
Yes
Fee required
No
Facilities
dock

The Wyoming end of this Bighorn Canyon reservoir is reached from Lovell: boat ramps and marinas sit at Horseshoe Bend and at Barry's Landing, plus a ramp at Kane. No entrance fee has been charged since the park suspended its fee program in 2018.

Sources: water_type , access , access.fee , shore_notes , nearest_town , facilities , fishing_notes , watch_outs

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How Bighorn Lake is stocked

The first plant of the year usually falls in the first week of September. In 2020 it was September 1, 2020, about when it usually is.

No plants recorded in 2013 and 2019.

Horseshoe Reservoir (4.4 mi), Big Wash (13.9 mi), Deaver Reservoir (22.3 mi), Lick Creek (28.3 mi), and Lake Creek (29.3 mi) were stocked more recently.

Fish at Bighorn Lake

Fishing Bighorn Lake is most likely to be for Shovelnose Sturgeon. All 8 plants on record are Shovelnose Sturgeon.

Shovelnose Sturgeon 8 plants
Plants
8 of 8
Last stocked
September 1, 2020
Average length
4.4 in

Fishing Bighorn Lake

Bighorn Lake supports a warmwater fishery, and its streamflow is relatively stable with little daily fluctuation. The reservoir, with a surface area of 5574 acres, stretches the entire 72 miles length of the Bighorn Canyon at full pool. It was created by the 1965 construction of Yellowtail Dam on the Bighorn River near Fort Smith, Montana.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

What to watch for

Anglers should be aware of other boaters; maintaining a safe speed is advised, particularly in crowded or narrow waterways. It is considerate to slow down and minimize a big wake near other boats to prevent discomfort or potential damage.

Fish stocked per year

  • 1,1472012
  • 5,3082014
  • 31,2152015
  • 14,8552016
  • 9,7802017
  • 7,6372018
  • 4,9822020

Stocking history

Source: Wyoming Game and Fish Department.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
September 1, 2020 Shovelnose Sturgeon 4,982 5.3 in report
September 1, 2018 Shovelnose Sturgeon 7,637 4.9 in report
September 1, 2017 Shovelnose Sturgeon 9,780 4.8 in report
September 1, 2016 Shovelnose Sturgeon 14,855 4.9 in report
September 1, 2015 Shovelnose Sturgeon 9,135 5.5 in report
July 1, 2015 Shovelnose Sturgeon 22,080 0.8 in report
October 1, 2014 Shovelnose Sturgeon 5,308 5.5 in report
September 1, 2012 Shovelnose Sturgeon 1,147 3.6 in report

Species stocked here

  • Shovelnose Sturgeon (8)

Depth-by-season, top lures, and bait notes for each species stocked here are on its own species guide, linked above.

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