There are fly fishing trips where you remember the numbers, and there are trips where you remember the place.
This one was both.
Recently some neighborhood Dads and I headed north to Wyoming to spend a couple days floating and fly fishing the Bighorn River through the Wind River Canyon country. A little different then our fishing trips to East Texas. We fished two full days with guides out of Ugly Bug Fly Shop in Casper, with Ryan in our boat and another guide known simply as “Fish” running the second boat. Between the scenery, wildlife, and ridiculous trout action, it ended up being one of those trips you start planning to repeat before it’s even over.
Starting at the Wedding of the Waters
One of the coolest parts of the float is putting in near the Wedding of the Waters, where the Wind River officially becomes the Bighorn River as it exits the canyon country.
Towering canyon walls, sharp ridges, and deep moving water create one of the more unique fisheries I’ve seen. It feels wild in a way that is getting harder to find.
The canyon itself was alive the entire float.
Turkeys worked the banks. Mule deer and whitetails moved through the draws. Geese nested along rocky ledges above the river. We saw muskrat, mink, and more waterfowl than I could identify.
And yes… somewhere in the mix we even landed a flannelmouth sucker.
The Fishing: Browns, Rainbows & Doubles All Day
The trout fishing was simply lights out.
Over the two days we averaged somewhere around 20 fish per boat each day, with steady action on both browns and rainbows.
The biggest brown came in at 23″, and we matched that with a rainbow as well. What stood out wasn’t just length though, it was how thick these fish were. Wyoming rainbows have shoulders.
Ryan absolutely worked for us too.
Several times he would literally paddle the drift boat back upstream so we could fly fish the same productive drift again after doubling up from the front and back of the boat. When you’ve got fish stacked in a run and both anglers bent over at once, you appreciate a guide willing to grind.
Beyond rowing, Ryan was exactly who you want on a trip like this; knowledgeable, patient, open with information, and willing to explain not just what worked but why it worked. His expertise on fly fishing the Bighorn River was what us newbies to the area needed.
For anyone considering a Wyoming trip, I’d have no issue recommending the crew at Ugly Bug.
Staying on the River in Thermopolis
We stayed in a house directly on the Bighorn in Thermopolis, which might have been the secret ingredient of the whole trip.
After getting dropped off from the guided floats, we could still walk down and fish evenings on our own.
Those extra hours with a fly rod before and after dinner; no schedule, no pressure,, adding what we learned from our guides that day ended up being some of my favorite time of the trip.
If you’re planning this route, staying riverside is worth it.
Quick Trip Guide: Bighorn/ Wind River Canyon
Guide Service: Ugly Bug Fly Shop & Crazy Rainbow Fly Fishing – Casper, Wyoming
Best For:
- Fly anglers wanting scenery + action
- Father/son trips
- Guy’s trip
- Multi-generation family trips
- Wildlife photography and western landscapes
Species:
Brown trout, rainbow trout, occasional native species including flannelmouth sucker & mountain whitefish
Stay:
Thermopolis riverfront lodging if possible
Bonus Activities:
Hot springs, wildlife viewing, evening wade fishing, canyon exploration
Why Places Like This Matter
Trips like this remind me why I enjoy ranch and land real estate as much as I do.
The fishing was incredible, but what sticks with you is the open country.
The wildlife. The water. The canyon walls. The feeling that some places still operate on nature’s timeline instead of ours.
Good land does that.
Whether it’s a working ranch, recreational property, river frontage, or hunting ground, people are ultimately buying access to experiences like these.
And every once in a while, you get lucky enough to spend a few days living it.
Have a favorite Wyoming river, ranch country destination, or western fishery? Send it my way, I’m always looking for the next adventure. Happy to answer any questions your crew may have as well.
Travis Stein
Travis@ttranchgroup.com
214.534.6406
Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty
3131 Turtle Creek Blvd 4th Floor
Dallas, TX 75219
Ranch & Land Real Estate
Written by Travis Stein, Texas land specialist and agent with TT Ranch Group
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