Lower Shoshone Tailwater

Flows:  560 cfs below Buffalo Bill Dam to Corbett Bridge. 

Hey everyone. We wanted to give you a head’s up on the Bureau of Reclamation’s flow plans for the Lower Shoshone. Flows were increased to 560 3/15. This flow will continue until April 4 when the BuRec will increase flows to 5,000 cfs for 24 hours. April 5 and 6, the flows will be lowered to 3,000-3500 cfs. After that, the flows will drop back to 560 (or lower!) until the BuRec releases the seasonal irrigation flows which is typically 1200-1500 cfs April 15-October 15.

The lower Shoshone River is fishing very well. Flows are perfect for wading, but a bit low for easy floating. Hatches have been small midges (size 20-28), blue winged olives (size 18-20) and winter stoneflies (size 14). We recommend fishing bead head nymphs or stripping streamers for best results until the hatches begin. The trout do rise to dries in the warmest part of the day which is usually 12-3:30 pm.

Nymphs: Perdigons or Euro style nymphs:  (Spanish Bullets, black or purple, blue diamond, meat heads, rainbow warriors),  tan or black North Fork Specials, Purple Jig Prince’s, Pheasant Tails, Pat’s rubber legs, Hare’s Ears, Soft Hackle PT’s,  Tungsten French Lick, Bloody Mary, Copper John – red, copper, black, and versions of the San Juan worms.

Dries: Olive or gray compara duns, olive or gray sparkle duns, parachute Adams, Griffith’s gnats, for the midge and BWO hatches. Use black/peacock Hemingway caddis, Wright’s royals or dark brown elk hair caddis for the stonefly imitations.

Streamers: Sculpzilla, Peanut Envy, Platte River Special, JawBreakers, Mena’s Slide Bugger.

Should you want an immediate update on flows, water quality, hatches, fly suggestions, we advise you call, not email, North Fork Anglers at 307-527-7274 for that. We also suggest and recommend that you do the same for the 2022 Guided Trip season to reserve dates and guides. We are already getting bookings for late spring and summer trips in 2022. If you have your dates picked out, we urge you to get a deposit made as soon as possible so you don’t miss the chance to float or walk/wade Cody/Bighorn area rivers and streams.