Accommodations & Meals

Nestled amongst the cottonwoods along the Bighorn River, this lodge perfectly combines the rustic beauty of Montana with the comforts of the modern age. The lodge caters to small groups of anglers and hunters who will accept nothing short of the very finest service available.

The large screened porch, complete with log furniture and an old-time swing, provide a quiet evening retreat where guests can unwind and enjoy their surroundings. The great room – complete with wet bar and the warmth of a wood stove- greets you after an exciting day on the river or in the fields.

You will enjoy friendly, knowledgeable staff from the moment you arrive until your departure. Eight years on staff is the norm for this lodge, which is virtually unheard of in the industry.

Seven guest rooms, each decorated with an artistic touch of the Montana outdoors, include two beds and a private bath.

Dining has always been a prominent element of every guest’s stay, and many have affirmed that it is among the chief reasons for their return. Meals feature such elements as local Angus beef, racks of lamb, upland game prepared with subtle spices and home-grown herbs, wild asparagus, pies filled with Montana berries and, of course, fresh vegetables.

Fishing

The Bighorn River is indisputably one of the finest fisheries in the world, providing miles and miles of blue ribbon water for rainbow and brown trout. Its cool temperatures and steady flow, combined with prolific insect life, provide an ideal environment for trophy trout.

The Bighorn holds a greater number of large trout – fish in the 15-20 inch range – than any river in the United States. With around 8,000 trout per mile, it is not uncommon for an average angler to land 20 fish between 15-20 inches in a day, and most manage to hook into fish over the 20 inch mark during their stay.

Host to phenomenal fly hatches nearly year round, the Bighorn provides excellent fishing from April through November. However, June through August is considered prime season. As a tailwater fishery, heavy run-off is never a problem, making it one of the few fisheries where fishing is good in the spring and fall.

This lodge is also one of the few outfits to guide on both the upper and lower stretches of the Bighorn. Their experience on the lower Bighorn presents opportunities for exceptionally large trout and allows guests to fish this world famous river in near solitude. Bighorn river trips combine float fishing from McKenzie-style drift boats with traditional stalk and wade techniques.

The Fishing Guides:

The professional guides are knowledgeable, courteous and gifted with unlimited patience and enthusiasm. As qualified instructors, they can teach the fundamentals to beginners, help intermediate anglers improve their form or introduce experts to new techniques for taking trophy trout.

Fly fishing Equipment:

A first time angler can arrive almost empty handed and receive personal instruction, utilize the quality Orvis equipment and depart with the skills to begin a lifetime of fly fishing enjoyment. You can even allow the staff to assist you in purchasing your personal tools of the trade in their on site Orvis retail shop.

For the more experienced angler that wants to bring their own equipment, the equipment needed for the Big Horn can be as simple as a 5wt, 8’1/2” rod and a pair of chest waders. If you would like to bring a combination of rods, they recommend a 6wt for streamers, a 5 wt for nymphs and a 4 wt for dries. All rods for the Big Horn should be 8’ or longer. A mid to tip flex rod is preferable.

Weight forward floating lines are the general rule. Full chest waders are a must. Lightweight waders are desirable in summer and fall. Polarized sunglasses are a necessity. They do a great deal of sight fishing and being able to spot the fish is a big help. Vests, gadgets and terminal tackle items are not needed as the guides provide all of these.

Cast and Blast Combo trips:

The “Cast and Blast” package is one of the most popular options, and there are few places in the country that can offer upland hunting this good in combination with fishing a river like the Big Horn. In the fall, you can combine fly-fishing and upland bird hunting in the same package, making it the ultimate “grand slam” outdoor experience!

Hunting

South Central Montana boasts some of the best and most exciting wild upland bird hunting anywhere in the nation. This is the country where great buffalo herds once roamed, where pioneers struggled to carve out a new destiny and where Custer met his fate. The hillsides, valleys, creeks and fields of the Big Horn area offer a mixed bag of pheasant, Hungarian partridge and sharptail grouse. Throughout much of the season all species can be hunted and are very often encountered in the same habitat.

This lodge has secured leases on more than 40,000 acres of ranch and farmland that is rich in upland birds. Wild bird hunts are managed by taking only a limited number of hunters each year. By rotating between several different areas, the staff can insure excellent hunting throughout the entire season.

The shooting is demanding, but the birds are abundant and most shooters stand a good chance of filling their quotas each day. To help in that regard, the lodge offers a complimentary sporting clay course, complete with professional instruction to all their guests. For those wishing for a less rigorous hunt, the lodge can provide managed hunts for hard flying released birds on one of their two 1200 acres shooting preserves.

Hunting Style:

The hunts are conducted in traditional western style over pointing dogs and flushers. Knowledgeable guides and excellent dog work are the fundamentals of each and every hunt. Guests typically hunt in pairs with one guide and a team of dogs. The lodge offers an indoor championship kennel facility should you wish to bring and hunt your own dog(s). All game is cleaned, processed and packaged for your departure. Guests wishing to have their game shipped may do so for the cost of shipping.

All hunting is on foot. You will want to be in good shape for this hunt!

Cast and Blast Combo trips:

The “Cast and Blast” package is one of the most popular options and there are few places in the country that can offer wild upland hunting this good in combination with fishing a river like the Big Horn. In the fall, you can combine fly fishing and upland bird hunting in the same package, making it the ultimate “grand slam” outdoor experience!

Season:

The hunting season at Eagle Nest typically begins on Sept. 1 (check regulations for specific dates on public land), at which time Hungarian partridge, and Sharptail Grouse may be hunted. Pheasant seasons opens on October 9th, and we continue to hunt through Thanksgiving. Bag limits were:

pheasant ……. 3 cock birds
partridge ……. 6 either sex
grouse sharptail ……. 2 either sex
September is the best time for those whose primary objective is good Grouse hunting. Sharptails can be found through November. The Hungarian partridge hunting in this area is truely fantastic all three months of the season. October and November present great hunting for pheasants.

Activities

The property offers a small shooting setup for shotgun practice and a hot tub. You are located in a beautifully wooded area along the lower Bighorn River. Walking along the river and enjoying the meals are both highlights of this lodge. About 30 minutes away, you can enjoy the site of Custer’s Last Stand and some souvenir shops.

Length of Stay / Itinerary

3-6 night itineraries.  Arrive the evening before your trip and depart following your last afternoon fishing outing.

Travel Details & Location

You will fly into Billings, Montana and rent a car to drive to the lodge which is under an hour away.

Internet & Communications

Wi-Fi available and cell service available.

Changing Generations

MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR FAMILY OR COUPLE ON THIS TRIP:  IT’S SIMPLE

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could add more meaning and improve your relationships on every vacation with your family or spouse? Below are two easy steps to becoming intentional as you travel:

TWO EASY STEPS:
1.  Watch this video:

Make a difference video     

2.  Click on the link below for step by step ideas of how to add more meaning to your family/couple travel:

HOW TO: “MAKE A DIFFERENCE”

Rates

Call for updated pricing & details

 

Trip Insurance & Cancellation Info

Trip insurance is highly recommended to protect your investment on this trip. We will assist you with trip insurance upon booking. See links at the bottom of this page for the two providers we suggest for our clients.

Family Expeditions, LLC confirmation and refund policy:

If your trip is more than 90 days out from date of departure, a 50% non-refundable deposit confirms your reservation and must be received within 10 days of booking to confirm your dates. All trips must be paid in full at least 90 days prior to the departure date. If your trip date is within 90 days, FULL payment for the trip is required. All payments to Family Expeditions are non-refundable. Should you need to reschedule or cancel your trip, we will do everything in our power to assist you in finding a suitable substitute or transferring your dates per the lodge/providers/government requirements. Trip insurance protects your investment!