Big Horn Montana Fishing Report: Trout Spawning, Midges & Blue-Winged Olives

Good morning anglers, this is Artificial Lure with your Big Horn Montana fishing report for Sunday, November 9, 2025. We’re starting today off under sunny skies with highs expected in the lower 60s here in the valley, according to the National Weather Service. Winds will be from the northwest at 10–20 mph, perfect for keeping bugs and drift boats moving, but light enough not to spoil your cast. Water on the Bighorn River near St. Xavier is running at about 2,300 cubic feet per second, with a gauge height just over 60 feet—just what we like to see for solid fall flows and healthy trout activity, according to the USGS report. The river is flowing at 81% of its normal mark for early November, so expect slightly lower, clearer water, which means wary, educated fish. No tidal action to worry about since we’re far upriver. Sunrise was at 7:00 AM and sunset’s coming at about 4:47 PM, so you’ve got a tight window for prime fishing. Temperatures will be warming up fast by late morning—the perfect time to see midges and blue-winged olives start popping, especially with that low, clear water. Recent stringers from the main and side channels have been stout. Guides and locals on the upper three miles report browns are in full spawning color and cruising the gravel, while rainbows have been eager and chunky on the nymph. Numerous trout in the 14 to 18-inch class were boated yesterday; there’ve been reliable reports of some topping 20 inches, especially from the Afterbay down through Bighorn Access. No word on any monster carp caught, but the occasional whitefish has kept folks guessing. Best lures right now: small olive or black streamer patterns like Sculpzillas or Mini-Dungeons—strip 'em slow on the swing into deeper runs. Nymph setups are still king, with sowbugs (ray Charles, scuds in pink or gray), zebra midges, and assorted baetis working beneath an indicator. The Bighorn’s tailwater stays cold, so make sure your midge pupa is running deep, 5 to 8 feet behind some split shot. If you’re going to throw dries, wait for the warmest part of the day and look for fish sipping in the slicks—size 18–22 BWO emerges and clusters are the ticket. For bait anglers, if you’re drifting nightcrawlers or salmon eggs through deeper holes, especially below the dam or down by Soap Creek, you’ll move rainbows and possibly a bonus brown on gravelly structure. Couple of hot spots to try today: - Head just below the Afterbay Dam to the “catch and release” stretch, where cool, oxygen-rich water and plenty of structure have yielded some of the best fall browns. - For wade fishers, the stretch near Three Mile Access remains excellent, with side channels holding nice pods of trout—just watch for muddy banks if you’re hiking solo. Big Horn’s legendary for turning on in this weather, but stealth is the name of the game with the crystal-clear flows. Light tippets and smart casts will reward you. Remember, the upper river stays busy, but the crowds thin quickly below Bighorn This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.