Big Horn River Report: Clear Flows and Double-Digit Days Ahead

Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in from the Big Horn country, and the river’s in pretty fine shape right now. Flows below Yellowtail are running clear and cold, with just a touch of color along the soft edges. No tides to worry about here, just dam releases, and they’ve been steady enough that the fish are settled into a good early‑summer pattern. Weather around Fort Smith and the Big Horn corridor today is mild: cool start in the 50s, climbing into the 70s by mid‑day, light breeze out of the west, and only a small chance of an afternoon shower. Skies are partly cloudy—enough cover to keep fish comfortable through most of the day. Sunrise came early over the canyon and sunset will give you a long evening window, so you’ve got plenty of fishable light on both ends. Trout activity has been strong at first light and again from late afternoon into dusk. Mid‑day is still productive, but you’ll want to work a bit deeper and focus on the seams. Rainbows have been the main players, with plenty of 14–18 inch fish reported, and a decent number of browns in that same class, plus the occasional pig brushing the 20‑inch mark. Folks drifting nymph rigs have been putting good numbers in the net—double‑digit days are very realistic if you stay on the oars and adjust depth. For fly anglers, small nymphs are the ticket. Think **scuds**, **ray charles**, **pupae**, and **pheasant tails** in the 16–20 range under an indicator, with a bit of weight to tick just off the bottom. A small midge or a flashy soft hackle dropped below a sowbug has been a reliable combo. When the clouds thicken or the wind lays down, keep an eye out for midges and the odd baetis; a tiny parachute or CDC emerger can clean up on rising fish along inside bends and back eddies. Spin and conventional folks are doing well too. Small **inline spinners** in silver or copper, and little **minnow‑style crankbaits** in rainbow or brown patterns are consistent producers in the riffles and tailouts. If you’re bait fishing where it’s allowed, drifted **nightcrawlers** or **salmon eggs** under a small float through the deeper runs will put trout in the cooler. Keep your presentations natural—light line, subtle weight, and long drifts. A couple of local hot spots to keep in mind: • **Below Afterbay to 3‑Mile**: Classic Big Horn—riffle‑run‑pool structure, plenty of holding water, and good access. Work the seams off the main current and the soft inside turns; fish are stacked there. • **13‑Mile to Bighorn Access**: A bit more spread out, but the browns tend to run bigger. Focus on the ledge drops and slower outside bends, especially as the sun gets low. Streamers along the banks at last light can move some serious fish. Overall, it’s a “bring all the rods” kind of day: nymphs for numbers, a dry box handy for the hatch windows, and a few streamers or hardware options for probing the deeper slots and undercut banks. Wading is comfortable if you pick your spots, but a drift boat or raft lets you cover that sweet mid‑river structure. That’s the word from Big Horn country. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn