Big Horn Spring Bite: Rainbows and Browns Heating Up on the Bighorn River

Hey folks, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to guy for all things fishin' right here in Big Horn, Montana. It's Sunday, April 26, 2026, kickin' off at 3 AM Mountain time—perfect for them early risers chasin' the bite before the sun pops up around 6 AM. Sunset's at 8:15 PM, givin' us a solid 14 hours of daylight on this crisp spring mornin'. Weather's lookin' mild today: highs in the low 60s, light winds from the northwest at 5-10 mph, partly cloudy skies—no major storms rollin' through the Bighorn River valley, per local forecasts. No tides up here in the high plains, but river flows on the Bighorn are steady at about 2,500 cfs below Yellowtail Dam, prime for wadin' without bein' too pushy. Fish activity's heatin' up with spring runoff easin' off—trout are active in the riffles and eddies, feedin' heavy on nymphs and early hatches. Recent reports from local outfitters like Fly Fishers Place note solid catches of rainbows and browns up to 20 inches, plus some cutthroats, on PMD mayflies, caddis pupa, and stonefly nymphs. Anglers pulled in a dozen fish per rod yesterday near Hardin, mostly 14-18 inchers, with a few fat 4-pound browns. **Best lures right now:** Go with small nymphs like Golden Stones, Perdigons in #14-16, or Tan Fat Ass Caddis for sub-surface action. On top, Corn Fed Caddis or Sparkle Duns in #12-16 when PMDs or early green drakes pop mid-day. For bait, worms or nightcrawlers under a float shine in the slower pools, or salmon eggs if you're spin-fishin'. Hot spots? Hit the Bighorn River stretches below Afterbay Dam—try the Bighorn Access near Hardin for deep runs full of rainbows. Or head to the fly-only water around Two Leggins for less pressure and bigger browns sight-fishin' in the shallows. Bundle up for that early chill, check regs, and leave no trace. Tight lines, y'all! Thanks for tunin' in—subscribe for more local reports! This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.