Bighorn Bites - Early Fall Trout, Steady Flows, and Bighorn Bliss

Artificial Lure here, coming to you with your Big Horn, Montana fishing report for Sunday, September 14, 2025. The river’s breathing a steady September rhythm—cool nights, light jacket mornings, and a water clarity that should have any angler itching to tie knots. Let’s start with the day’s vital stats: Weather today is classic early fall—expect temperatures climbing from the upper 40s at sunrise to the mid-70s by late afternoon. Skies are mostly clear, winds out of the northwest at 5-10 mph, and humidity stays low. Sunrise hit at 6:41 AM and you’ll get lines wet until sunset at 7:17 PM. With minimal cloud cover, you’ll want to bring the shades but keep an eye out for those sudden gusts—Bighorn breezes can push your fly just off target if you’re not ready. There’s no tidal movement this far upriver—just the natural flow. The Bighorn’s running slightly below average but holding cold, and flows have been steady out of Yellowtail Dam, keeping trout active from the Afterbay downstream. Now let’s talk fish: Trout remain king around here, with both rainbow and brown trout eager for a meal in these cooling waters. Local guides and regulars are reporting solid numbers—many nets filling with respectable 14-18” rainbows and a fair share of browns. At least one 21-inch brown was hooked near Bighorn Access this week, and pods of rising fish have been popping all along the slicks and riffles. Expect some fishing pressure, but the bite holds strong, especially in the early morning hours and the last hour before dusk. Best baits? Think small—size 18-20 midge patterns, black Zebra Midges, and red or brown Scuds beneath an indicator have been catching most of the rainbows especially on the upper stretches. Hopper-dropper rigs are still productive, even this late in the season. Drop a small, flashy nymph like a Lightning Bug or the ever-faithful Ray Charles beneath a Chubby Chernobyl or a tan Morrish Hopper and you’ll find yourself in business, particularly along grassy banks and overhanging brush. If you’re looking to tempt those browns, streamer junkies are doing well swinging olive and black Woolly Buggers after first light or during the evening. If bait’s your game, nightcrawlers and waxworms fished slowly near bottom have landed a handful of chunky rainbows closer to the Three Mile and Afterbay camp access points, but remember—artificial only stretches mean double-checking regs before you toss anything organic. Hot spots worth a cast or twenty: - The Afterbay to Three Mile run—those riffles and tailouts are holding nice fish, especially early. - Bighorn Access point—good numbers of actively feeding trout and a shot at larger browns as the day cools. - Don’t overlook the Wyoming/Montana state line stretch—word is locals have been pulling aggressive rainbows on bright streamers just as the sun drops. Pressure is lightest mid-week, but with hunting seasons kicking in, the river’s wide open for those looking to get away from crowds. Wildlife activity is p This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.