Bighorn River Early Season: Cold, Clear, and Full of Browns

Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in from the Bighorn country around Fort Smith and Big Horn, Montana, with your early season river report. We’re sitting on a cool start this morning, mid‑40s warming into the low 70s under mostly sunny skies with a light north breeze laying the river down nice and flat. Local forecasts are calling for just a slight chance of an afternoon shower, but no big wind events, so it’s a good day to be on the oars. Sunrise is right around 5:20 a.m., sunset close to 9:10 p.m., giving you a long fishing window. Being a tailwater off Yellowtail Dam, the Bighorn doesn’t have tides, but flows and clarity are the big story here instead. Recent word from local guides and fly shops along the Fort Smith stretch is that the river’s in good shape: cold, clear, and running at moderate releases out of the dam. Nymphing has been the main producer. Folks have been reporting strong numbers of **brown trout** in the 14–18 inch class, with plenty of healthy **rainbows** mixed in and the occasional fish pushing past 20 inches. The upper three miles below the dam have seen the highest counts, with anglers routinely putting a couple dozen fish in the net on good days when they stay on the nymph game. Bug‑wise, we’re in that crossover period. There are still midges around in the mornings, and blue‑winged olives popping on the overcast stretches, with whispers of early PMD activity starting to show. Fish have been feeding subsurface most of the day, sliding up into the softer seams and inside edges as the sun gets higher. The afternoon window has seen fish move a bit deeper, so getting your rigs down has been key. Best producers right now are classic Bighorn patterns: small **midge and baetis nymphs** in sizes 18–20, tan and gray **scuds**, and slim **Pheasant Tail** and **Split Case PMD** style flies. For a two‑fly nymph rig, think a size 16 scud or sow bug on top with a small midge or baetis dropper 14–18 inches below, enough split shot to tick bottom, and an indicator set just right so it rides naturally in those walking‑pace seams. If you like swinging or stripping, small **woolly buggers**, **Thin Mints**, and sparse **sparkle minnows** have been moving some of the bigger browns out of the banks, especially during low light. Bait fishing is limited by local regulations on much of this river, so be sure to check the current Montana FWP rules before you go. Where it’s allowed on nearby waters, natural **nightcrawlers** drifted along the bottom and small **minnows** or **leeches** under a float tend to be the best bet for both trout and the odd walleye or smallmouth in the lower reaches and side waters. Keep leaders a bit heavier there; those fish aren’t as leader‑shy as the upper‑river trout. A couple of local hot spots to keep in mind: – The **Afterbay to 3‑Mile** stretch: coldest, clearest water, highest trout counts, and reliable nymphing all day. Work the shelves dropping off the weed beds and the soft edges below riffles. – The **Bighorn–Soap Creek confluence area** downstream: a little more color, fewer but often larger fish, and a better place to throw streamers tight to the grass and cutbanks. If you’re wading, focus on inside bends, knee‑to‑thigh‑deep seams, and any broken water below riffles, especially early and late. Boat anglers should keep an eye on side channels and mid‑river shelves; a quick stop to thoroughly work a productive seam can turn a decent day into a great one. That’s the word from the river for now. 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