Bighorn River Fishing Now: Challenging Conditions, Rewarding Catches

As of November 30th, the Bighorn River in Montana is experiencing a mix of conditions that can make for some challenging but rewarding fishing. ### Weather and Time Today, the weather is expected to be relatively mild, though cooler nights are prevalent this time of year. Sunrise is at around 7:30 AM, and sunset will be at about 4:30 PM. ### River Conditions The river is currently flowing at 2,200 cfs, and the water temperature is around 50 degrees. Water clarity is still a bit off due to aquatic grass breaking off and floating downriver, but the river is slowly cleaning up. ### Fish Activity Fish activity has been variable, with nymph fishing being poor to fair. However, streamer fishing has been picking up, and you can catch some big fish, though not in large numbers. Subsurface fishing is the best option right now, with fish feeding more actively below the surface. ### Types of Fish and Catch Yesterday, anglers caught a mix of trout species, including some larger fish on streamers. Nymphs such as scuds, sowbugs, and S.J. Worms have been effective. Streamers like the Thin Mint Wooley Bugger, Articulated Goldy, and White Zonker have also been productive. ### Best Lures and Bait For nymphs, use #14, #16 Orange Scud, #14, #16 Tailwater Sowbug, and #10 Squirmy Worm (blood red or burgundy). Streamers such as #6 Thin Mint Wooley Bugger, #4 Articulated Goldy, and #4 White Zonker are recommended. ### Hot Spots Two hot spots to consider are the upper three miles of the river, where you can find more consistent hatch activity and cleaner water, and the sections below 3 Mile, where streamer fishing has been particularly effective. Overall, while the fishing conditions are not ideal due to the green water and floating grass, there are still opportunities to catch some big fish, especially with the right subsurface and streamer tactics. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.