"Bighorn River Fishing Update: Fall Fishing Opportunities and Tactics"

As of October 12, 2024, the Bighorn River in Montana is offering some excellent fishing opportunities, despite the transitioning fall season. ### Weather and Conditions The weather is expected to be partly cloudy with cooler nighttime temperatures, which has helped in breaking free the grass that was previously an issue. Water temperatures are in the low 60s, so be careful when handling fish to keep them wet. ### Sunrise and Sunset Sunrise today is at around 7:30 AM, and sunset will be at approximately 6:30 PM, giving you a full day to enjoy the river. ### Fish Activity Fish activity has been good, though it's been more on and off lately. The cool nighttime temperatures have put the fish in a better mood, especially for subsurface feeding. Tricos are still present, but the fish seem more content feeding on subsurface insects. ### Types and Amounts of Fish The Bighorn River is home to a healthy population of brown trout, and this time of year is ideal for catching some of the bigger ones as they prepare for their fall spawn. Yesterday saw a mix of fish caught, with a focus on larger, healthier trout. ### Best Lures and Bait For subsurface fishing, worms, Dorsey’s Scud, Carpet Bugs, and Tailwater sows are working well. Streamer fishing is also picking up, with patterns like Jig Thin Mints, Pete’s Buggers, Goldies, and Rusty Trombones being effective. If you're looking to try dry flies, Black Micro Mayflies, Pearl/Olive Jiggy Perdigons, and small peacock elk hair caddis can still trick some fish, especially during the evening black caddis hatches. ### Hot Spots One of the best areas to fish is the upper three miles of the Bighorn River, where you can find consistent hatch activity from about 11:00 AM until dark. Another hot spot is below the 3 Mile access point, where you can encounter good numbers of big Tan Caddis and other insects. Overall, the Bighorn River is in great shape for fall fishing, with plenty of opportunities to catch some impressive brown trout. Just remember to keep your flies clean due to the breaking grass, and be considerate of other anglers on the river. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.