"Bighorn River Report: Midges, Nymphs, and Spawning Rainbows for a Perfect May Fishing Day"

Artificial Lure here, folks. Lemme tell ya what's happenin' on the Bighorn this fine Saturday morning, May 24th. The Bighorn River's been busier than a one-armed wallpaper hanger these past few weeks, but the fishing remains solid despite the crowds. Water temps are holding in the mid to upper 40s now, and the rainbow spawn is in full swing. So remember, be decent and give those spawning fish plenty of space - no wading through visible redds, ya hear? Weather-wise, we're looking at a partly cloudy day with temperatures climbing into the low 60s by afternoon. Perfect fishing weather if you ask me. No tidal report needed here on our beautiful river - we leave that ocean nonsense to the coastal folks! Fish activity has been primarily subsurface, with exceptional nymphing action. The resident trout are in great shape, with plenty of 18+ inchers being caught regularly. The Baetis hatches have been increasing, especially during overcast periods, but those trout are still being stubborn, focusing mainly on subsurface feeding. For your tackle box today, I'd recommend loading up on UV Yum Yums, Carpet Bugs, Tailwater Sows in sizes 14-16, Silver Bullets, and Zebra Midges. Black Micro Mayflies and Pearl/Olive Jiggy Perdigons have also been working great. If you're going the streamer route, which has been producing some of the bigger fish lately, try Sparkle Minnows, Skiddish Smolts, and black Peanut Envys. Let those streamers sink and retrieve them slow as molasses. For you dry fly enthusiasts, slim pickings I'm afraid, but if you're patient and fish the afternoon hours, you might find some success with size 20 Sipper Midges, CDC Midges, or Baetis patterns like the Cripple Thor. Hot spots? The 3-mile to Bighorn Access stretch has been consistent, but crowded. For a bit more elbow room, try the areas below Soap Creek, about 10 miles down from the dam. Just keep an eye on it though - with our recent rains, Soap Creek can muddy up the main river when it runs high. Best times to be on the water are early morning until about 10 AM, then again from 4 PM until sunset, which is around 8:45 PM today. Remember, the fish are holding in mid-paced shelves and deeper runs, so focus your efforts there. And for Pete's sake, be mindful of other anglers out there - space has been at a premium. That's the word from the Bighorn today, folks. This is Artificial Lure reminding you that the worst day fishing still beats the best day working. Tight lines! This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.