Bighorn River Report: Nymphing Gold Below Yellowtail Dam This Week

Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Big Horn country fishing report out here around Fort Smith and the Bighorn River. No tides to worry about in this neck of the woods, just river flow and weather. First light’s been creeping in right around 5:20 a.m., with sunset close to 9:10 p.m. Those low‑light windows have been the sweet spot, especially the first two hours after sunrise and the last two before dark. Weather around Big Horn today is cool to start, low 50s at daybreak, pushing into the upper 70s by mid‑afternoon with light south to southwest breeze and only a slight chance of a stray shower. Mostly clear skies, so expect bright mid‑day sun and clear water—perfect for technical presentations. The Bighorn below Yellowtail Dam is running clear and cold. Flows this time of year are usually moderate and steady out of the dam, and fish are settled into classic seams, shelves, and inside bends. Reports from local guides on the river this past week say rainbows in the 14–18 inch range are common, with plenty of browns mixed in, some browns topping the 20‑inch mark. Anglers drifting from Afterbay down to 3‑Mile have been putting good numbers in the net when they stick to the subsurface game. Nymphing is still king. Think small and subtle: size 16–20 sowbugs and scuds in tan or gray, midges in black and red, and tiny Baetis patterns. Trail those behind a slightly larger sowbug, run them deep with just enough weight to tick bottom, and watch your indicator like a hawk. A two‑fly rig has been accounting for most of the hookups. On the flats and softer inside seams, fish are sliding up to feed, so a lighter rig and a long leader can make all the difference. Dry‑fly action is spotty but can turn on when the breeze lays down. Look for midges and small mayflies in the slower side channels and back‑eddies late morning and again toward evening. When noses start poking up, tie on a size 18–20 parachute BWO or Griffith’s gnat and go to 5X or 6X. It’s not a numbers game up top yet, but you can pick off some nice heads if you’re patient. Streamer folks are still finding a few bruisers, especially early and late. Small to medium streamers in olive, black, or tan—think buggers and sculpin patterns—worked on a slow swing along the banks and ledges have been moving bigger browns. Keep it low and slow; the water’s clear enough that an erratic retrieve can spook more fish than it hooks. If you’re a hardware or bait angler on nearby lakes and reservoirs off the river, small silver or gold spoons, inline spinners in rainbow trout or brown trout patterns, and soft‑plastic grubs have been solid on trout and the occasional walleye. Nightcrawlers on a slip rig or under a float at dawn and dusk are tough to beat for folks soaking bait. Hot spots to keep in mind: the classic stretch from the Afterbay put‑in down through the main runs below the dam is fishing well, especially the deeper shelves just off the main current. Farther down, the water around the Bighorn Access near 3‑Mile has been quietly producing, with good seams and side channels holding pods of fish that see a little less pressure if you’re willing to walk. That’s the word from the river. 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