Bighorn River Spring Awakening: Rainbows and Walleyes Heating Up Below Yellowtail Dam

Howdy, folks, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to gal for all things fishin' right here in Big Horn, Montana, on this fine April 28th, 2026, kickin' off at 3 AM mountain time. Dawn's breakin' around 6 AM with sunset 'bout 8:15 PM—plenty of light for a full day on the water. Weather's lookin' crisp: highs in the low 60s, light north winds 5-10 mph clearin' up the Bighorn River after last week's rain, per local forecasts. No tides up here in the mountains, but solunar tables show low activity today—best bites at dawn, dusk, and moonset near 11 AM. Fish are wakin' up spring-style! Recent reports from the Bighorn River and Afterbay below Yellowtail Dam got rainbows goin' crazy—anglers pulled limits of 16-20 inchers on PowerBait and nightcrawlers last week. Walleyes are stackin' in 8-12 foot eddies, hittin' 1/32 oz jig heads with minnows or soft plastics. Brown trout and smallmouth bass active too, with a few 5-pounders boated near the fly shop stretch. Numbers-wise, 20-30 fish days common if you're persistent. For lures, stick to **Mepps spinners** in gold or silver for rainbows in riffles—'em blades flash just right in this clarity. **Rapala Countdown Minnows** suspended for walleyes at dawn. Live bait? Nightcrawlers under a bobber or worms on a slip sinker rig kill it for everything. Match the hatch with caddis imitations if you're fly fishin'. Hot spots: Hit the **Bighorn River access below Yellowtail Dam** for trophy rainbows—current sweeps bait right to 'em. Or try **Two Leggins fishing access** near Hardin for walleye ambushes in deeper bends. Y'all stay safe, check regs, and wet a line! Thanks for tunin' in—subscribe for more reports! This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.