Bighorn River Spring Report: Clear Water, Strong Trout, Prime Nymphing

This is Artificial Lure with your Big Horn country fishing report, coming to you from in and around Fort Smith and the Bighorn River. First off, no tides to worry about up here – we’re a long way from saltwater – but flows and weather are the real drivers. The Bureau of Reclamation and local fly shops report the Bighorn below Yellowtail running clear and cold, with steady releases out of the dam keeping levels very wade‑friendly. Water temps are starting in the low 40s at first light and pushing into the low 50s by afternoon. Weather today is classic late‑spring Bighorn: a cool, calm morning in the 40s, warming into the 60s by mid‑day with light southwest breeze 5–10 mph, clouds building by afternoon but no serious storms expected. The National Weather Service lists sunrise around 5:30 a.m. and sunset just after 8:45 p.m., giving you a long window with especially good edges early and late. Trout activity has been strong the last several days. Local guides in Fort Smith are reporting solid numbers of wild browns in the 14–18 inch range with a good mix of chunky rainbows, plus the occasional fish over 20 inches if you’re willing to work the deeper buckets. Most boats are putting 20–40 fish in the net on good drifts, with wade anglers doing well if they stay mobile and key on structure. Subsurface is still king. Nymphing with sowbugs and scuds remains the bread and butter – a tan or gray sowbug in sizes 14–18, rigged below a small indicator with split shot to tick bottom. Mix in midge pupa and baetis patterns if you see noses dimpling or birds working. According to the local fly shops, orange scuds, Ray Charles, soft hackles, and small PT nymphs have been hot all week. For those of you slinging conventional gear, the best “lures” on the Bighorn are small, subtle offerings. Use light line and small split shot, drifting 1/32–1/16 oz marabou jigs in olive, brown, or black, or tiny in‑line spinners with silver blades and muted bodies. Keep them high in the column over weed beds and let the current do most of the work. Natural bait where allowed – especially nightcrawlers or salmon eggs – should be drifted just off bottom in the softer seams. Always double‑check current Montana regulations before using bait; some stretches are artificial‑only and catch‑and‑release. The afternoon has seen some decent dry‑fly windows whenever clouds slide in and the wind lays down. Look for midges and lingering baetis; a size 18–20 parachute BWO or CDC midge on 5X or 6X will take picky risers in the flats. Swinging soft hackles through the tailouts has been a great way to connect without having to perfectly match the hatch. As for hotspots, a couple of stretches have really stood out: 1. The Afterbay to 3‑Mile section: Classic early‑season water. Side channels, softer inside bends, and gravel bars are stacked with fish. Focus on the edges of weed beds and the first drop‑offs below riffles. 2. The run below Bighorn Access: The long, even seams and mid‑river shelves here have been loaded. Row or wade the inside lines and look for that green, walking‑speed water – not too fast, not too slow. If you find a pod of rising fish, slow down, change angles, and don’t be afraid to drop to smaller tippet. The river’s clear enough that stealth is making a big difference right now. That’s your on‑the‑water rundown from Artificial Lure. 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