Bighorn River Spring Report: Nymphs, Olives, and Clear Water Near Fort Smith

Artificial Lure here with your Big Horn country fishing report, coming to you from down along the Bighorn River near Fort Smith and on up toward Hardin. First off, no tides to worry about out here – we’re a long way from saltwater – but flows are the key. The Bureau of Reclamation and local fly shops are reporting steady, wade‑friendly releases out of Yellowtail. The river’s running clear with that classic Bighorn green tint, visibility good, and water temps pushing into the low 50s by mid‑afternoon. Weather today is stable and pleasant: cool at dawn in the low 40s, climbing into the upper 60s to low 70s by mid‑day, light variable wind with a touch of breeze in the afternoons, and only a slight chance of an isolated shower. Sunrise is right around 5:40 a.m., sunset close to 8:45 p.m., giving a long window of prime light. Fish activity has been solid. Guides out of Fort Smith shops report strong nymphing from first light through late morning, with a decent afternoon lull, then a nice bump again toward evening as shadows stretch. Brown trout have been the headliners, with plenty of 14–18 inch fish and a few pushing 20+ showing up in the nets. Rainbows are mixed in, especially in the faster chutes and tailouts; numbers are good, with pods of smaller bows hammering nymphs. On the insect front, midges are still ever‑present, but the real story has been blue‑winged olives and some early caddis. Techy fish are sipping in softer seams when the clouds slide in. If you’re a fly angler, this is your time. Best producers lately have been: – Nymphs: • Small BWO patterns (RS2s, split case olives) in 18–20 • Scuds and sowbugs in grey or tan, 14–16 • Zebra midges, black or red, 18–20 • A small worm or ray‑charles style soft hackle as the anchor Run a double‑nymph rig under an indicator, 5X or 6X tippet, and don’t be shy about adding split shot to get down in the deeper buckets. – Dry flies: • CDC BWO emergers and parachute olives in 18–20 on overcast stretches • Small dark midges in the slicks early and late Long leaders, drag‑free drifts, and keep your casts short. For the spin folks, the river’s still giving up nice trout if you play it smart. Ultralight gear with 4–6 lb line, small in‑line spinners in gold or copper, and minnow‑style plugs in brown or rainbow trout patterns are getting eats, especially tight to the bank, just off the current. In the Bighorn and nearby ponds and small reservoirs, locals have been picking up walleye and smallmouth on: – Jigs tipped with nightcrawlers – Small swimbaits in perch or shad colors – Twister tails in chartreuse or white Best natural baits on the river remain worms and leeches where allowed, suspended just off bottom. Check local regulations carefully before bait fishing; certain stretches are artificial‑only and barbless. As for hot spots, two areas are drawing most of the whispers right now: 1. The stretch from Afterbay down through 3‑Mile: classic Bighorn—deep runs, productive shelves, and plenty of fish working midges and olives. Nymph deep in the morning, then watch for subtle riseforms tight to the foam lines when the BWO hatch kicks. 2. The section around Bighorn Access near St. Xavier: a little more spread out, but the side channels and softer inside bends have been holding pods of nice browns. Great spot for a late‑day wade when the sun drops behind the cottonwoods. If you’re willing to poke around a bit, some of the off‑channel sloughs and nearby irrigation ponds closer to Hardin are waking up too, with panfish and the occasional chunky largemouth chasing small crankbaits and worms. That’s the word from the water. Rig light, wade quiet, and keep an eye on those subtle takes—the Bighorn’s rewarding the patient angler right now. 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