Bighorn Trout on the Bite: Nymphs, Streamers, and Midges in the Chilly Winter Tailwater

Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in from down here on the Bighorn. We don’t worry about tides on this stretch – just flows out of Yellowtail. The Bureau of Reclamation is holding things steady and low, classic winter tailwater: clear, cold, and perfect for picky trout. USGS gauges show cold mid‑30s water, so fish are a little sluggish but absolutely feeding in the softer stuff. Weather-wise, the National Weather Service is calling for a cold, mostly calm winter day in the Bighorn Canyon area: morning temps in the teens warming toward the 30s, light winds, and a mix of clouds and weak sun. Sunrise around 7:45 a.m., sunset near 4:30 p.m., so the best window will be late morning through mid‑afternoon once things warm a hair. Montana Outdoor’s Bighorn River Fishing Report from December 14 says it “isn’t pretty out there, but the trout are cooperating,” with solid nymph and streamer fishing under gray skies and winter flows. Local guides in Fort Smith have been seeing steady numbers of **rainbows** and **browns** in the 14–18 inch class, plus the odd 20‑inch fish, mostly on small bugs and subtle meat. Fish activity: think deep and deliberate. Trout are stacking in: - walking‑speed edges - inside bends - drop‑offs below riffles and shelves Nymphing is king. Best producers right now: - tiny **midge** patterns (18–22): black, red, cream - **Baetis** nymphs (18–20): olive and brown - small **scuds** and **sowbugs** (14–18), gray or tan - a soft‑hackle or small **Perdigon** as your anchor Run a 9–11 foot leader, 5X–6X, with enough split shot to tick bottom and a yarn or air‑lock style indicator set 1.5–2 times the depth. Most fish lately are coming on that bottom fly, barely a twitch on the bobber. Streamer bite has been decent when the clouds thicken. Locals are leaning on: - **Thin mint** and olive/black woolly buggers, size 6–10 - Small, sparsely dressed **sculpin** and **bugger‑style** streamers in olive, black, and natural - Slow swing or super short strips right off the bank For conventional folks, light jigs tipped with a bit of nightcrawler, or small sinking crankbaits and minnow plugs in brown trout, rainbow, or olive patterns will move fish in the deeper runs. According to general winter trout guidance from Snoflo’s Montana lake pages, downsizing lures in cold water pays off, and that tracks here: stay small and subtle. Hot spots to think about: - **Afterbay down to 3‑Mile**: classic winter water; plenty of deep buckets and soft seams. Good mix of boat and wade options. - **Below 13‑Mile toward Mallards**: less pressure, nice walking‑speed runs, and some deeper wintering holes that have been kicking out a few bigger browns on streamers when the clouds roll in. Best natural bait (where legal in specific sections and if you’re not fly‑only): - small pieces of **nightcrawler** on light wire hooks - **salmon eggs** drifted close to bottom Always check the latest Montana FWP regs before you dunk bait. Take it slow, d This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.