Crisp Mornings & Steady Streamer Bites on the Bighorn River

Sunday, October 26th, checking in from Big Horn, Montana with your morning fishing report. If you’re heading out early, expect a cold, crisp start—overnight lows dipped into the mid-30s, but we’ll warm into the upper 50s by afternoon under clear skies. Winds today look gentle out of the southwest, which should keep the river accessible and pleasant for casting. Sunrise came at 7:38 AM, and sunset will hit around 6:08 PM. That gives you just about ten and a half hours of daylight and prime fishing time. For those wondering about tides, it’s worth noting that the Bighorn isn’t influenced by tidal movements—river levels are dictated by releases upstream and recent rain or snowmelt. According to Snoflo, streamflow on the Bighorn River is currently at 5,949 cfs, which is 72% of normal for late October. The water has good clarity but a bit less volume than usual, meaning trout are likely holding tighter to deeper runs and structure, but feeding is typically steady at this flow. Fish activity’s been picking up as the fall chill drives rainbows, browns, and some chunky whitefish into pre-winter feeding mode. In just the past week, several anglers reported solid numbers of *rainbow trout* in the 14-18 inch class, with a handful of browns nudging past 20 inches, especially early and late in the day. Nymphing was king, with the best success coming on small midges (#18-20), red Zebra midges, and black Perdigons under indicators. If you like swinging streamers, stripped olive or black Woolly Buggers and small sculpin imitations also connected with aggressive browns near the banks. Recent catch numbers suggest patience pays off on the Bighorn now—seasoned guides say three to six good fish per rod per day is realistic, with brief afternoon slowdowns if the sun gets too bright. Small pods of feeding fish have been spotted below Afterbay Dam and down near Soap Creek, so drop in on those runs if you’re after some quantity. Bait anglers—if you’re rigging up today, natural baits still deliver: nightcrawlers and waxworms fished near the bottom remain reliable, especially for whitefish and the occasional chunky rainbow. For fly folks, stick with *nymph rigs*: top flies include the red San Juan worm, black Zebra midge, and flashy beadhead sowbugs. If you like tempting bigger browns, toss a sculpin pattern or a flashy streamer along the undercut banks and deep pools. Hot spots to target right now: - **Afterbay to Three Mile Access:** Consistent numbers of rainbows and solid brown trout, with easy wade access and reliable flows for drift boats. - **Soap Creek Stretch:** Productive for larger browns, especially on streamers near in-flow areas, structure, and deeper runs. Fish activity’s best right around sunrise and then again just before dusk. If you’re drifting, keep an eye out for birds on the water—they often point to hatches and feeding fish. If you’re new or coming in from out of town, remember Fall is a transition time on the Bighorn—water’s colder, flows ar This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.