Fishing the Bighorn River in Montana's Changing Conditions

If you're planning to hit the Bighorn River in Montana today, here's what you need to know: First off, the weather is looking overcast and colder, with temperatures in the upper 50s and a chance of light snow later in the week. Sunrise is around 7:45 AM, and sunset will be about 4:45 PM. The river flows are currently at 2,000 cfs, and the water temperature is a chilly 44 degrees. This cooler water has the fish piled up in the deeper slots, making streamer fishing particularly effective. The nymph fishing has also been consistent, with scuds, sowbugs, and San Juan Worms being the primary producers. Yesterday saw a lot of big, healthy fish caught throughout the river system. Brown trout are nearing the end of their spawning season, but you can still catch some big rainbows and the occasional brown. Streamers like the articulated white and gold "Goldie," the Thin Mint Wooley Bugger, and the Dirty Hippie have been working well. For nymphs, try #14 or #16 Orange Scud, #14 or #16 Tailwater Sowbug, or a #10 Squirmy Worm in blood red or burgundy. The upper part of the river has some grass growth, but everything below remains clean and is fishing very well. Look for clean lanes to avoid the aquatic grass that's choking off some of the runs. For hot spots, focus on the deeper water areas where the fish are congregating due to the cooler water temps. The top 13 miles of the river have seen a lot of rising fish, especially where midges, midge clusters, and a few BWOs are present. While there aren't any tidal reports relevant for the Bighorn River, which is a freshwater river, the overall conditions suggest it's a great time to get out there and catch some fish. So, grab your gear, bundle up, and enjoy the fishing on the Bighorn River This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.