Late Fall Fishing on Montana's Big Horn River

This is Artificial Lure with your November 20th fishing report for the Big Horn, Montana area. Folks woke up to a chilly, late-fall morning—sunrise rolling in at 7:14 AM, with sunset expected at 4:39 PM. No tides to report here in the Bighorn Basin, but the weather is worth a mention: Montana Outdoor says to brace for a chill, as highs are hovering in the upper 30s to low 40s, dipping into the 20s overnight, with a steady chance of snow showers and patchy morning fog moving through. Montana Department of Transportation’s road report warns that icy patches could linger, especially early and late, so folks should watch their step on the riprap and gravel approaches. Wind’s out of the northwest, light in the morning but picking up by midday—not too rough for casting, but enough to add some movement to those drifts. River levels remain near historical averages, and recent snowmelt and scattered rain have the Bighorn running clear with temperature readings starting in the upper 30s and creeping toward 44°F by afternoon. That’s prime water for late-season trout to stay active but tight-lipped—classic November in Big Horn. Fish activity’s solid for this time of year, and Montana Outdoor reports the bite has held steady through fluctuating weather. Big browns are still on the move—post-spawn, lumbering back into deeper holes, while rainbow trout are sliding into the riffles and tailouts, especially mid-morning when the water warms just a hint. Local chatter out of the fly shops says the nymph bite is hot: Euro-style presentations with a tungsten beaded pheasant tail, lightning bug, or a small pink squirrel are leading to hookups, especially if you get them down along the seams. A few dedicated streamer anglers are still finding aggressive browns swinging sculpins and dark articulated buggers through the deeper slots, early and late in the day. Catch reports this week highlight a mixed bag of healthy rainbows, average 15 to 18 inches, and some husky post-spawn browns, topped by an honest 24-inch fish landed near Afterbay. Anglers on foot above 3-Mile Access have been picking up steady numbers on small midges and Baetis dries when the clouds settle in and the river flattens out—a size 20 olive comparadun or Griffith’s Gnat will get looks on top if you’re patient. For bait anglers, worms drifted on the bottom are still producing, but in the colder water, the action has slowed a touch—nightcrawlers are best, but folks using a pinch of salmon egg have been rewarded by a few cutthroat trout near the mouth of Soap Creek. The hot spots today: try below the Afterbay for early browns on streamers, especially at first light and just before sunset. The 3-Mile stretch is seeing the most consistent rainbow action for walk-wade anglers nymphing deep. If you’re after numbers, focus on slower edge water and foam lines—trout are stacking up wherever the current softens. To recap: dress warm, pack both nymph and streamer rigs, and don’t overlook a switch to midges or This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.