Spring Runoff Teasing: Bighorn River Trout and Bass Heat Up in Montana

Howdy, folks, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to fishing guide right here in Big Horn, Montana, comin' at ya with the fresh report for Monday, April 20th, 2026, at 3 AM Mountain time. We're talkin' the mighty Bighorn River and nearby waters—prime spring action as the runoff teases but ain't hit full yet. Weather's lookin' cooperative: mostly clear skies overnight into dawn, light north winds at 5-10 mph pickin' up to 15 by afternoon per local forecasts, highs in the upper 50s, lows around 32. No tides here in these river runs, but solunar peaks hit major around 6-8 AM and 7-9 PM—fish'll be feedin' heavy then. Sunrise at 6:05 AM, sunset 8:12 PM, givin' ya a solid 14 hours of light. Fish activity's rampin' up with water temps hoverin' 42-48 degrees. Recent catches? Solid rainbows and browns in the 14-20 inch class on the Bighorn below Yellowtail Dam—anglers pulled 20-30 fish limits last week usin' nymphs. Up near Hardin stretches, smallmouth bass hittin' aggressive, plus pike pushin' 30 inches in slower eddies. Reports from Montana FWP note good walleye nights, 5-10 pounders on jig-minnows. Browns and rainbows dominant, with cutthroats mixin' in tributaries. Best lures: Jig perdigons, zebra midges (red/black), soft hackles, and peacock streamers for trout—mimic them early drakes and PMDs startin' to pop. For bass and pike, 3-5 inch white/green pumpkin tubes, Rapala X-Raps, or balanced leeches. Live bait? Fathead minnows or worms under bobbers shine, especially dawn/dusk. Hit these hot spots: Afterbay below Yellowtail for trophy trout drifts, and the Bighorn access near St. Xavier for wadeable smallie slams—bank anglers crushin' it shore-launched. Bundle up, check regs, and get after 'em safe. Thanks for tunin' in, folks—subscribe for weekly updates! This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.