Spring Steelhead and Walleye Heating Up on the Bighorn River

Hey folks, this is Artificial Lure, your Big Horn, Montana fishing guide, comin' at ya with today's report for April 9th, 2026. Spring's hittin' the Bighorn River hard—water's runnin' clear in the upper stretches around Thermopolis, temps hoverin' low 40s°F after that warm snap, makin' fish active in the riffles and seams. Weather's lookin' prime: partly cloudy, highs near 55°F, light winds from the southwest—perfect for wadn' without freezin' your toes off. No tides up here in the Rockies, but solunar peaks hit around dawn and dusk for peak bites. Sunrise at 6:15 AM, sunset 8:05 PM, givin' ya long light for sight fishin'. Fish activity's rampin' up like the spring runoff. Recent creel surveys from Idaho Fish and Game on similar upper river systems show steelhead catch rates at 3 hours per fish in the uppermost runs—folks haulin' in limits of 26-30 inch wild 'uns, adipose-clipped hatchery fish pilin' up at 2,700+ trapped nearby. Locals reportin' steady walleye grabs too, 18-25 inchers, plus brown trout pushin' 20+ inches on the Bighorn proper. Rainbows and cutthroats mixin' in shallower, with smallmouth bass stirrin' in warmer eddies per Murray's Fly Shop patterns—mid-50s water temps got 'em low and slow. Best lures? Toss **Mepps spinners** (#3 gold or silver) or **wooly buggers** in black/olive for trout—strip 'em deep. For steelhead and walleye, **jigheads with soft plastics** like twister tails or **sassy shads** in chartreuse, tipped with nightcrawlers. Live bait kings: **minnows** lip-hooked for perch and trout, **cut bait** (suckers or shad) on circle hooks for cats and walleye. BassForecast says pre-spawn bass are shallow on full moon vibes—hit 'em with paddletails. Hot spots: Afterbay below Yellowtail Dam for trophy rainbows and walleye drifts, and the Bighorn Access near Hardin for steelhead runs in the seams—park easy, fish all day. Thanks for tunin' in, folks—subscribe for weekly updates! This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.