This is Artificial Lure coming to you with your August 31, 2025 fishing report from beautiful Big Horn, Montana—where the end of summer meets the early tease of fall and the fish are feeling it.

First light hit the valley today at 6:32 AM, and we’re looking at sunset about 7:56 PM, so you’ve got plenty of daylight to make a memory or two on these storied waters. The weather rolled in this morning with chilly air—mid-40s at dawn—warming into the low 70s by the afternoon, with light to moderate winds and the classic Big Horn bluebird sky. Don’t let that sun fool you though, there’s a bite in the wind, so bring a jacket for your morning float.

Now, tidal info isn’t a factor for us river folk here in the interior, so skip the tide tables and trust the flow and hatch cycles instead.

Water conditions are nearly ideal on the Big Horn, though you’ll notice some stretches are running low, thanks to a dry late summer. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks reports that closures hit certain rivers like the Big Hole and Jefferson due to drought and low flows, but Big Horn remains open—for now, anyway. If you’re heading toward the Jefferson or Big Hole, best to check in with the local office before you go, as those are off-limits until further notice per the Whitehall Ledger and MFWP.

On to the fishing! Lately, folks who get their lines in the water before mid-morning or just ahead of dusk have been rewarded. Water clarity is excellent, but the trout—mostly big browns and healthy rainbows—are smart and picky, especially around heavily fished access points. If you’re on DePuy’s Spring Creek, which is just over the hill, Fins and Feathers out of Bozeman mention that trout are feeding cautiously, with hatches of PMDs and Sulphurs a little sparser as we roll toward fall. You might see a few noses on the surface chasing emergers, but prospecting with terrestrials along weed beds—think black foam beetle, small ants, or the old reliable rusty spinner—has been the ticket.

Anglers drifting the main channel of the Big Horn are seeing steady catch rates, mostly rainbows in the 12–17 inch class with occasional slab browns turning up in slower side channels. Reports from the Powell Tribune around the basin suggest the Yellowstone cutthroat are showing in tributaries, but in lower numbers. A few folks brought in some sturdy whitefish too—the perfect target for young anglers.

What’s working? Stick with light tippet (5X, sometimes 6X), size 16–20 PMD CDC emergers, blue ribbon PMD cripples, and if you like going subsurface, a #18 zebra midge or scud will do the trick. Midday, if you see nothing hatching, a hopper-dropper combo with a tan foam hopper and a small beadhead nymph has fooled the educated ones. For spin fishers, try little gold Panther Martins, brown trout-patterned Rapalas, or worms on a light rig. The fish are holding tight to structure and hanging in cooler pockets, so target deeper pools, cut banks, and behind rocks.

Hot spots for today:
- The Miracle Mile below Afterbay Dam is living up to its name most mornings—steady action on both nymphs and dries.
- Three Mile Access provides solid wading with less pressure now that kids are heading back to school.

A couple reminders for the crowd: Fish early, stay late, and mind the regulations. Big Horn is catch-and-release on much of its best water—pinch those barbs and handle fish gently for safe release. Also, as the seasons shift, be on the lookout for spawning redds; step carefully and respect the next generation.

That’s your boots-on-the-bank update for August 31 from Big Horn, Montana. Thanks for tuning in—don’t forget to subscribe for daily river intel, and tight lines until next time!

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Good morning, anglers, this is Artificial Lure with your latest Big Horn, Montana area fishing report for Saturday, August 30th, 2025.

We’re moving into the tail end of summer and early signs of fall are creeping in along the Bighorn. The sunrise came at 6:22 AM and sunsets tonight at 7:55 PM, giving us those rich golden hours that can trigger big trout to move and feed. Expect mild late summer weather today, with the recent cold front bringing daytime highs into the low 70s and water temps staying cool. There’s no tidal shift to worry about here in Montana, but those cool, clear flows are perfect for a day on the river.

According to Fins & Feathers Bozeman’s report from yesterday, the Bighorn River is fishing consistently well. This classic tailwater is holding steady, offering clean water and a reliable trout bite if you know when and how to fish it. Early mornings and evenings are the name of the game; trico spinner falls are still coming off thick below the dam at first light, setting off spectacular surface action from both rainbows and browns. Dry fly fishing is strong until about mid-morning, then nymph rigs take over once the sun is up.

Montana Angler’s latest notes that most hatches on the spring creeks have tailed off by now, but terrestrials—think hoppers, beetles, and ants—are dominating on freestone stretches and the canyon. Caddis can also come alive at last light if you stick around for the evening rise. For those wading and walking, look for shady banks and undercut edges where trout are resting through the midday heat.

Reports show anglers bringing in consistent numbers of healthy rainbows and browns in the 14- to 18-inch range, with the occasional 20-inch bruiser caught near Afterbay and the 3-Mile stretch. The best success is coming on dry-droppers in the morning—try a small trico spinner or parachute Adams up top with a zebra midge or a two-bit hooker dropped underneath. Nymph rigs with sowbugs, scuds, and split-case baetis are picking up fish throughout the afternoon.

If you want to throw streamers, best results are coming on light overcast days or in the evening, but expect more action on nymphs and terrestrials today. The most productive colors have been olive, black, and tan for nymphs, and tan or pink for hoppers. Bring your 5X tippet for the spookier fish—these Big Horn trout have seen it all by this time of season.

Hot spots this week include the Afterbay to 3-Mile stretch, especially early in the day, and the shallow riffles near Bighorn Access. Don’t overlook hidden pockets along the main channel drop-offs—those deeper slots mid-day can hide surprisingly aggressive trout.

Signs of fall have bears a bit more active in the region, so if you’re hiking in or fishing remote spots, make sure to carry bear spray and keep aware, as Cowboy State Daily highlights increased bear encounters near regional parks lately.

Anglers are reporting moderate to strong catch rates, with plenty of fish taken on artificial lures and fly gear. Spin fishers should try small Panther Martins or bright Rapalas, especially near tailouts and seams—gold and silver have been most effective.

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Artificial Lure checking in with your Big Horn, Montana region fishing report for Friday, August 29th, 2025.

Sunrise hit at about 6:19am this morning, and you’ll see sunset right around 7:48pm tonight. Weather’s starting clear and cool after a stretch of late summer warmth—a nice reprieve for both fish and anglers. Expect highs in the lower 80s, with winds gentle out of the northwest. Mornings will be cooler, making for ideal fishing windows; by afternoon, sun is strong and temps rise, so fish get picky and deep.

There’s no tidal action in this part of Montana—our water’s all river-driven. Right now, the Bighorn River is stable, running at 2,200 cfs according to Pete’s latest local update. Flows are lower than usual for late August, so water clarity is high and fish are holding tight to structure[Instagram Pete’s river report].

Fish activity this week has been steady and rewarding, especially early. Local guides confirm strong action on rainbow and brown trout. The dry fly bite is best before 10am, with trico and PMD spinner falls drawing pods of rising trout in the upper river sections near Afterbay Dam. Expect to see fish sipping midges and small dries in the cool of the morning. Browns are more active moving into side channels and under cutbanks, seeking shade and oxygenated water. Afternoon nymphing has been solid, especially running double rigs with a flashback pheasant tail up front and a pink sowbug trailing. Streamers become more productive when cloud cover rolls in—think olive or black buggers and flashy, articulated patterns.

Angler reports from the past 48 hours include several rainbow trout pushing 17 inches, with browns running 15-20. The dry-dropper setup landed the most fish, especially using a Royal Chubby Chernobyl or Hopper pattern paired with a Perdigon nymph. By late morning, trout are heading deeper, so swing heavier bugs or drift them down in the slower edges and foam lines. Don’t overlook worm or egg patterns—browns are cruising for protein before the fall spawn.

Best lures and baits for Big Horn right now:
- Royal Chubby Chernobyl, Purple Blowtorch, and Spanish Bullet Tan for dries
- Pink Sowbugs, Flashback Pheasant Tail, and Black Pat’s Rubberlegs for nymphs
- Olive Mini Dungeon and classic Woolly Bugger for streamer chasers
- Anglers favor fishing with natural baits like nightcrawlers or grasshoppers when legal, but fly tackle dominates.

Hot spots to check out today:
- The stretch below Afterbay Dam—active early morning dry fly fishing, best spinner falls
- Three Mile Access—consistent nymph bite, fish holding in deeper runs and slots
- Bighorn Access near St. Xavier—cloud cover makes for excellent streamer fishing along the shady cutbanks

Local reports from Fins & Feathers Bozeman and Mystic Pool confirm Montana’s tailwaters are peak right now, with angler encounters up and trout feeding in shallow riffles before sunlight heats up the river. Year-round steady fishing, but August through September consistently delivers fat wild trout and memorable action. Boaters and waders alike are enjoying smaller crowds, but best bet remains an early launch and technical presentations.

No sign of drought or closures on the Bighorn yet, unlike a few neighboring rivers, so get out and enjoy these stretches while flows hold up. Please practice careful handling—water’s low, and fish could use the break. Release those trophies, net them wet, and fish barbless when you can.

Big Horn is fishing proper Montana style: small, technical bugs, big trout, and quiet mornings that stick with you.

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Evening from Big Horn Montana, this is Artificial Lure reporting on fishing conditions for August 28, 2025.

Today on the Bighorn River, we saw steady angling action as the river continues its late summer trend—flowing low at 2,200 cfs, which means clear water and technical presentations according to local guide Pete’s latest report. Morning hours brought the best bite for both rainbow and brown trout, as surface activity peaked just after sunrise at 6:26 AM. With sunset coming in at 8:04 PM, anglers on the evening drift also found decent takes just before the light faded.

Weather-wise, Montana got a refreshingly mild day. The forecast called for a high near 60°F and a mix of sun with the occasional thundercloud passing over, but most stretches of the river stayed dry and clear for the bulk of daylight. Humidity was up a notch, but the cooler temps kept fish feeding longer into the afternoon compared to last week’s hot spell. No tidal changes here in Big Horn, as we’re far from the salt—but water management flows still do impact river levels week to week.

Recent catches are strong: locals are netting a steady mix of fat rainbows and some bruiser browns. Most trout are running 14 to 18 inches, with lucky sticks reporting fish pushing 20. Midge and trico hatches are consistent early; trico spinner falls remain the highlight right at dawn. Into midday, small terrestrials like hoppers and ants produced strikes near grassy banks, with podded up trout sipping in riffled shallows.

For best results right now, you want to downsize your rigs. Dry fly anglers are sticking to #18-22 tricos and midges, with CDC emergers and small parachutes especially hot. Nymphing remains reliable—think #16-18 beaded pheasant tails and zebra midges on lighter tippet. If flows pick up after rain, switch to small streamer patterns like olive woolly buggers (sizes 8-10) or try the Megabass Anthrax style swim baits for aggressive browns, matching the profile to smaller baitfish.

Bait anglers—where legal—are getting results with nightcrawlers and small cut bait, though most locals and guides stick to fly and artificial presentations. The low flows mean stealth is key: consider fluorocarbon leaders and a gentle footstep when wading.

Hotspots today: the Afterbay access saw consistent catch rates, especially in the slow seams below the launch and just above 13 Mile access. Downriver, the Two Leggings stretch to Soap Creek continues to produce, especially for those willing to make a longer walk or drift and target unpressured pockets. Early risers and dusk casters are scoring the most, as midday sunshine shuts down the bite for a couple hours.

No major stocking changes were announced for the region, and the river’s wild fish population keeps delivering memorable fights. There’s plenty of room for both wade and boat anglers—just remember to respect the fish and each other as the season heads toward autumn.

Thanks for tuning in to today’s Bighorn River fishing report! Be sure to subscribe for updates and always check local regulations and access before heading out.

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Good morning anglers, this is Artificial Lure bringing you your up-to-date fishing report for August 16, 2025, right here in and around *Big Horn, Montana*.

Let’s kick things off with the weather: We’re enjoying a classic late-summer day, with sunrise at 6:12 a.m. and sunset set for 8:22 p.m. The forecast calls for mostly sunny skies and light winds—a beautiful morning to be out on the water, though heat can ramp up quickly through the afternoon, so pack the sunscreen and hydrate. As reported by KLTZ, Eastern Montana is facing a hot stretch, so expect those midday hours to push the upper 80s and possibly into the low 90s, especially in the open valleys.

No tidal swings here, but river flows are steady and clear thanks to a mild week with just a touch of overnight chill, which always helps spur fish activity into the early hours.

Now, let’s talk fish. The Big Horn River is famous for its trout, and today’s action reflects how productive August can be post-runoff. Local guides have seen strong numbers of healthy rainbows up to 20 inches and plenty of chunky browns in the teens. Word on the water yesterday was midge and scud patterns are producing well, especially in the early morning when the water’s cooler.

Fish are feeding well before all that bright August sun hits—expect a solid window from about sunrise through late morning. By early afternoon, activity slows, so target deeper runs, especially below Afterbay Dam and in the braids near Three Mile.

Those chasing numbers should swing by Ok-A-Beh Marina and try their hand at the afterbay for hard-fighting rainbows and the occasional carp crash in the shallows. As the sun crests, fish are retreating to the cool, oxygen-rich flows below the Boysen. Devil Canyon Overlook is always a top producer for both quality fish and a heck of a view and don’t skip Horseshoe Bend for panfish and an outside shot at a walleye.

Best tackle for today: The classic nymph rig is king—think size 16-20 red or olive midges and patterns like the Ray Charles or sowbug. Anglers are also doing well on small black or olive Woolly Buggers retrieved slow. If you’re working the shallows, try a Parachute Adams or CDC Caddis close to dusk. For spin fishers, small silver Panther Martins or a Mepps Aglia in gold is drawing strikes. Worms drifted on light tackle are picking up trout at first light, and corn’s been reported to tempt a few of those carp.

Bait fishing is legal in some stretches, so check regs before tossing anything natural. Grasshoppers are prevalent and can be deadly—tie on a hopper pattern and let it drift naturally along grassy banks late morning through afternoon.

The hot spots today:
- The braids at *Three Mile Access*—deadly for browns staging in cooler current.
- *Below Afterbay Dam*—tried and true, especially with nymphs right along the seams.

As always, remember public lands and fire restrictions are in effect, so keep your camps and banks clean and safe. Fires are a no-go right now across much of the area, as updated August 15 by the BLM.

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Artificial Lure here with your Big Horn, Montana fishing report for August 10, 2025. Grab your rods — it’s shaping up to be a classic August day on the Bighorn River and nearby waters.

Weather’s off to a crisp, sunny start, with highs on the river forecasted for the upper 80s to 90, and just a bit of breeze out of the northwest. Overnight lows slip down to around 60, so the river will keep that cool bite in the morning. Watch for scattered afternoon thunderstorms rolling through, especially later in the weekend, but most mornings should be clear with visibility for miles. Sunrise is at 5:37 a.m. and your evening window will tail off around 8:32 p.m., so there’s plenty of daylight to chase a trophy.

This time of year, the Bighorn’s tailwater is running steady and clear, with no runoff issues — perfect conditions for both wading and floats. Recent reports from locals and guides say the river’s loaded, with an average 4,000 to 6,000 rainbow and brown trout per mile. August is a favorite for dry-fly fanatics and hopper action. Tricos are in full swing most mornings, clouding over riffles right at sunup, and the black caddis are thick along grassy banks by mid-morning. Yellow Sallies are still lingering, and hoppers are firing, especially midday when that sun’s high.

Recent catches have ranged from chunky browns in the 16 to 20-inch class to hard-fighting rainbows pushing 18 inches or better. Top patterns right now are small Trico spinners (size 20-22) for the early bug soup, black caddis (size 16) as the sun warms, and hopper-dropper rigs through the heat of the day. Try tan and pink Chubby Chernobyls (#8-12) or a classic Dave’s Hopper. Trail your hopper with a beadhead Pheasant Tail or Zebra Midge to suss up those suspicious feeders. For sub-surface, don’t overlook a sowbug in the faster water.

The lower Bighorn is producing the biggest browns — float between Bighorn Access and Mallards Landing, and look for shaded banks and inside bends. After lunch, fish are sliding into cover and holding deep, so switching to small streamers like an olive Sculpzilla or a thin-mint Woolly Bugger could net you a brute, especially if we get a quick thundercloud and the light dims.

If you’re after numbers and steady action, stick to the upper river above the 3-Mile Access, where pods of rainbows are chasing sippers in the seams. Eagle Nest Lodge notes the entire river is fishing well, but you'll often have the lower stretches nearly to yourself this month — and that’s where the browns get mean.

Bighorn Lake is steady, too, hosting healthy populations of walleye, bass, and plenty of panfish. The mornings have seen good walleye bites along drop-offs using nightcrawlers or leeches on bottom bouncers, while rocky points on the south end are producing smallmouth bass on crankbaits and jerkbaits, especially early or late in the day. No tidal changes to worry about — just keep an eye out for those surprise afternoon gusts that can whip up chop.

No unusual restrictions today, but always check for the latest before you launch. And remember: while you’re out there, respect the Crow Reservation rules, especially regarding alcohol, and help keep these waters clean and respected for the next angler.

For hotspots, try:
- The gravel runs just below Afterbay Access for early Trico hatches.
- The grassy banks down past Mallards Landing for mid-afternoon hopper eats — bring your patience and a stealthy cast, the big browns here didn’t get that way by being reckless.

Whether you’re new or true to the Bighorn, this week’s setup is about as good as August fishing gets. Tight lines, folks, and thanks for tuning in. Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a hatch, a hot tip, or a river tale.

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Artificial Lure checking in with your Big Horn, Montana fishing report for Saturday, August 9th, 2025.

Sunrise this morning brought calm, clear skies and cool temps in the 50s, but things are heating up fast—expect the mercury to push into the lower 90s by mid-afternoon, so pack those sun hats and plenty of water. Winds are light out of the northwest at 5–15 mph, keeping conditions pleasant most of the day. For you night owls, sunset’s lined up at 8:29 pm, with a warm, mostly clear night ahead. No tidal swings here in the interior, but river flows remain a key to today’s game.

Turning to the water, the Bighorn River is right in its prime summer groove. According to Fins & Feathers Guide Service, mornings are kicking off with strong PMD (pale morning dun) hatches, drawing trout into the seams and soft water. Fish have settled into those classic summer runs, and anglers are reporting steady numbers on both nymph and dry fly setups. Top trout species this week are rainbows and browns, averaging 14–18 inches, though a few beefier browns up to 22” have hit the net downstream from Fort Smith. The bite has been best from first light until about 11 am, before surface action tapers off in the heat.

Nymphing is the mainstay right now, and if you’re looking to land numbers, it’s hard to beat a two-fly rig. Guides are scoring with Mega Prince, Pat’s Rubberlegs, and FKA Prince in sizes 8–14, trailed by a beadhead PMD nymph or a small soft hackle. For dry fly purists, the late-morning PMD spinner fall brings pods of sipping fish to foam lines—tie on a size 16 PMD Sparkle Dun and keep your cast soft.

Streamer fans: low light hours and off-color edges have been productive with black or olive articulated streamers, especially right along bankside structure and on inside bends where fish are holding close to cover. According to Montana Angler, a sculpin pattern or olive sparkle minnow is a solid bet if you’re after a big brown.

Don’t ignore the terrestrial game. Hoppers are gaining momentum—yellow and tan foam patterns like a Flutter Bug or Water Walker turn heads along grassy banks. Toss a small stimulator or a foam run caddis into riffly water and get ready for an aggressive rise. The Yellowstone River to the west is also putting up solid numbers, with a mixed hatch of caddis, March browns, and hoppers, if you’re feeling like a road trip.

If you’re hunting bait, small crawlers and leeches are bringing in the odd whitefish or jumbo brown where permitted, but artificials are ruling the day. Water temps are safe for trout early and mid-morning; by afternoon, fish are sliding deep or into faster current, so move with them and don’t hesitate to cover water.

For hot spots, don’t miss the Afterbay section below the dam—a classic Bighorn drift with deep runs and productive seams. Another favorite is the Three Mile access, especially right at dawn. The side channels and willow-lined cuts upriver still hold sneaky fish, especially for wade anglers working soft seams and side pockets.

Remember, the midday heat can stress fish—fish early, handle with care, and consider wrapping up by noon if the temps spike. Keep an eye on weather apps for pop-up storms this evening.

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Morning anglers, Artificial Lure here with your up-to-the-minute fishing report for Big Horn, Montana and surrounding waters, Friday, August 8th, 2025.

Starting with the weather: today we've got mostly sunny skies, high temps topping out near 80°F, and a northwest wind around 9 to 15 mph, gusting as high as 21. Expect isolated showers or a rogue thunderstorm after 9 AM. If you're out early, it's a cool, clear start—sunrise was right about 5:59 AM and you can expect the sun to dip just after 8:30 PM. No tides to worry about this far inland, just pure river and lake action according to the National Weather Service and local forecasts.

On the Bighorn River, cooler evenings have perked up the bite. Grass is still clogging the edges, so it pays to get a pinpoint drift. Fish activity is strong in the early morning and again as the sun softens toward evening. Folks are pulling in rainbows and browns, with more reports of decent-sized trout lately. North Fork Anglers notes you shouldn't expect huge numbers, but there's a real chance for a trophy if you put in the time.

Best lures lately: stick with North Fork Specials and classic patterns like Prince Nymphs, Pheasant Tails, Optic Nerve, and Orange Lucent for subsurface work. Golden stonefly nymphs and Caddis or PMD dries are catching fish during afternoon hatches. For streamer junkies, Sculpzilla is a winner, especially when the light dims or the sky clouds over. If you see grass thick in your favorite spot, try a dry-dropper combo with a stonefly nymph below and a micro chubby or stimulator up top—fish those seams and any deeper runs where oxygen and food stack up.

Moving up to some of the local lakes like Beartooth, Luce, and Hogan, the story’s similar: cool mornings and dusky evenings are primetime, mid-day heat sends fish deep or into the weeds. Terrestrial topwater action is steady—think ants, beetles, and hoppers. Suspended chironomids and balanced leeches are drawing strikes just off the bottom. Callibaetis nymphs and dries are producing well when there's a hatch. Small attractor dries and slow-stripped streamers like Woolly Buggers or Slump Busters are good bets when things get slow.

Hot spots to target today:

- Afterbay Access and downriver toward Three Mile on the Bighorn—consistent flows, cooler water, and some nice runs stacking up fish.
- Otter Creek and Bighorn Access—lower pressure, tons of weed mats for cover, and a chance to toss terrestrials right up against the banks.

Recent catch reports show rainbows averaging 15-18 inches with a few pushing over 20. Browns are there too, mostly on nymphs and the odd streamer. Numbers are moderate, but many anglers are landing quality over quantity this week.

Best bait and presentation: if you're not fly fishing, try drifting nightcrawlers or leeches under a slip bobber near current breaks or eddy seams in the river. In the lakes, a small jig tipped with worm or PowerBait fished deep in the morning is effective on holdover trout.

Don’t forget, mornings and evenings are winning windows—the hot midday sun slows the bite, so use that time to re-tie, rehydrate, or check those knotty leaders.

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This is Artificial Lure coming to you with your Big Horn Montana fishing report for Wednesday, August 6, 2025. If you’re anywhere near Fort Smith or drifting down near Hardin, you’re in for some classic late-summer action on the Bighorn and surrounding waters.

Let’s start with the conditions. The river’s running cool and clear, with no recent flood warnings, and the weather is picture perfect for anglers: tonight, mostly clear skies, temps in the mid-50s, and a gentle east wind around 10 mph—ideal for both evening wading and early morning starts. Tomorrow brings highs in the upper 70s, partly cloudy skies, and those lovely southwest breezes that keep the bugs and the fish lively. Sunrise was at 5:55 this morning and sunset will be right around 8:34 tonight, giving you plenty of light to chase that last big brown.

Speaking of browns, as posted just today by the folks at Big Horn Valley Ranch, August heralds the uptick in brown trout aggression. “Big browns are getting more aggressive, bugs are thriving”—so if you’re a streamer fan, this is your window. Anglers have been pulling in healthy browns up to the 20-inch mark, especially early and late when the light is low and water’s cool. Rainbows are in the mix as well, especially in the upper three miles below Afterbay Dam, where the population is healthy and fish are running 14 to 18 inches. Reports from local guides over recent days point to several fish per rod, with browns outnumbering bows two to one in the evenings.

On the bug front—PMDs and Black Caddis are thick in the air, with a touch of Trico mayflies downriver on calmer mornings. The best action is coming on dry flies, PMD sparkle duns in size 16-18, and classic Black Caddis patterns in the 18-20 range. During the heat of day when the surface slows, switch to nymphs—Ray Charles (tan or pink), sow bugs, and small split-case PMDs have been top producers. If the water gets riffled or cloudy with wind, slap on a streamer and don’t be shy—olive or white sculpins, especially weighted, have been moving the biggest fish recently. The streamer bite is picking up, particularly around heavier structure and drop-offs.

Bait soakers: the Bighorn is fly-only in the prime stretches, but up in a few of the lakes like Bighorn Lake itself, nightcrawlers and cut bait (legal spots only, check those regs) are tempting some solid walleye and catfish in the evenings. Word is, a few 5-pounders were pulled out of Horseshoe Bend just this past weekend.

Two hot spots to check: Afterbay access down to Three Mile is seeing the best brown trout activity, especially on caddis just before dark. For more elbow room and a shot at some big rainbows, swing by Bighorn Access or drift through “13 Mile”—lots of water, plenty of deep runs, and fish on the feed.

Please keep boat safety in mind—there was a recent accident near Mallards Access, and river currents are always stronger than they look. If you’re wading, shuffle and watch those seams.

That wraps the bite for today. The weather’s sweet, the bugs are hatching, and the trout are on. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe for your next fishing fix. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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Artificial Lure here with your up-to-the-minute fishing report for Big Horn, Montana, June 22, 2025.

Sunrise kicked off at 5:23 AM and sunset’s coming at 9:10 PM, giving you a full Montana day on the water. No tides to worry about here—inland fishing at its finest—but water flows are a big deal. River flows have recently stabilized around 3,500 CFS and the water is running clear, with a temp hovering right around 49°F, perfect for trout activity. There’s still a bit of grass and drifting debris below the Three Mile stretch, but most of the river is in prime shape for both wading and drifting.

Weather today looks typical for late June in the Bighorn valley—mid-60s to mid-70s, light winds, and cloudy breaks. These slightly cooler, breezy days have been keeping the bite strong through most of the system.

The fish are hungry. Nymphing has been producing the best numbers all week, with anglers reporting exceptional subsurface action. Your top flies are Black Micro Mayflies, Pearl/Olive Jiggy Perdigons, Black Zebra Midges, and Tailwater Sowbugs. Carpet Bugs, Cotton Candies, and UV Scuds are also in heavy rotation, and don’t sleep on red bead worm patterns or classic green weenies—these have been a meal ticket with the current water clarity.

Streamer junkies, there’s action for you too. Sparkle Minnows, Skiddish Smolts, and black Peanut Envy patterns have been moving chunky browns and rainbows out of those deeper holes and runs. Fish those streamers slow and deep for the best results—especially once the afternoon breeze kicks up.

Dry fly action is close: With water temps ticking upward, Baetis (Blue-Winged Olive) hatches are due any day, and the Pale Morning Dun (PMD) hatch is right around the corner. Have some size 16–18 PMD and caddis dries ready for when you see trout starting to rise in the riffles and flats.

Recent catches are classic Bighorn—rainbow and brown trout, averaging a solid 16 inches with plenty of fish pushing the 20-inch mark, especially in the deeper, cooler water. The lower pressure this season has the fish extra opportunistic, and folks floating and wading both report consistent hook-ups.

My hot spots for today:
- The stretch just below Afterbay Dam for clear water and concentrated fish.
- The “Three Mile” access, targeting the deeper shelves and midriver buckets, especially for those streamer takes.

A final reminder, the rainbow spawn is winding down—do your part and steer clear of active redds in the gravel flats to protect next year’s fishery.

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