Bighorn River Fishing Report
Date: 10/29/2026
Posted by: Toby SwankCurrent Conditions
The Bighorn River is still worth fishing, but the annual lake turnover has made things a little tougher. Water coming out of the dam has taken on a green tint, and the bite has been less consistent than earlier in the fall. Nymphing remains the best bet, with late morning and afternoon offering good opportunities as bug activity picks up.
Sowbugs, scuds, zebra midges, and smaller mayfly nymphs are good patterns to start with. A sowbug paired with a small baetis nymph or Frenchie is a solid setup. Keep the flies near the bottom and adjust the depth before switching patterns.
There are still some blue-winged olive hatches, particularly when the wind settles down, though the caddis activity is starting to fade. Small BWO dries and emergers in sizes 18–22 are worth carrying. Streamers are also worth trying on cloudy days, with smaller leeches and woolly buggers good options.
The Bighorn remains a good fall option for anglers willing to work through the changing conditions. Nymphing is the most dependable approach right now, with dry fly opportunities when the hatches line up.
Additional Resources:
- October Fly Fishing in Bozeman, MT.
Stream Flows
View stream flow graph on USGS
Recommended Flies
Black Lite Brite Perdigon
Tungsten Tailwater Sowbug
Tailwater Sowbug
Skiddish Smolt
Orange Scud
White Peanut Envy
Olive Mini Dungeon
Olive Double Gonga
Bighorn River Fly Fishing
The Bighorn River, emerging from the base of Afterbay Dam near Fort Smith, Montana, is one of the state’s premier tailwater fisheries. Fed by cold, consistent flows from Yellowtail Dam, the river offers exceptional fly fishing opportunities across the first 35 miles—especially between the Afterbay and Bighorn Fishing Access Sites.
The most popular stretch is the 10-mile float from 3-Mile to Bighorn Access. Here, anglers find productive seams, riffles, and side channels that are ideal for both floating and wade fishing. Dry fly action peaks during PMD and BWO hatches, while nymphing remains effective year-round.
Crowds are common from spring through early fall, particularly in the first three miles below the dam and at the 3-Mile fishing access site. This easily wadeable section includes legendary runs like the Breakfast Hole and Hot-Dog Run, where trout stack up in knee-deep gravel-bottomed riffles.
Further downstream, fishing pressure decreases and trout numbers taper off, but float anglers willing to explore these more remote stretches will find reprieve from the crowds.. Late summer and fall can be tricky due to aquatic vegetation and irrigation returns.
Whether you're casting dries, drifting nymphs, or stripping streamers, the Bighorn delivers consistent action for wild brown and rainbow trout—making it a must-visit for serious fly anglers in Montana.
Additional Bighorn River Fly Fishing Resources
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