Bighorn River Fishing Report
Date: 10/02/2026
Posted by: Toby SwankCurrent Conditions
The Bighorn River has been fishing well, although the recent change in water has made the bite a little less consistent. There’s some green water showing up in the upper few miles as the lake starts to turn over, but the river is still fishing.
Nymphing has been the most consistent. Tailwater sowbugs, orange scuds, and carpet bugs have been good in the mornings. Hare’s ears, pheasant tails, Frenchies, and blowtorches have been working later in the day.
Streamer fishing has picked up with rusty trombones, goldies, thin mints, and smaller buggers getting fish. Pseudos are still around, but the dry fly fishing has been more dependent on the day.
There is still plenty of grass in the river, especially once you get below the upper few miles. Expect to clean flies and deal with some drifting weeds throughout the day, but it hasn’t made the lower river unfishable.
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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