Bighorn River Fishing Report
Date: 07/10/2026
Posted by: Toby SwankCurrent Conditions
The Bighorn River has stayed consistent, and has settled into a pretty predictable summer pattern.
If the goal is numbers, nymphing is still the way to go. Keep it simple with a sowbug or scud paired with a zebra midge, PMD nymph, or small perdigon. Fish have been feeding higher in the water column, so there's no reason to run a heavy rig unless you're fishing some of the deeper buckets.
There have been enough fish looking up to make carrying a dry fly rod worthwhile. Caddis are becoming the main hatch, and the first tricos are starting to show up in the mornings. If you find rising fish, take advantage of it. The dry fly fishing has been good enough that it's worth changing rods instead of trying to force a nymph through them.
The Bighorn is fishing the way it should this time of year. Fish good water, keep the nymph rig simple, and be ready to switch over to dries when the bugs get going.
Additional Resources:
- The Best Bozeman Fly Fishing in July
Stream Flows
View stream flow graph on USGS
Recommended Flies
Black Zebra Midge
Tungsten Tailwater Sowbug
Tailwater Sowbug
Black Lite Brite Perdigon
Skiddish Smolt
Sparkle Minnow
Gray Gonga
Orange Scud
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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