Bighorn River

GAGE LOCATION

DAY/YEAR
GRAPHS

CURRENT
STAGE/FLOW

WHAT TIME

Bighorn near St. Xavier

7 30 year

60.46 / 3090

11 pm Yest.

Bighorn above Tullock Ck

7 30 year

2.39 / 3550

11 pm Yest.

Little Bighorn near Hardin

7 30 year

/

N/A

CITY

Fort Smith

NOAA

Accuweather

TWC

HATCH

NYMPH/
LARVA

PUPA/
EMERGER

DUN/
ADULT

EGG-
LAYER

Blue-winged olive

Spotted caddis

Green caddis

Golden stonefly

Salmonfly

Little brown stonefly

Skwala

Midge

Scud

Sculpin

Baitfish

Sowbug

One of the best winter options in Montana, the Bighorn's tailwater fishery attracts numerous fly anglers on weekends. The top 13 miles are the most productive. In winter, the river cools as it flows downstream, so trout migrate toward the dam to find warmer water.

Sowbug and scud imitations are excellent choices. Flies with a pink tinge can be very effective. You should also carry midge patterns and small nymphs, such as Brassies, Copper Johns, and Pheasant Tails. You will probably need a 6X tippet for these if you're fishing near the surface. Use an adjustable indicator system and set the indicator-to-fly length at two to two-and-a-half times the water depth. Adjust it for each place you fish.

Big streamers, such as size 4 conehead Woolly Buggers in black or green can work well in the afternoons when cast through deep water along high banks.

See the Rivers in General report for additional winter fly fishing tactics.