It’s a fishing day

Bighorn River fishing conditions · Montana

Now until tomorrow 7 amRainbow trout

The bite peaks at 92. Water is 53°, close to the 55° rainbow trout like best, and a solunar period lands on the window.

Log a trip here
Right now: 92 for rainbow trout, go · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Rainbow trout, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 922 pm
  2. 92
  3. 92
  4. 925 pm
  5. 92
  6. 92
  7. 928 pm
  8. 92
  9. 92
  10. 9211 pm
  11. 92Sun
  12. 92
  13. 922 am
  14. 92
  15. 92
  16. 925 am
  17. 92
  18. 84
  19. 848 am
  20. 84
  21. 92
  22. 9211 am
  23. 92
  24. 92
  25. 922 pm
  26. 92
  27. 92
  28. 925 pm
  29. 92
  30. 92
  31. 928 pm
  32. 92
  33. 92
  34. 8411 pm
  35. 84Mon
  36. 84
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
53°F

Rainbow trout range 45–68°

Wind
12 mph

From the west-northwest

Flow
1,680 cfs

steady · -1% in 24 h

Light
Daylight

Sunset 4:51 pm

Sky
Sunny

2% chance of rain

Air
65°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Steady

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
5% lit

Waning crescent

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Montana Central District regulations for these waters.

Rainbow Trout

Rainbow trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss

92GoNow until tomorrow 7 am

Water

53°
35°45–68° · ideal 55°78°

Why

Right in rainbow trout's ideal range. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

3 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Central District limits: 3 trout a day, only 1 over 18". Artificial lures only from the cable 600 feet below Afterbay Dam to the Bighorn FAS. A Montana license covers the river inside the Crow Reservation; no tribal permit needed.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Bighorn River below Yellowtail Afterbay Dam

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Dec, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on rainbow trout

Brown Trout

Brown trout

Salmo trutta

92GoNow until tomorrow 7 am

Water

53°
35°45–68° · ideal 55°78°

Why

Right in brown trout's ideal range. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

3 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Central District limits: 3 trout a day, only 1 over 18". Artificial lures only from the cable 600 feet below Afterbay Dam to the Bighorn FAS. A Montana license covers the river inside the Crow Reservation; no tribal permit needed.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Bighorn River below Yellowtail Afterbay Dam

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Dec, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on brown trout

The water

  • Water temperature53°F
  • River1,680 cfs · steady · -1% in 24 h
  • Barometer30.11 inHg, steady

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today4:51 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow7:00 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 3:20 pm–4:20 pm
  • Major solunarTonight 10:10 pm–12:10 am
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 6:20 am–7:20 am

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. Montana FWP has the state’s fishing pages.

Licenses and rules: Montana FWP · fish-consumption advisories

About this spot

A world-class tailwater below Yellowtail Afterbay Dam at Fort Smith, on the Crow Reservation in south-central Montana. The cold, nutrient-rich release grows dense populations of stout wild rainbow and brown trout; the first 13 miles below the dam are floated and waded year-round.

Central District limits: 3 trout a day, only 1 over 18". Artificial lures only from the cable 600 feet below Afterbay Dam to the Bighorn FAS. A Montana license covers the river inside the Crow Reservation; no tribal permit is needed.

Nearby

The closest public spots we cover, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Boysen Reservoir135 mi · WyomingBest tomorrow 1 am–11 am
80Worth the trip
Madison River181 mi · MontanaBest now until 6 pm
90Go
Henry’s Fork (Island Park)181 mi · IdahoBest now until 6 pm
76Worth the trip
Canyon Ferry Lake196 mi · MontanaBest now until 6 pm
90Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Bighorn River?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Bighorn River you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Bighorn River?

Bighorn River is listed on this site for 2 commonly-targeted species: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Bighorn River?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Bighorn River against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Bighorn River have?

Bighorn River has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. Central District limits: 3 trout a day, only 1 over 18". Artificial lures only from the cable 600 feet below Afterbay Dam to the Bighorn FAS. A Montana license covers the river inside the Crow Reservation; no tribal permit is needed.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Bighorn River?

state agency regulations apply at Bighorn River. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Bighorn River tidal water?

No. Bighorn River is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.

Is there parking or an entry fee at Bighorn River?

Central District limits: 3 trout a day, only 1 over 18". Artificial lures only from the cable 600 feet below Afterbay Dam to the Bighorn FAS. A Montana license covers the river inside the Crow Reservation; no tribal permit is needed.