It’s a fishing day

Bighorn River fishing conditions · Montana

Now until 5 amRainbow trout

The bite peaks at 96. Water is 52°, close to the 55° rainbow trout like best, and a solunar period lands on the window.

Log a trip here
Right now: 96 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. 961 am
  2. 96
  3. 96
  4. 964 am
  5. 82
  6. 82
  7. 827 am
  8. 82
  9. 82
  10. 8210 am
  11. 82
  12. 84
  13. 921 pm
  14. 92
  15. 92
  16. 924 pm
  17. 92
  18. 84
  19. 847 pm
  20. 84
  21. 92
  22. 9210 pm
  23. 84
  24. 84Tue
  25. 821 am
  26. 82
  27. 81
  28. 894 am
  29. 89
  30. 92
  31. 927 am
  32. 92
  33. 84
  34. 8410 am
  35. 84
  36. 69
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
52°F

Rainbow trout range 45–68°

Wind
2 mph

From the north-northeast

Flow
1,770 cfs

steady · -2% in 24 h

Light
Dark

Sunrise 7:42 am

Sky
Patchy Fog

3% chance of rain

Air
36°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Falling

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
100% lit

Full

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

96GoNow until 5 am

Water

52°
35°45–68° · ideal 55°78°

Why

Right in rainbow trout's ideal range. Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

3 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Central District rivers and streams: 3 trout a day and in possession, only 1 over 18" and only 1 a cutthroat; grayling must be released. Open all year unless an exception says otherwise.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Montana Central District

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

Brown Trout

Brown trout

Salmo trutta

88GoNow until 5 am

Water

52°
35°45–68° · ideal 55°78°

Why

Right in brown trout's ideal range. Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

3 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Central District rivers and streams: 3 trout a day and in possession, only 1 over 18" and only 1 a cutthroat; grayling must be released. Open all year unless an exception says otherwise.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Montana Central District

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

The water

  • Water temperature52°F
  • River1,770 cfs · steady · -2% in 24 h
  • Barometer30.27 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunrise today7:42 am
  • Sunset today6:08 pm
  • MoonFull, 100% lit
  • Major solunarSunday 11:50 pm–1:50 am
  • Minor solunarToday 8:00 am–9:00 am
  • Major solunarToday 12:10 pm–2:10 pm

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.

Yellowstone River at Livingston130 mi · MontanaBest today 3 am–4 am
88Go
Boysen Reservoir135 mi · WyomingBest now until 5 am
74Worth the trip
Madison River181 mi · MontanaBest now until 12 pmDense Fog Advisory
55Marginal
Henry’s Fork (Island Park)181 mi · IdahoBest tomorrow 1 am–1 pm
74Worth the trip

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.