Today's Read
The Bighorn River below Yellowtail Dam offers stable tailwater conditions with overcast morning skies, favoring consistent subsurface feeding on scuds, sowbugs, and baetis nymphs.
Fort Smith, Montana
Best Flies For Bighorn River
Maintain a drag-free drift near the bottom structure where trout are holding in steady tailwater flows.
Forecast timing & sources
- Forecast generated
- Sep 13, 2026, 7:00 AM MDT
- Valid until
- Sep 14, 2026, 7:00 AM MDT
- Source updated
- Sep 13, 2026, 7:00 AM MDT
- Flow observation
- Observed Sep 13, 2026, 6:15 AM MDT
- Water temperature observation
- Observed Sep 13, 2026, 6:15 AM MDT
Buggin combines river and weather signals into a fishing forecast. A rating is model guidance, not a catch guarantee. Observation times can differ from forecast generation.
Configured gauge: Bighorn River at Bighorn, Montana · 06287000. The forecast point may differ from the gauge location.
Bugs & Best Matches
What's active
Fish this
Scuds, size 16-18, Morning (6:00 AM–10:00 AM)
Olive Scud, size 16-18, dry; Tan Scud, size 16-18, dry; Ray Charles, size 16-18, dry
Sowbugs, size 16-18, Morning (6:00 AM–10:00 AM)
Grey Ray Charles, size 16-18, dry; Tailwater Sowbug, size 16-18, dry; Czech Sowbug, size 16-18, dry
BWOs, size 18-20, Morning (6:00 AM–10:00 AM)
BWO Sparkle Dun, size 18-20, dry; Pheasant Tail, size 18-20, dry; RS2, size 18-20, dry
Midges, size 20-22, Variable
No matching fly supplied
Caddis, size 16-18, Variable
No matching fly supplied
How To Fish These Flies
- Maintain a drag-free drift near the bottom structure where trout are holding in steady tailwater flows.
- Use Indicator Nymphing.
- Favor Weighted beadhead nymphs and small soft hackles.
Current Conditions
Flow1,840 cfs and steady
Water TempUnavailable
WeatherOvercast
Rating9/10 · Excellent
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