Bighorn River Fly Fishing Report - August 16, 2026

Fly Fishing Report

BIGHORN RIVER

Report
AUG 16 — 23, 2026
🌊
Flow
CFS
🌡️
Water Temp
☀️
Weather
55–83°F
Partly Cloudy
💧
Clarity
Clear
Check post-storm
Live gauge data is unavailable today, but recent reports put flows around 1,000–1,500 cfs with clear water below Yellowtail Dam — classic tailwater summer conditions. Expect warm afternoon air temps near 83°F with light winds; a slight storm chance Sunday night could briefly improve dry-fly action.
Hatch Chart
Insect Size Activity Prime Time
Trico 20-24 Heavy 6:30 AM - 9:30 AM
PMD 16-20 Moderate 10 AM - 1 PM
Black Caddis 16-18 Heavy 11 AM - 3 PM
Tan Caddis 16-20 Moderate 1 PM - 5 PM
Blue-Winged Olive 20-22 Light 4 PM - 7 PM
Midge 20-24 Moderate 7 AM - 10 AM
Best Time Window
  • 6:30 AM - 9:30 AM: Prime Trico spinner fall and midge hatch — target flat tailouts and slow runs with dry flies and shallow nymphs.
  • 10 AM - 1 PM: PMD and black caddis overlap — work riffles and seams with CDC caddis dries or a PMD split-case nymph just sub-surface.
  • 4 PM - 7 PM: Afternoon hopper action along grassy banks transitions to a late BWO window — stay mobile and match what fish are keying on.
Guide's Tip
From the benchWith sunny skies and warm afternoon temps, your best dry-fly shots will be early — get on the water by 6:30 AM to intercept the Trico spinner fall in the flat tailouts before the sun gets high. Once the heat builds midday, drop down to a single tungsten sowbug or Frenchie and work the deeper slots with a tight-line or indicator setup, keeping your fly within 6 inches of the bottom. If you see fish rising to caddis along the riffles, switch to a CDC caddis pattern and focus on the seam edges where current speed changes — that's where fish will be holding and tipping up. The slight storm chance Sunday night could push a brief BWO hatch; be ready with a #22 Juju Baetis if clouds roll in and light goes flat.
Main Species
Brown Trout
Rainbow Trout
Mountain Whitefish
Report generated August 16, 2026 — Next update: August 23, 2026