Deep Nymphing (Primary Tactic): The Bighorn's trout are feeding subsurface the vast majority of the time right now. Run a two- or three-fly nymph rig (up to 3 hooks permitted) anchored with a Tungsten Tailwater Sowbug or Pheasant Tail Tungsten, then drop a smaller midge or Baetis pattern 12–18 inches below. Use enough split shot or a heavy tungsten anchor to tick the bottom — if you're not occasionally bumping gravel, you're fishing too shallow. Long, drag-free drifts in the 3–6 foot depth range through slower runs and deeper buckets will produce the most consistent results. Use 5X–6X fluorocarbon tippet and keep leaders in the 9–12 foot range. BWO Dry Fly Window: Watch the sky — overcast, calm afternoons are your signal. When you see subtle sipping rises in softer water and back eddies, switch to a Parachute BWO or Barr's Flashback Emerger on 6X tippet. Approach slowly, identify individual rising fish, and present upstream with a reach cast. The Bighorn's trout are educated; presentation and drift quality matter far more than fly selection. Midge Game: Midges are the most reliable food source on the river right now. The Black Zebra Midge and Olsen's Peacock Blowtorch are excellent choices fished in tandem on a tight dropper system. Fish them in the film or just below during morning and evening lulls when BWOs aren't showing. Streamer Fishing: Overcast mornings are prime time for swinging or stripping Coffey's Sparkle Minnow Sculpin along undercut banks, near bridge pilings, and through deeper slots. Keep the retrieve slow and deliberate — cold water means lethargic presentations outperform aggressive strips. Special Rules & Access: This is the regulated tailwater section below Yellowtail Dam — respect all posted access points and private land boundaries. Purchase your Montana fishing license online at fwp.mt.gov before arriving in Fort Smith; fly shops no longer sell licenses. Bonus: May 9–10 is Montana's Free Fishing Weekend — no license required for all anglers.