Montana ·
Bighorn River Fly Fishing Report - June 14, 2026
BIGHORN RIVER
ReportJUN 14 — 21, 2026
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Flow
1530CFS
Bighorn R bl Yellowtail Afterbay Dam nr St. Xavier
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Water Temp
—
Updated 2026-06-13
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Weather
43–75°F
Mostly Clear
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Clarity
Clear
Check post-storm
Flows are running 1,530 CFS below Yellowtail Afterbay Dam — ideal for both floating and wade fishing with exceptional water clarity. Water temps are in the 50–55°F sweet spot, fish are grouped in predictable feeding lanes and actively feeding throughout the day.
What's Working — Hot Flies
Tungsten Tailwater Sowbug - Rainbow #10
#10
Tailwater Sowbug - Rainbow #10
#10
Black Zebra Midge(TBH) #20
#20
Tungsten Split Case Nymph - PMD #20
#20
Pheasant Tail Tungsten #20
#20
Roza's Pink Pheasant Tail - Barbless #16
#16
Olsen's Hare's Ear Blowtorch Barbless #20 - 28
#20
Corn-fed Caddis (CDC) Tan #20
#20
Corn-fed Caddis (CDC) Peacock #18
#18
Egan's Silver Bullet - Baetis #14
#14
Coffey's CH Sparkle Minnow Sculpin #6
#6
Parachute - Blue Wing Olive #22
#22
Hatch Chart
| Insect | Size | Activity | Prime Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pale Morning Dun (PMD) | #16–18 | Heavy — main event | Afternoon emergence; spinner fall at dusk |
| Black Caddis | #16–18 | Moderate–Heavy | Evening, swarming bankside at dusk |
| Yellow Sally (Little Yellow Stonefly) | #14–16 | Moderate | Midday through afternoon in faster riffles |
| Midge | #20–22 | Steady | Early morning through midday |
| Sowbug / Scud | #14–16 | Consistent subsurface all day | All day — especially in slower runs and seams |
Best Time Window
- Early Morning (6:00–9:00 AM): Midge hatch is active; nymph deep with sowbugs and zebra midges through slower runs and seams
- Afternoon (1:00–5:00 PM): PMD emergence peaks — transition to PMD nymphs high in the column, then switch to dries as fish begin rising in the riffles
- Evening (6:00–8:30 PM): Prime time — PMD spinner fall and black caddis hatch overlap for spectacular dry fly fishing in flat water; streamer fishing along banks productive at last light
Guide's Tip
From the benchThe PMD spinner fall is the highlight of the day right now — position yourself in the flat water below the riffles by 6:30 PM and watch for fish beginning to sip in the film as the light drops. Present your caddis or PMD dry with a long, drag-free drift and resist the urge to set too early on sipping fish. In the morning, start deep with a sowbug or zebra midge under an indicator through the slower runs, then transition to a high-stick nymph rig with a PMD split case as the afternoon hatch builds. Once you find a pod of feeding fish in a lane, stay put — these fish are grouped and consistent right now.
Main Species
Brown Trout
Rainbow Trout
Mountain Whitefish
