Montana ·
Bighorn River Fly Fishing Report - July 5, 2026
BIGHORN RIVER
ReportJUL 5 — 12, 2026
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Flow
1490CFS
Bighorn R bl Yellowtail Afterbay Dam nr St. Xavier
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Water Temp
—
Updated 2026-07-04
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Weather
62–93°F
Mostly Clear
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Clarity
Clear
Check post-storm
Flow is running at 1,490 cfs with a gauge height of 59.49 ft — textbook summer levels that keep the Bighorn wading-friendly and boat-ready. Expect gin-clear water and a scorching 93°F afternoon, so fish early and hard before midday heat locks fish down.
What's Working — Hot Flies
Tungsten Split Case Nymph - PMD #20
#20
Split Case - PMD #14
#14
Stealth Link Mercer - PMD #20
#20
Parachute - Blue Wing Olive #22
#22
Juju Baetis Tungsten #22
#22
Corn-fed Caddis (CDC) Tan #20
#20
Egan's Thread Frenchie Jig - Olive #12
#12
Egan's Frenchie #12
#12
Roza's World Spain Perdigon Barbless #18 - 32
#18
Black Zebra Midge(TBH) #20
#20
Coffey's CH Sparkle Minnow Sculpin #6
#6
Bionic Ant 2.0 - Black #16
#16
Hatch Chart
| Insect | Size | Activity | Prime Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pale Morning Dun (PMD) | #16-20 | Heavy | 9 AM - 1 PM |
| Blue Wing Olive (BWO) | #20-22 | Moderate | 7 AM - 10 AM |
| Caddis | #18-20 | Moderate | 6 PM - 8 PM |
| Midge | #20-22 | Light | 7 AM - 9 AM |
| Terrestrials (Ants) | #14-16 | Light | 11 AM - 3 PM |
| Sculpin / Baitfish | #4-6 | Moderate | 6 AM - 8 AM |
Best Time Window
- 6 AM - 10 AM: Prime BWO and early PMD window — nymph the seams and watch for rising fish in the flat tailouts before the sun hits the water.
- 10 AM - 12 PM: Peak PMD hatch — switch to dry flies or emergers in the feeding lanes; this is the best dry fly opportunity of the day.
- 7 PM - Dark: Evening caddis and terrestrial action along the banks — streamers and caddis dries in low light can produce the largest fish of the day.
Guide's Tip
From the benchWith flows at 1,490 cfs and a blazing afternoon high of 93°F, your best fishing is going to happen before 11 AM — get on the water at first light and hammer the PMD and BWO windows hard. During the midday heat, drop down to a tight-line midge rig in the deeper, shaded slots and slow your drift way down; fish will be lethargic but still catchable. As the sun drops and temps ease off in the evening, switch to a caddis dry or a streamer along the banks — that's when the big browns come out to play. Keep your leaders long (12-14 ft) and your tippet fine (5X-6X) in this clear summer water.
Main Species
Brown Trout
Rainbow Trout
Mountain Whitefish
