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Fishing Bighorn River: what the data says
Afterbay Dam (Fort Smith) to Two Leggins The river tops out around 8 ft. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Rainbow Trout fishing at Bighorn River
In spring, rainbow trout run shallow here, mostly 2 to 8 ft. Summer fish stay in 2 to 8 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 8 ft. Current seam (mile 7.5) is the standout, a current seam at roughly 4 ft, rated prime for spring rainbow trout. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Tie on a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 2 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 2 to 8 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Brown Trout fishing at Bighorn River
Start shallow in spring: brown trout sit in 1 to 8 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 2 to 8 ft, and winter fish hold in 1 to 8 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Current seam (mile 7.5): a current seam around 4 ft that scores prime in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and early morning. A spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft | night & dawn | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 1 to 8 ft | dusk & dawn | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 1 to 8 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
Notable structure
- Outside-bend hole (mile 5.3): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 9.3): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 15.5): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 17.4): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 19.3): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 24.8): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 26.7): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Eddy pocket (mile 18.1): eddy pocket, around 6 ft
- Channel swing (mile 25.8): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Channel swing (mile 10.6): creek channel, around 5 ft
- Current seam (mile 27.8): current seam, around 5 ft
- Eddy pocket (mile 4.3): eddy pocket, around 5 ft
- Channel swing (mile 8.4): creek channel, around 5 ft
- Current seam (mile 23.8): current seam, around 5 ft
Common questions
How deep is Bighorn River?
Bighorn River is about 8 ft at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
What fish are in Bighorn River?
Anglers target rainbow trout, brown trout on Bighorn River.
Where is the best fishing spot on Bighorn River?
Current seam (mile 7.5) is the top-rated area: a current seam in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Bighorn River?
For rainbow trout, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Nearby waters
Yellowtail Afterbay Reservoir · Bighorn Lake · Lake Elmo · Lake Josephine · Joels Pond · Laurel Pond
See how Bighorn River stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in Montana · best brown trout lakes in Montana
Browse all Montana fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.