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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.
The outline encloses 1,230 acres, worked by 63 miles of shoreline, broken up by an island. The 12.8 development index tells the story — a convoluted bank whose fishable edge far outruns the acreage. The whole water is littoral — nothing here runs deeper than ~15 ft, so it's all weed-and-bait territory. Call it 26.1 mi long by 3.3 mi wide at the broadest reach. It sits in Big Horn County. If the bite dies, Yellowtail Afterbay Reservoir is 14 mi to the southwest.
Early season rainbow trout use the shallows, holding in 2 to 8 ft. Even in summer they hold at 2 to 8 ft; winter keeps them in 2 to 8 ft. Put Current seam (mile 7.5) first on the milk run — a current seam near 4 ft that grades prime for spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 7.5) (4 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 7.5) (4 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 2 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 7.5) (4 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 2 to 8 ft | dawn | Current seam (mile 7.5) (4 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Spring puts brown trout in skinny water — 1 to 8 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 2 to 8 ft, and winter fish hold in 1 to 8 ft. Current seam (mile 7.5) is the standout, a current seam at roughly 4 ft, rated prime for summer brown trout. Plan around after dark and early morning in the warm months. A spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | Eddy pocket (mile 4.3) (5 ft) | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft | night & dawn | Current seam (mile 7.5) (4 ft) | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 1 to 8 ft | dusk & dawn | Eddy pocket (mile 4.3) (5 ft) | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 1 to 8 ft | dawn | Eddy pocket (mile 4.3) (5 ft) | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
The chart marks 25 structure features on Bighorn River; the deepest is Outside-bend hole (mile 5.3) at about 6 ft.
Access data: Montana FWP — Fishing Access Sites. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Montana waters are set by the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks — and special regulations can apply to Bighorn River specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Montana fishing regulations →
Bighorn River is about 8 ft (2 m) deep 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.
Anglers target rainbow trout, brown trout 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. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by species and season.
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.
Fishing on Bighorn River is regulated by the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. Check the official Montana regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Yellowtail Afterbay Reservoir 14 mi · Bighorn Lake 32 mi, MT/WY · Lake Josephine 40 mi · Lake Elmo 42 mi · Joels Pond 44 mi · Laurel Pond 50 mi · Kleenburn Pond 2 55 mi, WY · Castle Rock Reservoir 62 mi · Dream Lake 65 mi, WY · Coney Lake 65 mi, WY · Big Stull Lake 65 mi, WY · Geddes Lake 69 mi, WY
See how Bighorn River stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in Montana · best brown trout lakes in Montana
Browse all Montana fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.