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Bighorn River Bounty: Late June Fishing Bliss on Montana's Famed Trout Stream
Published 10 months, 1 week ago
Description
Artificial Lure here with your Big Horn, Montana, fishing report for June 21, 2025.
Sunrise greeted us at 5:28 AM and you’ll have plenty of daylight, as sunset isn’t until 9:05 PM tonight. The weather’s holding steady: expect temperatures in the upper 60s to low 70s, with a mix of sun and clouds and a classic Montana breeze—nothing out of the ordinary for late June. With no tides to report on the river, you’ll want to focus on how the flows and water clarity are shaping the bite.
According to recent local guides and river data, the Bighorn River is running clear and a shade below normal at around 3,510 CFS. Afternoon water temps are holding near 49 degrees, which is just about perfect for active trout. There’s still a little grass and some drifting debris in spots, mostly below Three Mile, but overall the river is in excellent shape for both waders and those fishing from drift boats.
The fishing has been “downright epic” these past couple of weeks, and it’s only getting better as summer insect hatches ramp up. Dry fly action is picking up, especially around midday, with blue-winged olive and pale morning dun hatches starting to come off strong. If you spot a hatch, swap to a PMD pattern in sizes 14-18 and get ready for some fun on top. There are also caddis popping here and there, so keep an elk hair caddis handy just in case.
Nymphing remains the go-to method for numbers. Productive patterns are black Micro Mayflies, pearl/olive Jiggy Perdigons, black Zebra Midges, and Tailwater Sowbugs. Don’t overlook scuds and worms—any color is getting a bite right now, especially in riffly water. For those swinging streamers, Sparkle Minnows, Skiddish Smolts, and black Peanut Envy patterns are drawing out those big browns and rainbows in deeper slots. Slow retrieves are getting the job done.
Spin anglers are enjoying success too—classic brown and gold Panther Martin spinners remain a top pick, and if that’s not working, try a gold or silver spoon, or a rainbow-colored Rapala. The river is stacked with brown trout, rainbow trout, and the occasional cutthroat and whitefish—there’s no shortage of action if you dial in your presentation.
As for hot spots, hit the stretch below Afterbay Dam down to Three Mile for consistent action, especially in the deeper runs and tailouts. For a quieter experience, try the section near Bighorn Access—still plenty of cooperative fish, just with fewer crowds.
Catch rates have been strong all week, with locals reporting a steady parade of browns in the 16–20 inch range and a surprising number of rainbows in the mix. Conditions are prime, the bugs are hatching, and the trout are looking up.
Thanks for tuning in to your Big Horn fishing update with Artificial Lure. Don’t forget to subscribe for more river reports and tips. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
This episode includes AI-generated content.
Sunrise greeted us at 5:28 AM and you’ll have plenty of daylight, as sunset isn’t until 9:05 PM tonight. The weather’s holding steady: expect temperatures in the upper 60s to low 70s, with a mix of sun and clouds and a classic Montana breeze—nothing out of the ordinary for late June. With no tides to report on the river, you’ll want to focus on how the flows and water clarity are shaping the bite.
According to recent local guides and river data, the Bighorn River is running clear and a shade below normal at around 3,510 CFS. Afternoon water temps are holding near 49 degrees, which is just about perfect for active trout. There’s still a little grass and some drifting debris in spots, mostly below Three Mile, but overall the river is in excellent shape for both waders and those fishing from drift boats.
The fishing has been “downright epic” these past couple of weeks, and it’s only getting better as summer insect hatches ramp up. Dry fly action is picking up, especially around midday, with blue-winged olive and pale morning dun hatches starting to come off strong. If you spot a hatch, swap to a PMD pattern in sizes 14-18 and get ready for some fun on top. There are also caddis popping here and there, so keep an elk hair caddis handy just in case.
Nymphing remains the go-to method for numbers. Productive patterns are black Micro Mayflies, pearl/olive Jiggy Perdigons, black Zebra Midges, and Tailwater Sowbugs. Don’t overlook scuds and worms—any color is getting a bite right now, especially in riffly water. For those swinging streamers, Sparkle Minnows, Skiddish Smolts, and black Peanut Envy patterns are drawing out those big browns and rainbows in deeper slots. Slow retrieves are getting the job done.
Spin anglers are enjoying success too—classic brown and gold Panther Martin spinners remain a top pick, and if that’s not working, try a gold or silver spoon, or a rainbow-colored Rapala. The river is stacked with brown trout, rainbow trout, and the occasional cutthroat and whitefish—there’s no shortage of action if you dial in your presentation.
As for hot spots, hit the stretch below Afterbay Dam down to Three Mile for consistent action, especially in the deeper runs and tailouts. For a quieter experience, try the section near Bighorn Access—still plenty of cooperative fish, just with fewer crowds.
Catch rates have been strong all week, with locals reporting a steady parade of browns in the 16–20 inch range and a surprising number of rainbows in the mix. Conditions are prime, the bugs are hatching, and the trout are looking up.
Thanks for tuning in to your Big Horn fishing update with Artificial Lure. Don’t forget to subscribe for more river reports and tips. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
This episode includes AI-generated content.