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Big Horn River Spring Action: Bass, Trout and Walleye Heating Up
Published 2 weeks, 5 days ago
Description
Howdy, folks, this is Artificial Lure, your Big Horn, Montana angling guru, comin' at ya with the fresh fishin' report for Saturday, April 11, 2026, right here on the mighty Bighorn River and Afterbay. Dawn broke 'bout 6:15 AM, sunset 'round 8:00 PM—plenty of light for a full day on the water. Weather's shapin' up warm, highs pushin' 70s with light winds off the Black Hills reports, perfect for spring action after a cool night.
No tides up here in the mountains, but river flows are steady at 2,500 cfs per the USGS gauge, with minor peaks makin' current sweet for drifts. Fish are wakin' up big-time—bass and crappie spawns mirrorin' Kentucky Lake trends where waters hit 64°F and shallows are loaded with 12-14 inchers schooled on gravel banks. Locals report smallmouth dominatin' the Bighorn, hittin' hard in woody debris and pockets; walleye and trout stackin' too, with fresh catches of 20+ rainbows and limits of browns last week.
Recent hauls? Dozens of smallmouth up to 4 pounds, crappie slabs pushin' a pound, and walleye in the 3-5 lb class from bank anglers. Best lures: crankbaits on windblown banks for bass, slow-reeled soft plastics or nymphs in sheltered runs for trout—mimickin' Black Hills fly reports. Live bait? Worms or minnows under bobbers for crappie, cut shad for cats in deeper bends.
Hit these hot spots: the Afterbay tailwater below Yellowtail Dam for trophy trout driftin' midges at dawn/dusk, and the Bighorn access near Two Rivers for smallmouth on gravel bars—target structure two hours 'fore sunset.
Water's cold, so layer up and watch for risers. Tight lines!
Thanks for tunin' in, folks—subscribe for weekly updates! This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
No tides up here in the mountains, but river flows are steady at 2,500 cfs per the USGS gauge, with minor peaks makin' current sweet for drifts. Fish are wakin' up big-time—bass and crappie spawns mirrorin' Kentucky Lake trends where waters hit 64°F and shallows are loaded with 12-14 inchers schooled on gravel banks. Locals report smallmouth dominatin' the Bighorn, hittin' hard in woody debris and pockets; walleye and trout stackin' too, with fresh catches of 20+ rainbows and limits of browns last week.
Recent hauls? Dozens of smallmouth up to 4 pounds, crappie slabs pushin' a pound, and walleye in the 3-5 lb class from bank anglers. Best lures: crankbaits on windblown banks for bass, slow-reeled soft plastics or nymphs in sheltered runs for trout—mimickin' Black Hills fly reports. Live bait? Worms or minnows under bobbers for crappie, cut shad for cats in deeper bends.
Hit these hot spots: the Afterbay tailwater below Yellowtail Dam for trophy trout driftin' midges at dawn/dusk, and the Bighorn access near Two Rivers for smallmouth on gravel bars—target structure two hours 'fore sunset.
Water's cold, so layer up and watch for risers. Tight lines!
Thanks for tunin' in, folks—subscribe for weekly updates! This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI