By Anne Marie Emery While lower water changes how the river fishes and how anglers experience it, it also creates new opportunities and challenges. As BHRA works to better understand the ecological effects of this year's low-flow conditions, we also want to help anglers prepare for what they'll encounter on the water. To do that, we've combined insights from BHRA's ongoing scientific monitoring with the firsthand observations of seasoned Bighorn River guides who have successfully fished...

By Demi Blythe Fisheries Biologist, FWP Every spring and fall, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) hits the water to check-in on our Bighorn River wild trout. These surveys are done just below Three Mile Access (Upper Section) in the spring and down by Mallard’s Landing (Lower Section) in the fall and have been part of the Bighorn River sampling since 1992. The goal? To keep tabs on trends and overall health of our brown and rainbow trout populations. "In 2025, surveys from both Upper and...

A Season Recap Provided by Steve Galletta & Hale Harris The 2025 fly fishing season on Montana’s Bighorn River will be remembered as a year of contrasts — one defined by low flows, cold water temperatures, and challenging hatches, yet also by some of the largest trout the river has produced in recent memory. Despite inconsistent insect activity and persistent algae issues early in the season, anglers who adapted to conditions found exceptional fishing, particularly with nymphs and later...