Wyoming
Bighorn River at Kane
Current River Rating
Poor · 37
Conditions are unfavorable based on the available readings.
Scores are model-specific and are not directly comparable across water types.
Partial water evidence · Low confidence
Estimated Conditions
Estimated from available current readings, weather, seasonal patterns, destination characteristics, and historical conditions. Some important on-water measurements may be unavailable.
Should I Go?
Consider
Timing Outlook
No reliable fishing window is recommended while current river conditions remain Poor.
Why
- Very clear skies may make trout more cautious in shallow water.
- Water temperature is unavailable.
Favorable Factors
- Recent precipitation has been light.
- Light wind should make casting and boat control easier.
Cautions
- Recent observed air temperature suggests unfavorable river water temperature for trout. Verify with a stream thermometer; this is not a measured water temperature.
Current Readings
- Flow
- 625 CFS
- Gage Height
- 1.66 ft
- Water Temperature
- Not available
- Observation Time
- Sep 5, 2026, 7:15 AM
Updated recently · USGS station 06279500 · Direct monitoring location
Readings from past 7 Days
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Historical readings are provided for context. Readings outside the current freshness window are not used to rate current conditions.
Better Nearby Options
Checking nearby StrikeTracks waters…
Preliminary guidance only. Always assess current weather, access, water depth, current speed, and your own ability before entering the river.
Changing Conditions Advisory
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Weather Near Gauge
Current Weather
Clear
Temperature
73°F
Feels like
65°F
Wind
6 mph S
Wind gust
8 mph
Current precipitation
0.00 in
Updated
Sep 4, 2026, 11:15 PM
Recent Rainfall
Estimated precipitation near this gauge
Last 6 hours
0.00 in
Last 24 hours
0.00 in
Last 48 hours
0.00 in
Little recent rainfall near this river.
Next 24 Hours
Sat 2 AM
Clear
Temp 70°F
Chance 1%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 12 mph
Sat 6 AM
Clear
Temp 64°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 8 mph
Sat 10 AM
Clear
Temp 72°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 7 mph
Sat 2 PM
Clear
Temp 88°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 9 mph
Sat 6 PM
Clear
Temp 92°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 18 mph
Sat 10 PM
Clear
Temp 72°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 9 mph
Four-Day Forecast
Sat, Sep 5
Clear
High 94°F / Low 61°F
Chance 1%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 28 mph
Sun, Sep 6
Overcast
High 93°F / Low 56°F
Chance 5%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 39 mph
Mon, Sep 7
Drizzle
High 85°F / Low 65°F
Chance 24%
Precip 0.04 in
Max gust 31 mph
Weather and rainfall are estimated for this river's coordinates. Local conditions can vary, especially in mountainous terrain and during isolated storms.
Recent rainfall can influence river flow, but the timing and magnitude depend on watershed size, soil conditions, upstream reservoirs, and dam releases.
Weather data: Open-Meteo
Historical Flow
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Fishing Overview
Bighorn River at Kane, Wyoming. Existing public USGS identity preserved. Mixed Bighorn drainage fishery; not promoted to Monitoring-Backed river-trout scoring.
Fishery Profile
Documented species you may encounter at Bighorn River.
Species images are AI-generated illustrations for visual reference and may simplify natural variation. Fishery records are based on the cited agency sources. About fish illustrations
Fishery overview
The Bighorn at Kane is the Wyoming Bighorn River at Kane before Bighorn Lake. StrikeTracks keeps this existing public USGS identity. Live discharge exists, but this is a mixed Area 2 Bighorn drainage (trout plus walleye/sauger rules and live-baitfish authorization on the Bighorn River), so it is not promoted to air-derived Monitoring-Backed river-trout scoring. Distinct from Montana Bighorn near St. Xavier and from Bighorn at Basin. This mixed trout/walleye identity does not inherit Snake River fine-spotted cutthroat notes. Flow Context remains default-deny. Hatch Match remains unpublished for this identity after Option-B local-expert seasonal research. No Kane-named seasonal pair.
Target species
Brown Trout
Salmo trutta
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Wild
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
WGFD Chapter 46 manages this water as a wild trout stream unless a current exception says otherwise. Confirm current WGFD Chapter 46 before fishing. Bighorn River at Kane (USGS 06279500). Mixed Area 2 drainage; not promoted to Monitoring-Backed. Distinct from Montana St. Xavier (06287000).
Source: Wyoming Game and Fish Department
Rainbow Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Unknown
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
WGFD Chapter 46 manages this water as a wild trout stream unless a current exception says otherwise. Confirm current WGFD Chapter 46 before fishing. Bighorn River at Kane (USGS 06279500). Mixed Area 2 drainage; not promoted to Monitoring-Backed. Distinct from Montana St. Xavier (06287000).
Source: Wyoming Game and Fish Department
Walleye
Sander vitreus
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Unknown
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- Medium confidence
WGFD Chapter 46 Area 2 applies walleye/sauger whole-fish rules to Bighorn drainage lakes and streams. Sauger is not a StrikeTracks species-selector ID.
Source: Wyoming Game and Fish Department
Fishery characteristics
- Composition
- Mixed wild and stocked
- Great Lakes tributary
- No
- Flow regime
- Mixed flow regime
Lower Wyoming Bighorn River at Kane, downstream of Basin and upstream of Bighorn Lake. Mixed coldwater and warmwater drainage, not the Montana Afterbay tailwater.
Best seasons
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall
Common techniques
- Dry flies
- Fly fishing
- Nymphing
- Spinning
- Streamers
Access and Public Fishing Rights
Public fishing is documented by WGFD public-access programs on the Bighorn River. Catalog coordinates are the USGS point. This is not Montana Bighorn near St. Xavier.
Stocking information
WGFD Area 2 Bighorn drainage. Confirm current official stocking separately.
Official sources
WGFD Chapter 46 Area 2: Bighorn drainage walleye/sauger must be kept whole until the angler is off the water. Live baitfish are authorized on the Bighorn River in specified Area 2 location A waters. Do not remap to Montana St. Xavier 06287000 or Bighorn at Basin 06274300. Do not treat this ID as the Montana Bighorn trout tailwater.
Hatch Match
General fly suggestions
- Parachute-style dryGeneral attractor dry family — not a claim that a named mayfly is hatching.
- Pheasant-tail-style nymphGeneral nymph family for trout rivers without destination hatch timing.
- Elk-hair-style dryGeneral dry/attractor family. Pattern choice only — not a report that caddis are hatching.
- Woolly-bugger-style streamerGeneral streamer family. Not a forage or insect Hatch event.
These are general fishing suggestions, not a report of insects currently hatching at this destination.
Location and Access
USGS monitoring location
Big Horn, Wyoming
The map marker represents the cataloged waterbody or monitoring location and may not indicate legal parking or public access. Confirm access through the official information before visiting.
River Details
County
Big Horn
Management Category
Mixed river fishery
Regulation Scope
Bighorn River at Kane, Wyoming
Regulation Summary
Bighorn at Kane: WGFD Area 2 Bighorn River mixed-drainage water. Confirm current Chapter 46. Not the Montana Afterbay fishery.
Target Species
brown-trout, rainbow-trout, walleye
Access, Parking, and Regulations
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