Montana
Bighorn River near St. Xavier
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
Should I Go?
Wait
Limited opportunity
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.
Timing Evidence
Dawn low light is favorable.
Current Readings
- Flow
- 1530 CFS
- Gage Height
- 59.91 ft
- Water Temperature
- Not available
- Observation Time
- Sep 5, 2026, 7:15 AM
Updated recently · USGS station 06287000 · 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
67°F
Feels like
61°F
Wind
8 mph W
Wind gust
9 mph
Current precipitation
0.00 in
Updated
Sep 5, 2026, 1:45 AM
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 67°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 8 mph
Sat 6 AM
Clear
Temp 61°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 8 mph
Sat 10 AM
Clear
Temp 71°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 5 mph
Sat 2 PM
Clear
Temp 81°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 6 mph
Sat 6 PM
Clear
Temp 85°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 10 mph
Sat 10 PM
Clear
Temp 71°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 4 mph
Four-Day Forecast
Sat, Sep 5
Clear
High 85°F / Low 60°F
Chance 1%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 15 mph
Sun, Sep 6
Overcast
High 90°F / Low 60°F
Chance 8%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 21 mph
Mon, Sep 7
Drizzle
High 86°F / Low 66°F
Chance 44%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 34 mph
Tue, Sep 8
Mostly clear
High 81°F / Low 57°F
Chance 23%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 15 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
Bounded Bighorn River trout tailwater below Yellowtail Afterbay near St. Xavier, Montana. USGS 06287000 is the at-location station with live discharge and gage height. Live water temperature is absent; thermal context uses the accepted river-trout air-derived path. Coordinates are the USGS monitoring-location point. Not bighorn-river-at-kane.
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 near St. Xavier is the Afterbay tailwater trout fishery in Montana. StrikeTracks requalifies this existing identity to Monitoring-Backed using live USGS 06287000 discharge and the accepted air-derived trout thermal path after fishery completion. Flow Context remains default-deny. Mountain whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni) are a native game fish in this drainage per official state fishery management; they are described here because StrikeTracks has no species-selector ID. Confirm current FWP whitefish rules separately (https://fwp.mt.gov/fish). Hatch Match publishes seasonal hatch guidance based on published local fishing sources. Actual insect activity varies with weather, water temperature, elevation, and local conditions. This is not a live hatch observation.
Target species
Brown Trout
Salmo trutta
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Wild
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
FWP Statewide Fisheries Management Plan 2023–2026 manages this drainage as a wild trout fishery. Confirm current FWP Exceptions to Standard Regulations. Bighorn River below Yellowtail Afterbay near St. Xavier (USGS 06287000). Distinct from Bighorn at Kane, Wyoming.
Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
Rainbow Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Unknown
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
FWP Statewide Fisheries Management Plan 2023–2026 manages this drainage as a wild trout fishery. Confirm current FWP Exceptions to Standard Regulations. Bighorn River below Yellowtail Afterbay near St. Xavier (USGS 06287000). Distinct from Bighorn at Kane, Wyoming.
Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
Fishery characteristics
- Composition
- Wild
- Great Lakes tributary
- No
- Flow regime
- Mixed flow regime
Large Bighorn tailwater below Yellowtail Afterbay Dam near St. Xavier / Fort Smith, Montana.
Best seasons
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall
Common techniques
- Dry flies
- Fly fishing
- Nymphing
- Spinning
- Streamers
Access and Public Fishing Rights
Public fishing is documented by FWP and Bighorn Canyon NRA / Afterbay access postings. Catalog coordinates are the USGS point, not a FAS pin.
Stocking information
Confirm current official FWP stocking on the Bighorn tailwater. Do not invent a stocking schedule.
Official sources
Verify current FWP Bighorn Exceptions and Crow Tribe / federal access rules where they apply. Do not remap this Montana Afterbay identity to Bighorn at Kane, Wyoming.
Hatch Match
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Location and Access
USGS monitoring location
Big Horn, Montana
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
Wild trout tailwater
Regulation Scope
Bighorn River below Yellowtail Afterbay near St. Xavier
Regulation Summary
Bighorn below Afterbay near St. Xavier: FWP regulations unless an Exception applies. Confirm current closures and land status.
Target Species
Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout
Access, Parking, and Regulations
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