Bighorn Lake fishing

Bighorn Lake fishing is stocked with Sauger, Walleye, and Rainbow Trout on a reservoir. Also recorded: Smallmouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Crappie, Brown Trout, Channel Catfish, Burbot, and 1 more. It is stocked about 2.8 times a year since 2011, most often in June and July. Species guides list dawn, day, dusk, and night for Sauger, dawn, dusk, and night for Walleye and Crappie, and dawn and dusk for Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass, and Common Carp.

Bighorn Lake
Photo: Oldeststudent2004, Public domain
Last stocked
July 7, 2026
· Walleye
Plants on record
44
Since 2011
Species stocked
3 (+7 also recorded)
Average size
2.2 in
Elevation
3,639 ft

Fish at Bighorn Lake

3 stocked · 7 confirmed present

Around the dates Bighorn Lake is stocked, Open-Meteo's 2016-2025 archive puts mean air temperature at 66.1°F in June, 74.8°F in July, 36.9°F in March, 43.9°F in April. That is air temperature at these coordinates, not water temperature. Open-Meteo

Walleye Stocked · 32 plants · last July 7, 2026 Best: dawn, dusk, night

Last stocked July 7, 2026 · avg 1.8 in · 32 plants

Best: dawn, dusk, night

Walleye species guide
Rainbow Trout Stocked · 8 plants · last July 20, 2016 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked July 20, 2016 · avg 4 in · 8 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Rainbow Trout species guide
Sauger Stocked · 4 plants · last July 3, 2014 Best: dawn, day, dusk, night

Last stocked July 3, 2014 · avg 1.7 in · 4 plants

Best: dawn, day, dusk, night

Sauger species guide

Bighorn Lake supports a warmwater fishery and has a surface area of 5574 acres. The lake was formed by the Yellowtail Dam, which keeps the streamflow relatively stable with little daily fluctuation. Anglers can find various warmwater and coldwater species, including largemouth bass, walleye, channel catfish, rainbow trout, and brown trout. (en.wikipedia.org, accessed September 22, 2026)

Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.

How Bighorn Lake is stocked

Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.

No plants recorded in 2020, 2022, and 2023.

Fish stocked in 2011

48,727

Fish stocked in 2012

142,495

Fish stocked in 2013

193,751

Fish stocked in 2014

383,915

Fish stocked in 2015

290,887

Fish stocked in 2016

76,058

Fish stocked in 2017

118,920

Fish stocked in 2018

95,213

Fish stocked in 2019

21,174

Fish stocked in 2021

43,936

Fish stocked in 2024

156,746

Fish stocked in 2025

105,070

Fish stocked in 2026

30,366

Stocking history

Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
July 7, 2026Walleye30,3662.26 inreport
June 11, 2025Walleye105,0701.39 inreport
June 18, 2024Walleye39,7911.25 inreport
June 13, 2024Walleye116,9551.25 inreport
July 1, 2021Walleye10,9841.73 inreport
July 1, 2021Walleye10,9841.73 inreport
July 1, 2021Walleye10,9841.73 inreport
July 1, 2021Walleye10,9841.73 inreport
June 25, 2019Walleye21,1741.54 inreport
June 28, 2018Walleye11,4331.98 inreport
June 28, 2018Walleye11,4331.98 inreport
June 20, 2018Walleye11,3761.68 inreport
June 20, 2018Walleye49,5951.73 inreport
June 20, 2018Walleye11,3761.68 inreport
June 26, 2017Walleye12,5391.92 inreport
June 22, 2017Walleye17,0251.84 inreport
June 19, 2017Walleye63,9241.49 inreport
June 19, 2017Walleye25,4321.64 inreport
July 20, 2016Rainbow Trout26,6673.48 inreport
June 21, 2016Walleye7,8071.79 inreport
June 21, 2016Walleye7,8071.79 inreport
June 15, 2016Walleye16,8881.41 inreport
June 15, 2016Walleye16,8891.42 inreport
October 5, 2015Rainbow Trout34,3525.15 inreport
June 18, 2015Walleye42,4521.51 inreport
June 18, 2015Walleye60,8061.6 inreport
June 16, 2015Walleye35,9451.54 inreport
June 16, 2015Walleye78,1321.65 inreport
April 13, 2015Rainbow Trout39,2003.99 inreport
July 23, 2014Rainbow Trout8,1034.57 inreport
July 18, 2014Rainbow Trout42,2574.39 inreport
July 8, 2014Walleye114,1192.11 inreport
July 3, 2014Sauger176,2021.75 inreport
May 27, 2014Rainbow Trout43,2343.4 inreport
July 11, 2013Walleye36,2832.27 inreport
July 11, 2013Rainbow Trout3,2493.45 inreport
July 9, 2013Walleye32,2191.98 inreport
July 2, 2013Sauger122,0001.75 inreport
July 18, 2012Walleye90,7922.37 inreport
July 17, 2012Walleye36,6922.37 inreport
March 5, 2012Rainbow Trout15,0113.82 inreport
July 29, 2011Walleye6253.31 inreport
July 12, 2011Sauger25,5841.65 inreport
July 11, 2011Sauger22,5181.71 inreport

Access and facts

Water type
reservoir
Nearest town
Fort Smith
Boat ramp
Yes
Fee required
No
Facilities
camping

Yellowtail Dam reservoir filling Bighorn Canyon inside Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area. The Montana end is reached from Fort Smith at Ok-A-Beh, with a boat ramp and a marina that rents pontoons. The Montana end runs 70 to 450 feet deep and has only limited shore fishing.

Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.

View larger map · Open in Google Maps · Directions

Advisories, closures, regulations and water conditions change. Check the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks before you go.

About Bighorn Lake

Photo of Bighorn Lake
Oldeststudent2004, Public domain
Photo of Bighorn Lake
Sara goth, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo of Bighorn Lake
NPS staff, Public domain

Nearest lakes

Yellowtail Afterbay Reservoir 0.7 mi last stocked May 6, 2026 Sage Creek 34.5 mi last stocked September 25, 2014 Arapooish Pond 36.7 mi last stocked September 12, 2023 Lake Josephine 40.4 mi last stocked September 4, 2025 Shiloh Conservation Pond 1 43.8 mi last stocked August 11, 2026

Public land at Bighorn Lake

Bighorn Lake is 0.9 miles outside the edge of Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area.

Boundaries from Public Lands DB, part of the same network.

Common questions

What fish are at Bighorn Lake?

Fishing Bighorn Lake usually means Walleye: Walleye accounts for 32 of 44 plants on record, ahead of Rainbow Trout and one more. Walleye was last stocked July 7, 2026, averaging 1.8 in. Rainbow Trout was last stocked July 20, 2016, averaging 4 in. Sauger was last stocked July 3, 2014, averaging 1.7 in. Smallmouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Crappie, and Brown Trout, plus 3 more are recorded here outside the stocking reports.

When is Bighorn Lake stocked?

Last stocked July 7, 2026. It is stocked about 2.8 times a year since 2011, most often in June and July. No plants recorded in 2020, 2022, and 2023.

How big are the fish stocked at Bighorn Lake?

Stocked fish average 2.2 in. Walleye average 1.8 in. Rainbow Trout average 4 in. Sauger average 1.7 in.

How do you get on Bighorn Lake?

There is a boat ramp and no fee is required. The nearest town is Fort Smith. Facilities include camping. Yellowtail Dam reservoir filling Bighorn Canyon inside Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area. The Montana end is reached from Fort Smith at Ok-A-Beh, with a boat ramp and a marina that rents pontoons. The Montana end runs 70 to 450 feet deep and has only limited shore fishing.

Which lakes near Bighorn Lake were stocked more recently?

Shiloh Conservation Pond 1 (43.8 mi) was stocked more recently. Shiloh Conservation Pond 1 is also stocked with Rainbow Trout.

Sources (9) +