Bighorn Lake

Bighorn Lake fishing

Fishing at Bighorn Lake is on a reservoir, stocked with Sauger, Walleye, and Rainbow Trout. It is stocked about 2.9 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 dawn and dusk for Rainbow Trout.

Last stocked

June 11, 2025

Plants on record

43

Since 2011

Species recorded

3

Average size

2.2 in

Elevation

3,639 ft

Access and facts

Water type
reservoir
Nearest town
Fort Smith
Boat ramp
Yes

A 5,574-acre reservoir behind Yellowtail Dam, filling the 72-mile Bighorn Canyon within Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area. The Montana side is reached from Fort Smith at Ok-A-Beh, with marinas at Ok-A-Beh and Horseshoe Bend.

Sources: water_type , shore_notes , access , nearest_town , photos , fishing_notes , watch_outs

View larger map · Open on Google Maps

How Bighorn Lake is stocked

The first plant of the year usually falls in the third week of June. In 2025 it was June 11, 2025, about when it usually is.

No plants recorded in 2020, 2022, and 2023.

Yellowtail Afterbay Reservoir (0.7 mi), Lake Josephine (40.4 mi), and Shiloh Conservation Pond 1 (43.8 mi) were stocked more recently. Yellowtail Afterbay Reservoir is also stocked with Rainbow Trout and Walleye and Shiloh Conservation Pond 1 is also stocked with Rainbow Trout.

Fish at Bighorn Lake

Fishing Bighorn Lake is most likely to be for Walleye. Walleye accounts for 31 of 43 plants on record, ahead of Rainbow Trout and one more.

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 31 plants
Plants
31 of 43
Last stocked
June 11, 2025
Average length
1.8 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Walleye guide.

Rainbow Trout 8 plants
Plants
8 of 43
Last stocked
July 20, 2016
Average length
4 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Rainbow Trout guide.

Sauger 4 plants
Plants
4 of 43
Last stocked
July 3, 2014
Average length
1.7 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Sauger guide.

Fishing Bighorn Lake

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.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

What to watch for

Anglers should be aware of boating etiquette, including avoiding large wakes near other boats to prevent discomfort or damage. It is also important to maintain a safe speed, especially in crowded or narrow waterways, to minimize wake and wash and avoid causing harm or nuisance to others.

Fish stocked per year

  • 48,7272011
  • 142,4952012
  • 193,7512013
  • 383,9152014
  • 290,8872015
  • 76,0582016
  • 118,9202017
  • 95,2132018
  • 21,1742019
  • 43,9362021
  • 156,7462024
  • 105,0702025

Stocking history

Showing 15 of 43 plants Showing 43 plants

Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
June 11, 2025 Walleye 105,070 1.39 in report
June 18, 2024 Walleye 39,791 1.25 in report
June 13, 2024 Walleye 116,955 1.25 in report
July 1, 2021 Walleye 10,984 1.73 in report
July 1, 2021 Walleye 10,984 1.73 in report
July 1, 2021 Walleye 10,984 1.73 in report
July 1, 2021 Walleye 10,984 1.73 in report
June 25, 2019 Walleye 21,174 1.54 in report
June 28, 2018 Walleye 11,433 1.98 in report
June 28, 2018 Walleye 11,433 1.98 in report
June 20, 2018 Walleye 11,376 1.68 in report
June 20, 2018 Walleye 49,595 1.73 in report
June 20, 2018 Walleye 11,376 1.68 in report
June 26, 2017 Walleye 12,539 1.92 in report
June 22, 2017 Walleye 17,025 1.84 in report
June 19, 2017 Walleye 63,924 1.49 in report
June 19, 2017 Walleye 25,432 1.64 in report
July 20, 2016 Rainbow Trout 26,667 3.48 in report
June 21, 2016 Walleye 7,807 1.79 in report
June 21, 2016 Walleye 7,807 1.79 in report
June 15, 2016 Walleye 16,888 1.41 in report
June 15, 2016 Walleye 16,889 1.42 in report
October 5, 2015 Rainbow Trout 34,352 5.15 in report
June 18, 2015 Walleye 42,452 1.51 in report
June 18, 2015 Walleye 60,806 1.6 in report
June 16, 2015 Walleye 78,132 1.65 in report
June 16, 2015 Walleye 35,945 1.54 in report
April 13, 2015 Rainbow Trout 39,200 3.99 in report
July 23, 2014 Rainbow Trout 8,103 4.57 in report
July 18, 2014 Rainbow Trout 42,257 4.39 in report
July 8, 2014 Walleye 114,119 2.11 in report
July 3, 2014 Sauger 176,202 1.75 in report
May 27, 2014 Rainbow Trout 43,234 3.4 in report
July 11, 2013 Walleye 36,283 2.27 in report
July 11, 2013 Rainbow Trout 3,249 3.45 in report
July 9, 2013 Walleye 32,219 1.98 in report
July 2, 2013 Sauger 122,000 1.75 in report
July 18, 2012 Walleye 90,792 2.37 in report
July 17, 2012 Walleye 36,692 2.37 in report
March 5, 2012 Rainbow Trout 15,011 3.82 in report
July 29, 2011 Walleye 625 3.31 in report
July 12, 2011 Sauger 25,584 1.65 in report
July 11, 2011 Sauger 22,518 1.71 in report
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Species stocked here

Depth-by-season, top lures, and bait notes for each species stocked here are on its own species guide, linked above.

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