Top fish species at Bighorn River
See all species in the Fishbrain app
Check which species have trophy potential in Bighorn River
Bighorn River fishing reports
More catches in the app...
Continue browsing catches and catch locations in the Fishbrain app
When are Brown trout biting on Bighorn River?
Learn what time of year and day to go fishing at Bighorn River. Download Fishbrain today to look for new fishing spots, scout new fishing access, or prep for your next trip.
Fishing regulations at Bighorn River, WY
Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.
Fishing regulations in Wyoming can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.
Below you will see fishing regulations for catching Brown trout as of April 1st, 2026. To view regulations for a different fish species, please click on your preferred species in the drop-down.
Brown trout
Seasons
Open
Bag limit
3
Memorable
1 > 16
Measurement
Total Length
Aggregate
3
AREA 2 EXCEPTIONS TO STATEWIDE REGULATIONSBeck Lake Recreation Area including Beck Lake, New Cody Reservoir and Markham Reservoir in Park CountyUse of internal combustion engines in motorized watercraft is prohibited.Bighorn Lake downstream from the causeway(U.S.Highway 14A) in Big Horn County.The creel and possession limits are as follows:
OTHER AREA 2 RGULATIONSArea 2 Live Baitfish
- Trout - five (5) fish per day, ten (10) fish in possession;
- Bass - ten (10) fish per day, twenty (20) in possession;
- Burbot (ling) - three (3) fish per day or in possession;
- Channel catfish - six (6) fish per day or in possession;
- Crappie - fifteen (15) per day, thirty (30) in possession.
- Walleye and sauger - six (6) fish per day no more than three (3) shall be sauger, twelve (12) fish in possession, no more than three (3) shall be sauger. All walleye and sauger must be kept whole (gills and entrails may be removed) until the angler is off the water or ice and done fishing for the day;
- Shovelnose sturgeon - two (2) fish per day or in possession; and,
- Other game species - no limit.
- That portion lying west of a straight line connecting the mouths of Rattlesnake Creek and Sheep Creek (commonly known as Spring Creek) up the drainage to Gibbs Bridge is closed to fishing from April 1 through July 14.
- All trout and brook trout shall be released to the water immediately.
- Fishing is permitted by the use of artificial flies and lures only.
- The use of a motor in excess of fifteen (15) horsepower prohibited.
- Use of internal combustion engines in motorized watercraft is prohibited.
- The creel limit on trout shall be three (3) per day or in possession. No more than one (1) trout shall exceed sixteen (16) inches.
- Use of internal combustion engines in motorized watercraft is prohibited.
- Use of personal watercraft is prohibited.
- The creel limit on brook trout shall be two (2) per day or in possession. Fishing is permitted by the use of artificial flies and lures only.
- All walleye and sauger shall be kept whole (gills and entrails may be removed) until the angler is off the water or ice and done fishing for the day. Once off the water or ice and done fishing for the day, walleye and sauger can be filleted for transportation and storage. A piece of skin large enough to allow species identification (at least one (1) inch square) shall remain on all fish fillets while in transit or in the field.
- That portion lying west of a straight line connecting the mouths of Rattlesnake Creek and Sheep Creek (commonly known as Spring Creek) up the drainage to Gibbs Bridge is closed to fishing from April 1 through July 14.
- The creel limit on trout shall be three (3) per day or in possession. No more than two (2) shall be cutthroat trout; and, no more than one (1) trout shall exceed eighteen (18) inches.
- Walleye are designated as nongame fish. All walleye caught shall be killed immediately.
- Fishing is permitted by the use of artificial flies and lures only.
- The creel limit of walleye shall be three (3) per day or in possession.
- The use of a motor in excess of fifteen (15) horsepower prohibited.
- All cutthroat trout shall be released to the water immediately.
- Fishing is permitted by the use of artificial flies and lures only.
- All trout and brook trout shall be released to the water immediately.
- Fishing is permitted by the use of artificial flies and lures only. The use of a motor in excess of fifteen (15) horsepower prohibited.
- Use of internal combustion engines in motorized watercraft is prohibited.
- The creel limit on trout shall be three (3) per day or in possession. No more than one (1) trout shall exceed sixteen (16) inches.
- Use of internal combustion engines in motorized watercraft is prohibited.
- Use of personal watercraft is prohibited.
- The creel limit on brook trout shall be two (2) per day or in possession. Fishing is permitted by the use of artificial flies and lures only.
- The use of a motor in excess of fifteen (15) horsepower prohibited.
- The creel limit on largemouth bass shall be two (2) per day or in possession. All bass between ten (10) and fifteen (15) inches (inclusive) shall be released to the water immediately; and, no more than one (1) bass shall exceed fifteen (15) inches.
- The use of a motor in excess of fifteen (15) horsepower prohibited.
- The creel limit on trout shall be two (2) per day or in possession. • Fishing is permitted by the use of artificial flies and lures only.
- Use of personal watercraft is prohibited.
- All trout shall be released to the water immediately.
- Fishing is permitted by the use of artificial flies and lures only.
- Closed to ice fishing. Use of internal combustion engines in motorized watercraft is prohibited.
- Closed to fishing throughout the calendar year.
- Closed to fishing from April 1 through June 30.
- The creel limit on trout shall be three (3) per day, or in possession. No more than two (2) shall be cutthroat trout; and, no more than one (1) trout shall exceed eighteen (18) inches.
- The creel limit on trout shall be six (6) per day, or in possession.
- Closed to human presence within 1/2 mile of aeration system from December 15 through March 10.
- The creel limit on trout shall be two (2) per day or in possession. All trout less than sixteen (16) inches shall be released to the water immediately.
- Fishing is permitted by the use of artificial flies and lures only. Use of internal combustion engines in motorized watercraft is prohibited.
- The creel limit on trout shall be three (3) per day or in possession.
- Use of internal combustion engines in motorized watercraft is prohibited.
- The creel limit on largemouth bass shall be six (6) per day or in possession. No more than one (1) bass shall exceed twelve (12) inches. The use of a motor in excess of fifteen (15) horsepower prohibited.
- Use of internal combustion engines in motorized watercraft is prohibited.
- Shoshone Lake and Shoshone Creek in Fremont County.
- Shoshone Creek upstream of Shoshone Lake is closed to fishing from September 1 through November 30
- The creel limit on brook trout shall be six (6) per day or in pos- session.
- Use of motorized watercraft is prohibited.
- The creel limit on brook trout shall be two (2) per day or in possession.
- Fishing is permitted by the use of artificial flies and lures only.
- Use of internal combustion engines in motorized watercraft is prohibited.
- The use of a motor in excess of fifteen (15) horsepower prohibited.
- Use of motorized watercraft is prohibited.
- Use of internal combustion engines in motorized watercraft is prohibited.
- Use of personal watercraft is prohibited.
OTHER AREA 2 RGULATIONSArea 2 Live Baitfish
- The use or possession of live baitfish in Area 2 is prohibited except as otherwise specified in this Section.
- Live baitfish may be used for bait in the waters listed in subsection (i) provided the baitfish are obtained from a licensed live baitfish dealer authorized to sell baitfish for use in these waters or the baitfish were seined or trapped from the waters listed below in subsection (ii). Live baitfish restricted to use in location A shall not be transported out of the designated wild caught live baitfish possession area defined in subsection (iii).
- (i) Live baitfish may be used in the following waters: Wardell Reservoir, Bighorn Lake in Big Horn County; Bighorn River; Deaver Reservoir in Park County; Harrington Reservoir in Big Horn County; Shoshone River downstream from Penrose Dam; Wind River downstream from Boysen Reservoir; Boysen Reservoir; Ocean Lake in Fremont county; and, Pilot Butte Reservoir. (ii) A holder of a valid seining license may seine, net, trap or spear baitfish from the following waters: Wind River and Bighorn River drainages downstream from the western boundary of the Wind River Reservation. (iii) The designated wild caught live baitfish possession area for location A is the Wind River and Bighorn River drainages downstream from the western boundary of the Wind River Reservation.
All lakes within Area 2, unless indicated otherwise: six (6)
All streams within Area 2, unless indicated otherwise: three (3) No
more than one (1) trout shall exceed sixteen (16) inches.
TOTAL STREAMS AND LAKES COMBINED: six (6)
Trout (in combination includes brown, cutthroat, grayling, golden, rainbow, salmon, tiger trout, and other trout hybrids). Excludes brook trout, lake trout and splake.
For more information please see Wyoming fishing regulations
Excellent
Salmo trutta
AREA 2 EXCEPTIONS TO STATEWIDE REGULATIONSBeck Lake Recreation Area including Beck Lake, New Cody Reservoir and Markham Reservoir in Park CountyUse of internal combustion engines in motorized watercraft is prohibited.Bighorn Lake downstream from the causeway(U.S.Highway 14A) in Big Horn County.The creel and possession limits are as follows:
OTHER AREA 2 RGULATIONSArea 2 Live Baitfish
- Trout - five (5) fish per day, ten (10) fish in possession;
- Bass - ten (10) fish per day, twenty (20) in possession;
- Burbot (ling) - three (3) fish per day or in possession;
- Channel catfish - six (6) fish per day or in possession;
- Crappie - fifteen (15) per day, thirty (30) in possession.
- Walleye and sauger - six (6) fish per day no more than three (3) shall be sauger, twelve (12) fish in possession, no more than three (3) shall be sauger. All walleye and sauger must be kept whole (gills and entrails may be removed) until the angler is off the water or ice and done fishing for the day;
- Shovelnose sturgeon - two (2) fish per day or in possession; and,
- Other game species - no limit.
- That portion lying west of a straight line connecting the mouths of Rattlesnake Creek and Sheep Creek (commonly known as Spring Creek) up the drainage to Gibbs Bridge is closed to fishing from April 1 through July 14.
- All trout and brook trout shall be released to the water immediately.
- Fishing is permitted by the use of artificial flies and lures only.
- The use of a motor in excess of fifteen (15) horsepower prohibited.
- Use of internal combustion engines in motorized watercraft is prohibited.
- The creel limit on trout shall be three (3) per day or in possession. No more than one (1) trout shall exceed sixteen (16) inches.
- Use of internal combustion engines in motorized watercraft is prohibited.
- Use of personal watercraft is prohibited.
- The creel limit on brook trout shall be two (2) per day or in possession. Fishing is permitted by the use of artificial flies and lures only.
- All walleye and sauger shall be kept whole (gills and entrails may be removed) until the angler is off the water or ice and done fishing for the day. Once off the water or ice and done fishing for the day, walleye and sauger can be filleted for transportation and storage. A piece of skin large enough to allow species identification (at least one (1) inch square) shall remain on all fish fillets while in transit or in the field.
- That portion lying west of a straight line connecting the mouths of Rattlesnake Creek and Sheep Creek (commonly known as Spring Creek) up the drainage to Gibbs Bridge is closed to fishing from April 1 through July 14.
- The creel limit on trout shall be three (3) per day or in possession. No more than two (2) shall be cutthroat trout; and, no more than one (1) trout shall exceed eighteen (18) inches.
- Walleye are designated as nongame fish. All walleye caught shall be killed immediately.
- Fishing is permitted by the use of artificial flies and lures only.
- The creel limit of walleye shall be three (3) per day or in possession.
- The use of a motor in excess of fifteen (15) horsepower prohibited.
- All cutthroat trout shall be released to the water immediately.
- Fishing is permitted by the use of artificial flies and lures only.
- All trout and brook trout shall be released to the water immediately.
- Fishing is permitted by the use of artificial flies and lures only. The use of a motor in excess of fifteen (15) horsepower prohibited.
- Use of internal combustion engines in motorized watercraft is prohibited.
- The creel limit on trout shall be three (3) per day or in possession. No more than one (1) trout shall exceed sixteen (16) inches.
- Use of internal combustion engines in motorized watercraft is prohibited.
- Use of personal watercraft is prohibited.
- The creel limit on brook trout shall be two (2) per day or in possession. Fishing is permitted by the use of artificial flies and lures only.
- The use of a motor in excess of fifteen (15) horsepower prohibited.
- The creel limit on largemouth bass shall be two (2) per day or in possession. All bass between ten (10) and fifteen (15) inches (inclusive) shall be released to the water immediately; and, no more than one (1) bass shall exceed fifteen (15) inches.
- The use of a motor in excess of fifteen (15) horsepower prohibited.
- The creel limit on trout shall be two (2) per day or in possession. • Fishing is permitted by the use of artificial flies and lures only.
- Use of personal watercraft is prohibited.
- All trout shall be released to the water immediately.
- Fishing is permitted by the use of artificial flies and lures only.
- Closed to ice fishing. Use of internal combustion engines in motorized watercraft is prohibited.
- Closed to fishing throughout the calendar year.
- Closed to fishing from April 1 through June 30.
- The creel limit on trout shall be three (3) per day, or in possession. No more than two (2) shall be cutthroat trout; and, no more than one (1) trout shall exceed eighteen (18) inches.
- The creel limit on trout shall be six (6) per day, or in possession.
- Closed to human presence within 1/2 mile of aeration system from December 15 through March 10.
- The creel limit on trout shall be two (2) per day or in possession. All trout less than sixteen (16) inches shall be released to the water immediately.
- Fishing is permitted by the use of artificial flies and lures only. Use of internal combustion engines in motorized watercraft is prohibited.
- The creel limit on trout shall be three (3) per day or in possession.
- Use of internal combustion engines in motorized watercraft is prohibited.
- The creel limit on largemouth bass shall be six (6) per day or in possession. No more than one (1) bass shall exceed twelve (12) inches. The use of a motor in excess of fifteen (15) horsepower prohibited.
- Use of internal combustion engines in motorized watercraft is prohibited.
- Shoshone Lake and Shoshone Creek in Fremont County.
- Shoshone Creek upstream of Shoshone Lake is closed to fishing from September 1 through November 30
- The creel limit on brook trout shall be six (6) per day or in pos- session.
- Use of motorized watercraft is prohibited.
- The creel limit on brook trout shall be two (2) per day or in possession.
- Fishing is permitted by the use of artificial flies and lures only.
- Use of internal combustion engines in motorized watercraft is prohibited.
- The use of a motor in excess of fifteen (15) horsepower prohibited.
- Use of motorized watercraft is prohibited.
- Use of internal combustion engines in motorized watercraft is prohibited.
- Use of personal watercraft is prohibited.
OTHER AREA 2 RGULATIONSArea 2 Live Baitfish
- The use or possession of live baitfish in Area 2 is prohibited except as otherwise specified in this Section.
- Live baitfish may be used for bait in the waters listed in subsection (i) provided the baitfish are obtained from a licensed live baitfish dealer authorized to sell baitfish for use in these waters or the baitfish were seined or trapped from the waters listed below in subsection (ii). Live baitfish restricted to use in location A shall not be transported out of the designated wild caught live baitfish possession area defined in subsection (iii).
- (i) Live baitfish may be used in the following waters: Wardell Reservoir, Bighorn Lake in Big Horn County; Bighorn River; Deaver Reservoir in Park County; Harrington Reservoir in Big Horn County; Shoshone River downstream from Penrose Dam; Wind River downstream from Boysen Reservoir; Boysen Reservoir; Ocean Lake in Fremont county; and, Pilot Butte Reservoir. (ii) A holder of a valid seining license may seine, net, trap or spear baitfish from the following waters: Wind River and Bighorn River drainages downstream from the western boundary of the Wind River Reservation. (iii) The designated wild caught live baitfish possession area for location A is the Wind River and Bighorn River drainages downstream from the western boundary of the Wind River Reservation.
Regulations for
44°53′10.2″N 108°10′39.3″W
FAQ about Bighorn River fishing
the Bighorn River is a stream located in Big Horn County, Wyoming, United States. It is also intersecting with Big Horn County, Montana and Hot Springs County, Wyoming. Its coordinates are:
44°53′10.2″N 108°10′39.3″W
.Find the best fishing spots on the Bighorn River by looking at where other anglers have caught fish. This can easily be done in the where it is also possible to see big fish potential and how good fishing is right now along with Garmin® depth maps.
The most common species in the Bighorn River are:
- Brown trout - 112 members reported to have caught this fish
- Rainbow trout - 108 members reported to have caught this fish
- Channel catfish - 28 members reported to have caught this fish
The latest Bighorn River fishing reports are:
- @aschmidt4326 reported a nice Rainbow trout.
- @aschmidt4326 reported a nice Brown trout.
- @chaysegoodluck reported a nice Brown trout.
- @luke.gerstner reported a nice Brown trout.
- @luke.gerstner reported a nice Mountain whitefish.
Download Fishbrain and fish smarter
Unlimited access to the best fishing spot finder in the game. Get all the fishing intel you need to start catching more, and bigger, fish.
Free trial available