What special fishing regulations apply at Bighorn River?

Bighorn River carries 3 special-regulation overlays that override Montana's statewide 2026 rules, covering Rainbow trout and Brown trout. One of them reads: "A Montana fishing license is required for all anglers within the Crow Reservation — no tribal permit needed; Yellowtail Dam tailwater 13-mile blue-ribbon reach (dam at Fort Smith downstream to Bighorn FAS) produces 4-8 lb brown trout routinely; cable 600 ft below Afterbay Dam to Bighorn FAS is artificial lures only; combined trout under the Central District river standard." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.

Do I need a fishing license to fish Bighorn River?

Yes. Bighorn River is in Montana, so a valid Montana fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP). The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Bighorn River; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Montana rules.

Do Bighorn River's special rules replace Montana's statewide limits?

Only where they conflict. Montana's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Bighorn River by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.

Which species have special rules on Bighorn River?

Rainbow trout and Brown trout have a water-body-specific rule on Bighorn River, each linking to its full Montana regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Montana limits.

2026 regulation year

Bighorn River 2026 — Montana Fishing Regulations

Montana statewide rules apply unless overridden below.

Last updated June 8, 2026

Bighorn River carries 3 special-regulation overlays on top of Montana's 2026 fishing rules — covering Rainbow trout, Brown trout. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.

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State-level special regulation

A Montana fishing license is required for all anglers within the Crow Reservation — no tribal permit needed; Yellowtail Dam tailwater 13-mile blue-ribbon reach (dam at Fort Smith downstream to Bighorn FAS) produces 4-8 lb brown trout routinely; cable 600 ft below Afterbay Dam to Bighorn FAS is artificial lures only; combined trout under the Central District river standard
Source: Montana special-water list

Per-species rules on Bighorn River

Rainbow trout regulations →
Central District river standard; 8,000+ catchable trout per mile; FWP-managed wild-trout tailwater
Brown trout regulations →
Combined trout under the Central District river standard; 4-8 lb brown trout routinely with 12+ lb fish landed annually

Official source

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) publishes the authoritative 2026 Montana fishing regulations. Special-regulation lakes and rivers are listed in the agency booklet — always verify before fishing.

Visit official Montana fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

In-season closures, slot-limit changes, and run-count-driven harvest pauses are posted to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks's emergency-order feed — check it before any Montana trip during the active season.

Other special-regulation waters in Montana

Browse all water bodies →

Frequently asked questions

What special fishing regulations apply at Bighorn River?: Bighorn River carries 3 special-regulation overlays that override Montana's statewide 2026 rules, covering Rainbow trout and Brown trout. One of them reads: "A Montana fishing license is required for all anglers within the Crow Reservation — no tribal permit needed; Yellowtail Dam tailwater 13-mile blue-ribbon reach (dam at Fort Smith downstream to Bighorn FAS) produces 4-8 lb brown trout routinely; cable 600 ft below Afterbay Dam to Bighorn FAS is artificial lures only; combined trout under the Central District river standard." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
Do I need a fishing license to fish Bighorn River?: Yes. Bighorn River is in Montana, so a valid Montana fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP). The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Bighorn River; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Montana rules.
Do Bighorn River's special rules replace Montana's statewide limits?: Only where they conflict. Montana's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Bighorn River by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.
Which species have special rules on Bighorn River?: Rainbow trout and Brown trout have a water-body-specific rule on Bighorn River, each linking to its full Montana regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Montana limits.

← Back to Montana regulations overview