If your summer plans involve sweating through your shirt by noon and wondering where all the trout went, congratulations: you’ve found July on the Bighorn, according to Fly Fish Food.

Right now, the river is cruising at a pristine 1,490 CFS. Translation? It’s textbook summer water—perfect for drifting, wading, or just standing in to keep your legs from melting. But with a blazing afternoon high of 93°F on the horizon, the trout are operating on a strict “early bird gets the worm” policy.

Here is how to outsmart both the sun and the fish this week.

Don’t just blind-cast into the glare. Time your day around these three windows to actually put fish in the net:

• 6:00 AM – 10:00 AM | The Wake-Up Call: It’s early, it’s cool, and the Blue Wing Olives (BWOs) are out. Nymph the seams and keep your eyes peeled for rising fish in the flat tailouts before the sun roasts the water.
• 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Dry Fly Showtime: This is your peak Pale Morning Dun (PMD) hatch window. If you live for dry fly action, this is your two-hour golden ticket. Drop an emerger into the feeding lanes and get ready.
• 7:00 PM – Dark | The Night Shift: When the sun dips, the big browns come out to play. Target the banks with a caddis dry or a chunky streamer in the low light.

The water is gin-clear, meaning the fish can see your mistakes from a mile away. Keep your leaders long (12–14 ft) and your tippets fine (5X–6X).

Tip:

When the midday heat hits and the fish get lethargic, don’t pack it in. Drop down to a tight-line midge rig in the deeper, shaded slots and slow your drift way down. They’re still hungry; they’re just being lazy.

Set your alarm, pack extra sunscreen, and get out there before the sun does!