Fishing Season: Spring

Missouri River - MT

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

48

CrossCurrents Fly Shop's Tip of the Week

Bring at least 2 rods to the river - one for the AM for nymphing or streamers, and another for the dry flies in the afternoon to evening. Some of the smaller streams have been flowing muddy into the rover, so the lower sections of the Missouri are a little off color, but very fishable.

Directions open in app

Map of Missouri River

Water Flow Data

Orvis-Endorsed guides nearby

Blue Damsel Lodge
Fins & Feathers
PRO Outfitters
Bitterroot Fly Company

5-Day Outlook as of 5/18/24

Spring in Montana! Sunny and warm one day and then cooler and wet the next. Bring your sunscreen and rain gear!

Techniques & Tips as of 5/18/24

Best technique in the mornings has been a nymph rig fished 4'-7' using sow bugs trailed by a March Brown or BWO nymph. Shorten up in the afternoons to 3'-5'. Dry flies have also been good in the afternoon on BWO's, March Browns and Midges. The reach cast is key to successful dry fly fishing.

Local Species Available Spring

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    Rainbow Trout

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    Brown Trout

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    and Whitefish

CrossCurrents Fly Shop's Recommended Fly Patterns

"Must-have" fly fishing patterns in descending order of importance:

Name: Colors: Size(s):
Blue Wing Olive Parachute N/A #18, #20
Rosenbauer's CDC Rabbits Foot Emerger N/A #18
CDC Budding Emerger N/A #18, #20
Vernille San Juan Worm Black #18-#20
Pill Popper N/A #14-#18
San Juan Work N/A #14-#18
Lightning Bug Silver, Pink #18-#22
Tunghead Hot Spot Pheasant Tail Jig N/A #16-#18
Tailwater Sowbug N/A #12-#16
Lil' Kim N/A #6

Blue Wing Olive Parachute

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Item #0924

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CrossCurrents Fly Shop's Recommended Gear

Description: About Missouri River

The Missouri River is one of the largest and most easily accessed rivers in Montana. The mighty MO is certainly a trout factory! Three reservoirs in a row make this tailwater fishery have a constant water flow and stable temperatures from day to day. Amazingly fertile, with prolific hatches of mayflies, caddis, and midges, the Missouri is a 365 day river. You'll see fish rising just about every day of the year. Take a float trip down the Missouri and you'll know why it made such a powerful impression on Lewis and Clark during their great expedition. During the summer, caddis and mayfly hatches are so prolific that it looks as though there is a mini blizzard over the river. This river is known for its excellent dry fly fishing. But it's also amazing when fished with emergers. or small bead-heads as a dropper behind a dry fly. The MO fishes fantastically in the shoulder seasons of Spring and Fall with Baetis and Midges for dries and big, ugly streamers! That is when some very big fish are caught! The Missouri throws itself into the heated debate of "Row vs. Wade" because it is so perfectly suited to angle from both a drift boat (or other water craft) as well as wade fishing on foot. With an adult trout population (Rainbows and Browns over 10") over 6,000 per mile and an average size of 16"-18", it's not too hard to figure out why the Missouri ranks up there with many people's favorite places to fish!

Nearest Airport:

Helena, Great Falls

Hatches:

Baetis (BWO), March Brown, Caddis (lower river), Midges

Best Time to Fish:

10:30am-6pm

Best Stretch:

Dam-Craig, WC to Craig, Craig to Mid Canon, Craig to Spite Hill

Best Access:

Holter Dam, Wolf Creek Bridge, Craig, Bull Pasture