Fishing Season: late Spring/early Summer

Missouri River - MT

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

55

CrossCurrents Fly Shop's Tip of the Week

The river has been flowing at about 5600 cfs. It is running clear and fishing well. Fish deep in the mornings with worms, sow bugs and mayfly nymphs under an indicator, but have your dry fly rod ready later in the day when the PMDs and Caddis hatch mid afternoon.

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 5/29/25

We've got a couple more days of summer weather (highs in the upper 80's and even tick into the 90's) -then they forecast cooler weather back into the 50's and 60's. Rain is a possibility every afternoon -so bring your rain gear as well as your sunscreen!

Techniques & Tips as of 5/29/25

Nymphing 6' to 7' deep with worms, sow bugs and pheasant tail type nymphs in the morning, and then shallower in the afternoons. Another productive technique right now is swinging small streamers through the bottom water column near riffles and drop offs. Some browns have been hanging out in shallow water recently so using that same technique near the bank or gravel bars should be productive.

Local Species Available late Spring/early Summer

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    Rainbow Trout

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    Brown Trout

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    and White Trout

CrossCurrents Fly Shop's Recommended Fly Patterns

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

Name: Colors: Size(s):
Vernille San Juan Worm Red, Pink #10
Bead Body Scud Rainbow, Pink #14, #16
Lightning Bug N/A #16 -#18
Sulphur Parachute N/A #16, #18
Tailwater Sowbug N/A #14 - #16
Warrior Perdigon N/A #16 - #18
CDC Emerging Caddis N/A #16
Adams Parachute Dry Fly N/A #16 - #20
Sparkle Minnow Pearl, Sculpin #4 - #6
Lil' Kim N/A #4 - #8

Vernille San Juan Worm

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Item #0290

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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") between 4000-8000 fish 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:

PMDs, Caddis, Midges

Best Time to Fish:

early AM through early PM

Best Stretch:

Wolf Creek to Stickney, Mid to Prewett

Best Access:

Holter, Wolf Creek Bridge, Craig, Stickney, Mid-Canon and walk-in between all those.