Fishing Season: Early Summer

Missouri River - MT

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

68

CrossCurrents Fly Shop's Tip of the Week

The early bird gets the worm or in this case, the fish. Get on early and get off early. With mid day water temps approaching 70 degrees, exercise extreme caution with the trout. Keep the fish wet by keeping your net in the water after you land the fish. We recommend the quick release tool to get the fish free as soon as possible. Additionally try sizing up your tippet to make the fight shorter, not to exhaust the fish.

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 7/25/24

Summer in Montana! Sunny, and generally dry, with occasional thunderstorms rolling through. Beware of the wind. Air and water temps are getting up there try to get out early and beat the heat.

Techniques & Tips as of 7/25/24

Best technique in the mornings has been a nymph rig fished 4'-6' using Trico or Caddis nymphs. Shorten up in the afternoons to 2'-4'. In the canyon section, try a zirdle to a caddis nymph, especially in the rapids. Caddis are around and the Trico hatch has started and will continue to get better in the coming days. As far as dry flies, the morning Trico hatch will narrow down fly selection. Any Hi-vis Spinner will do the job. Fish are starting to look at Hoppers if you're sick of chasing an indicator down the river. Fish a warrior perdigon 4 feet under the hopper and you will have lots of looks at the nymph as well as occasional blowups on the hopper.

Local Species Available Early Summer

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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):
CDC Emerging Caddis N/A #16-#18
CDC Caddis N/A #14-#18
Smith's Crippled Emerger N/A #14-#18
Rusty Spinner Rusty #14-#16
Pill Popper N/A #14-#18
San Juan Worm N/A #14-#16
Tunghead Pheasant Tail Jig N/A #16-#18
Indicator Spinner - Trico Black #18-#20
Tailwater Sowbug N/A #12-#16
Lil' Kim N/A #6

CDC Emerging Caddis

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Item #0389

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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 7,000 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:

Tricos, Caddis, Pseudos, and hoppers.

Best Time to Fish:

6:30am-2pm

Best Stretch:

Dam to Craig, Craig to Mid Canon, Mid Canon to Pelican.

Best Access:

Floating- Holter Dam, Wolf Creek Bridge, Craig, Stickney Creek, Mid Canon, Mountain Palace, Prewett. Wading- Various Rec Road fishing access sites and pull-offs, including Bull Pasture, California Island and Rhoda's Island.