Fishing Season: early Spring

Missouri River - MT

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

41

CrossCurrents Fly Shop's Tip of the Week

Keep an eye out for nice weather and head to the river. This late winter/early spring has been rougher than Jan and Feb. It's been very windy most days so pick a good one before you make the drive to the MO.

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
Living Water

5-Day Outlook as of 3/30/26

It seems we have fully transitioned into spring here in Craig. Temperature will be hovering in the 50s and 60s this week, with some spring showers towards the end of the week. We are currently experiencing a mini-runoff with these temps and the tributaries are spitting out some muddy water not normally seen at this time of year.

Techniques & Tips as of 3/30/26

The two suggested techniques right now would be swinging smaller streamers or nymphing sowbug, worms and midge patterns. If you are fishing from a boat I would recommend nymphing any hothead sowbug (size 16) to a red or black zebra midge (size 18) about six feet down. Throwing some split shot on the will make the rig more efficient. Putting on a worm before floating past any muddy tributaries will produce fish. If you are wade fishing, I would reccomend swinging streamers through some good looking riffles. I would suggest a 4-6 IPS polyleader/sinktip to get the streamer into the right water column. We have seen far more success on smaller sized streamers. Somewhere between size 6-10. We have seen few rises for midges and when we do they are 1. not consistent and 2. not rising in pods which makes presently a dry fly nearly impossible.

Local Species Available early Spring

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    Rainbow Trout

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    Brown Trout

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    and White Fish

CrossCurrents Fly Shop's Recommended Fly Patterns

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

Name: Colors: Size(s):
TH Zebra Midge Red or Black #18
Rouse's J-Dub Sow Bug Pink BH #16 - #18
Bead Head Micro Midge Black #18
Bead Body Scud N/A #16-#18
Tailwater Sowbug N/A #14 - #16
Cotton Candy N/A #14 - #16
Rojo Midge N/A #18
Bead Head Brassie™ N/A #18
Flesh Eating Sculpin Black n Blue #4 - #6
Sculpzilla N/A #4 - #8

TH Zebra Midge

A handy midge fly pattern for stillwater.

2.49

Item #1X94

Buy Now

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:

Midges

Best Time to Fish:

Mid-morning and evening

Best Stretch:

Dam to Craig, Mid to Mtn Palace

Best Access:

Holter Dam, Wolf Creek Bridge, Craig, Stickney, Spite Hill, Mid-Canon, Mountain Palace, Prewett Creek, Pelican, with walk-in access between all those.