Fishing Season: Summer

Missouri River - MT

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

62

CrossCurrents Fly Shop's Tip of the Week

Work water hard that you know fish are holding in. Fishing has been a little tough at times this week requiring little extra effort to find fish. When you do hook, look to target similar water or even row back up fish that part again. The most productive boats have either been doing long floats or lots of row arounds.

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 9/26/26

Expect cooler and windy weather over the next week. Mornings will be in the low 40s rising to around 70 most days. Partly cloudy most days with a lack of significant rain. Fishing should get better as the week goes on as water temperatures continue to drop

Techniques & Tips as of 9/26/26

The best techniques at the moment have been involving worms and sowbugs. I would start the day with a weighted worm about 5-6 feet below an indicator, using a 3x leader. I would tie about 20 inches of 4x of the bend to an unweighted sowbug. Target drop-offs and water 4-5 feet deep Another option would be to fish two sowbugs, one weighted and one unweighted. Using this technique, target shallow grass flats, making sure to stay just above the weeds. For dry fly fisherman, prospection and orange chubby has been producing just enough fish to make to worthwhile. When you find rising fish, try traditional patterns such as Purple Haze or Parachute Adams.

Local Species Available Summer

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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):
Vernille San Juan Worm N/A #12
Adam’s Purple Parachute N/A #18
Chernobyl Ant Orange #8- #12
Rojo Midge Black #16
Rouse’s J-Dub Sow Bug N/A #16
Tungsten Cone Head Woolly Bugger Black/Olive #8
Wire Worm Orange #6
Tailwater Sowbug N/A #16
Pill Popper N/A #16
Lil Kim N/A #4

Vernille San Juan Worm

Fish the Vernille San Juan Worm fly dead drifted tight to the bottom and it can be deadly.

2.49

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:

Pseudos, October Caddis

Best Time to Fish:

Early-morning and evening

Best Stretch:

Dam to Craig

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.