Fishing Season: late Spring/early Summer, Fall

Missouri River - MT

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

65

CrossCurrents Fly Shop's Tip of the Week

Dry fly fishing should continue to be good with tricos in the morning, and terrestrials-dropper in the afternoon. Nymph fishing in shallow, riffly water and deeper pools is your best bet throughout the day. We are contending with weeds in the river but as long as you can keep your flies clean there are fish to be had.

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 9/10/25

The weather will cool down from the mid 90s over Labor Day weekend, into more seasonal temps in the 70s and 80s over the next few weeks, with a few showers to help us transition into Fall fishing season.

Techniques & Tips as of 9/10/25

We look forward to BWOs making their return to the Mo' in the next few weeks, but for now we are still having fun fishing Tricos in the mornings, and Caddis and Terrestrials in the afternoon. The most productive technique is still nymph fishing with 5' to 7' from your indicator to your top fly, either a worm or crawdad pattern, trailed by a Caddis or Baetis nymph.

Local Species Available late Spring/early Summer, Fall

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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):
Bead Head Caddis Pupa Red, purple, Pink #14, #16
Travis Para Ant N/A #16
Spotlight Caddis Emerger N/A #14 -#18
Indicator Spinner - Trico N/A #18-#20
Tailwater Sowbug N/A #14 - #16
Warrior Perdigon N/A #16 - #18
Schroeder's Hi-Vis Hopper N/A #10-#12
Depth Charge Czech-Mate Nymph N/A #16 - #20
Sparkle Minnow Pearl, Sculpin #4 - #6
Lil' Kim N/A #4 - #8

Bead Head Caddis Pupa

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Item #0416

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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:

Tricos, Caddis, terrestrials.

Best Time to Fish:

Mid-morning and evening

Best Stretch:

Wolf Creek to Stickney, Mid to Prewett

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.