Fishing Season: Summer

Missouri River - MT

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

67

CrossCurrents Fly Shop's Tip of the Week

Don't be afraid to change flies this week. Lack of hatches has led to the trout eating a wide variety of flies day to day, or even hour to hour. If you go through a few runs that look like they should have paid off or a rising fish ignore your perfect-drift dry, change that fly.

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 8/21/26

After having a nice period of cooler weather it is starting to look warm again. 80s are fairly common in the future with some days reaching into the 90s. Expect lots of sun with the possibility of some evening thunderstorms.

Techniques & Tips as of 8/21/26

The best technique at the moment has still been nymphing a zirdle. Set your depth at 5-7 feet to a small split shot, with a size #6 zirdle a foot below. Off the end of the zirdle, have about 20 inches to a small dropper, such as a Frenchie, Zebra Midge, or Warrior Perdigon. If that isn't working, swap the Zirdle for a Worm and fish the same exact rig and water. Dries have been a tougher puzzle recently. Hatches have not been consistent. We have seen PMDS, Tricos, and Caddis recently in varying quantities, or not at all somedays. Whatever hatch you're imitating, a 5x or even 6x leader is a must for tricky fish. Hopper season is now starting to pick up, warm, windy days are putting the bugs in the water and making some larger fish show themselves.

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 #16
Griffith’s Gnat Rusty #18
CDC Caddis Brown #18
Tunghead Hot Spot Pheasant Tail Jig N/A #16
Hot Head Euro Pheasant Tail N/A #18
Quasimodo Pheasant Tail Red #8
Zirdle Tan #6-12
Zebra Midge Black #18-22
Yellowstone Hopper Peach #8-#12
Warrior Perdigon N/A #18

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:

Hoppers, Ants, Pseudos

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.