Fishing Season: late Spring/early Summer

Missouri River - MT

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

57

CrossCurrents Fly Shop's Tip of the Week

The river levels have stayed around 4400, dropping to 4100 later this week. Dry fly fishing has been outstanding, with a lot of PMDs and Caddis coming off, although the fish are starting to get pickier, keying in on the smaller bugs (size 18-16).

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 6/18/25

The temps this week will be in the 80's to start before dropping to 60's for a couple day and then rising to 70's at the end of the week.

Techniques & Tips as of 6/18/25

You can certainly catch fish nymphing 5' to 7' deep with worms, sow bugs and pheasant tail type nymphs, but it is hard to pass up the opportunity to catch rising fish on dry flies!

Local Species Available late Spring/early Summer

  • Fish Icon

    Rainbow Trout

  • Fish Icon

    Brown Trout

  • Fish Icon

    and White Trout

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 Red, Pink #10
Bead Head Caddis Pupa N/A #16
Lightning Bug N/A #16 -#18
Sulphur Parachute N/A #16, #18
Tailwater Sowbug N/A #14 - #16
Warrior Perdigon N/A #16 - #18
CDC Emerging Caddis N/A #16
Adams Parachute Dry Fly N/A #16 - #20
Sparkle Minnow Pearl, Sculpin #4 - #6
Lil' Kim N/A #4 - #8

Vernille San Juan Worm

Image Not Found

Item #0290

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:

PMDs, Emergers, Caddis, Midges

Best Time to Fish:

early AM through early PM

Best Stretch:

Wolf Creek to Stickney, Mid to Prewett

Best Access:

Holter, Wolf Creek Bridge, Craig, Stickney, Mid-Canon and walk-in between all those.