Fishing Season: early Spring

Missouri River - MT

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

57

CrossCurrents Fly Shop's Tip of the Week

Be prepared to share the river right now. The Missouri is in full swing, both with people and how good the fishing is. Consider getting up early or a late start to try and miss the guide traffic. A late start to look for rising fish is very productive right now.

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 6/12/26

We have a couple days with showers to start the week before nice weather for the rest. Minus Thursday, the wind will be very slight, making for some pleasant fishing conditions. As water temps continue to rise, expect those fish to really move up into the shallows.

Techniques & Tips as of 6/12/26

The two suggested techniques right now would be nymphing PMD and caddis patterns or targeting rising fishing starting in the early afternoon using PMD and caddis patterns. If you are nymphing, I would recommend starting the morning deeper (5-6 ft) using a worm, followed by a sowbug or a scud. If that isn't working or when the bugs start to pop, try short leashing the flats and the banks. Have two small nymphs, one PMD and one caddis, and target shallow water (1-3 ft). The PMD hatch has created good dry fly fishing most days, often starting around 10-11. I would try fishing either a PMD spinner or crippled pods of rising fish. Another option would be a caddis dry (I like the Cord Fed Caddis), and dropping a PMD emerger off the back of it.

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):
Holy Grail N/A #16
Rusty Spinner Rusty #18
CDC Caddis Brown #18
Tunghead Hot Spot Pheasant Tail Jig N/A #16
Tailwater Sowbug Pink #14 - #16
Spanish Bullet Olive Hot Collar #18
Lightning Bug N/A #18
Vernille San Juan Worm Red #8
Flesh Eating Sculpin Black n Blue #4 - #6
Sculpzilla N/A #4 - #8

Holy Grail

One of the most versatile nymphs for trout, the Holy Grail takes more fish in more situations.

2.49

Item #722H

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, Caddis

Best Time to Fish:

Mid-morning and evening

Best Stretch:

Stickney Creek to Prewett Creek

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.