Missouri River | Montana's Best Fly Fishing

We feel the Missouri River is the best fishery in Montana. The fish are as big and strong as anywhere in the state, and the numbers are excellent. The Missouri River can be what you want. If you just want to keep bent all day, deep nymph from the boat. You'll often catch fish until your arm is sore. Maybe you like it technical? Dry fly fishing on the Missouri can definitely be that. Anglers routinely stalk a handful of big fish on dries during the course of the day. You may only land 5 or 6, but they'll all be fish you will remember. Streamer fishing will wear you out, but the endless banks and visual attacks from aggressive Brown's will keep you smiling. No matter your skill level or desire, the Missouri River has something for you.

MISSOURI RIVER HATCHES

The Missouri is blessed with a variety of hatches that occur from May to Novemeber. Learn more about what hatches and when HERE.

BIG FISH

Learn more about the trout that make the Missouri River famous. Great size and big numbers make the Missouri River unbeatable... LEARN.

TECHNIQUES

A short description of the different techniques we use to fool the residents of the river. Dry fly fishermen -- you need to know this. TECHNIQUES

MISSOURI RIVER MAP

We put together a great Missouri River fly fishing map showing all access points, mileage and wade fishing spots. SEE THE MAP

MISSOURI RIVER TROUT

Both Rainbow and Brown trout inhabit the Missouri River, though the very occasional Brookie or Cutthroat is caught. Rainbow Trout estimates are around 3000 per mile. Fish average 15-19 inches, but plenty in the 20-22 inch class are caught every year. Many anglers believe that the biggest fish are closer to the dam. While not necessarily true on the Missouri, we do see a migration of Rainbows to the upper river during late summer and fall. The Cascade section hold some truly big fish as well, and should not be ignored as a place to search out a trophy fish.

Brown trout numbers are much lower than Rainbows, about 600-1000 per mile. Some days it seems like there's one behind every rock, and others you'd think the river was void of Brown Trout. Fewer fish means bigger fish, and this is definitely the case on the Missouri. Brown trout average 17-21 inches, and it is not uncommon to catch fish in the 20-23 inch range on a daily basis. Our biggest Browns are in the 23-25 inch range, with the rare fish over that taken a couple of times each year. Brown trout are spread pretty evenly throughout the Missouri, though highest populations tend to be from Mt. Palace downstream. The area around Pelican Point is especially favorable.

Spawning
Most trout leave the river to spawn, heading up the Dearborn, Little Prickly Pear and Sheep Creek to propagate. Rainbow's generally leave in late April through early June. Brown Trout tend to use the Missouri a little more than Rainbows, but most head up the creeks in late October. This behavior is somewhat unique to the Missouri River, and does affect your approach to fishing during Spring and Fall. For example; during May, we tend to target big Brown trout who are in the river, healthy, hungry and eating. Streamer fishing may be a very smart approach!

During late summer, juvenile fish move into the prime feeding lies and 6-10 inch fish can pester you all afternoon. The big ones are still there, but the little ones will beat them to the fly. We saw this in the Canyon section during 2010.

Is the Missouri River a Tailwater?
Well, the answer is yes if you mean that we fish below a dam. We wouldn't, however, compare the 'Mo to rivers like the Bighorn, Beaverhead, San Juan or other "Tailwater" rivers. Holter Dam is operated to generate power, not as a storage reservoir. The water comes from the top of the lake, and we see temperature swings much wider than those rivers. The Missouri River will run 33 degrees in January, and can get into the 70's in August. The good news is that this temperature variation promotes a more diverse insect base than a true tailwater. Anglers should be careful to not fish the Missouri like other tailwaters. During the course of the year, fish behavior and hatches can change holding water and feeding patterns dramatically.

Missouri River Hatches

Winter (Dec - March)
Flows on the Missouri are too cold during these months to induce any hatches other than midges. When the weather is right, you will find fish feeding on the surface. Cluster patterns usually produce fine. By late March you will probably see some Skwalas or Baetis if the weather has been warm enough.

Spring (April - May)
As the water warms around mid-April, Skwala (stonefly) and BWO hatches begin. You won't find a lot of fish feeding on BWO's unless hatches are thick. Blind fishing Skwala's is always good for a few fish each day. There are a handful of days each spring when the Skwala will produce big numbers. By May, BWO and March Brown hatches should be occurring almost daily in the afternoons. Mother's Day caddis hatches begin around the 10th of May and continue through the month. Flying ants are often present during May. Pay attention! Most of our hatches move upstream, so you will see all of these bugs on the lower river earlier than above.

Summer (June - August)
Sometime around the first of June, we see a shift from BWO's to PMD's, Shortly after, tan caddis begin to hatch. Anglers who experience the first week of the caddis hatch will never forget it. Once the PMD hatch is in full swing, spinner falls become a daily occurrence and the Rusty Spinner is one of our most important patterns. Ant patterns continue to be very effective during June, as well as some localized Callibaetis hatches.

By late June, we begin to see Brown Drakes hatching on the lower sections of the river (Mid-Canon to Cascade). Nightime feeding frenzies can make for slow afternooon dry fly fishing. The upper river will still be in full swing with PMD's and Caddis being the primary hatches. Spinners become the most important bug during July. We usually see our first hopper action around the 3rd week in July. Tricos traditionally began in July, but have waned significantly in recent years.

Like most western river, August can be an early morning/late evening program. Mid-day can see little in the way of rising fish, but hopper action can be fantastic, especially with a little wind. Callibaetis become an important hatch on the upper river, and is you best bet during hot afternoons. Pseudos and Tricos begin to intensify in August as well.

Fall (Sept - November)
September is a spotty dry fly month until the weather changes. Once the first winter storm has passed, we see an increase in Caddis and Mayfly hatches. Pseudos, Tricos and Callibaetis will bring up at least some fish daily. October sees the return of the BWO, and dry fly fishing in the afternoons can be excellent. Caddis hatches will have quit by the 2nd week of October, but Midges will take their place and keep fish feeding on top through November.

Techniques for the Missouri

Missouri River trout can be fooled with any technique. Over the course of the season, our primary tactics change, but most of the time you can use any and all technique to catch a least a couple of fish each day.

Dry Fly Fishing
Nothing has done more to promote the fishing on the Missouri than it's consistent -- and often incredible -- dry fly fishing. Strong, consistent hatches of Caddis, Mayflies, Midges and Terrrestrials give us endless opportunities to present dry flies to rising trout. If you haven't done any "spring creek" style fishing, you will when you come to the 'Mo. Downstream dry fly presentations are necessary to fool fish feeding in shallow flats, and casts are often on the long side. The wind is a constant menace. Missouri RIver trout typically do not like to rise when the surface is rippled by the wind, so look for glassy water. You can always find some. HINT: Our trout key on dead stuff. Mayfly spinners, spent caddis, dead ants, etc. While our trout can be picky when it comes to presentation, they are not that leader shy. Plan on using 4X and 5X tippets. Make your cast count. Anglers that present the fly properly on the first cast generally do great, while those that take 20 casts to get it in the right spot often lose.

Nymph Fishing
We all love to dry fly fish, but you can really rack up some numbers when nymphing. Wade fishermen need to find the right holding water to be successful. Boaters tend to nymph towards the center of the river and rework water when fish are present. If you've been to the Missouri before, you're probably familiar with the "row 'rounds" below Holter Dam. Most guides use a straight leader to 3X and 4X tippet. Tandem nymph rigs are standard, and we usually run 6 feet between our indicator and split shot (yes, you should use split shot!). The "short leash" has become a popular method in recent years. This consists of a very small indicator run a bout 1-3 feet above a tandem fly rig, usually with no split shot. This rig allows you to fish pods of risers and shallow flats effectively. Very common in the late afternoons during summer and fall. Missouri River trout can be very light takers, and you should set the hook on the most subtle takes.

Streamer Fishing
Streamer fishing is a very visual experience on the Missouri, and aside from early in the season, we use floating or intermediate lines with heavy leaders and tippet (0X). Flashy, minnow and sculpin patterns are usually your best bet, but the traditional black Wooly Bugger still catches it's fair share of fish. Slow moving leech and crawdad patterns can be very effective. Streamer fishing is best done from the boat where you can cover a lot of water. HINT: We don't always throw streamers at the bank! You've got to find those big Brown Trout. Wading anglers do catch their fair share, especially in late fall and winter. It's becoming more and more common to see two-handed rods on the Missouri during the winter months. These anglers are methodically searching the water with streamers and leech patterns.

HEADHUNTERS

Missouri River Fly Shop & Guide Service