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Missouri River Fly Fishing

Missouri River
Fly Fishing

The Missouri is a tailwater fishery that offers clear and consistent flows with trout populations around 5,000 fish per mile and intense mayfly, midge and caddis hatches. This tremendous river is a great alternative when our local rivers are high and off-color due to spring snowmelt. Anglers are greeted by grand Big Sky vistas that haven’t changed much from when Lewis and Clark first explored the drainage. The main target is rainbow trout from 16-22”, but the chance at a trophy brown trout is always a reality. We primarily fish the Missouri from April through June and again in the late Fall. Deep nymph fishing is most effective near Holter dam with excellent dry fly fishing opportunities further down the Missouri River.

  • Midges (#18-22)
  • Blue-Wing Olives (#18-20)

As water temps warm during March trout will begin feeding on afternoon midge hatches. By April Blue-wings will show up and offer consistently good dry fly fishing on calm days. When conditions are right we find large unpressured trout each Spring.

  • Midges (#18-22)
  • Blue-Wing Olives (#18-20)
  • Caddis (#14-18)
  • Skwalas (#8-10)

This is one of our best months for the Missouri. Blue-wings and Caddis are the main attraction especially if you like throwing small flies to oversized browns and rainbows. Some remarkable Skwala fishing can also be found on the lower Missouri below the mouth of the Dearborn.

  • Blue-Wing Olives (#18-20)
  • Caddis (#14-18)
  • Pale-morning Duns (#14-18)

The Blue-wings just don’t seem to quit on this river as they hatch through the early part of the month. PMD and Caddis hatches dominate the remaining action as the rivers rainbows look to gorge themselves after returning from their spring spawning runs.

  • Pale-morning Duns (#14-18)
  • Caddis (#14-18)
  • Tricos (#18-22)

This is small fly paradise. Some days the Trico hatches on the Mo are so thick you can barely see across the river. This is technical fishing at its best where anglers can test their skills under demanding conditions against wary trout.

  • Grasshoppers (#6-10)
  • Pale-morning Duns (#14-18)
  • Tricos (#18-22)

Floating big hoppers down weed lines in late summer is always exciting. Watching a giant rainbow or brown sip a size 6 fly like a midge will have you giddy for weeks. Daily hatches of PMDs and Tricos keep the pods rising in between the amazing hopper fishing.

  • Grasshoppers (#6-10)
  • Tricos (#18-22)
  • Mahogany Duns (#14-16)
  • Blue-wing Olives (#18-20)

The Hopper and Trico fishing keep things interesting early in Sept., while the Mahoganies and Blue-wings offer some magical dry fly fishing later in the fall. The trout seem to become a little less wary as the temps fade, and feed heavily on the afternoon mayfly hatches.

Missouri River Fishing Access Sites & Boat Launches

Missouri River fly fishing is the quintessential Montana fly fishing destination. With numerous boat launches and public access sites plus ample access along the vast river banks, the Missouri River is a must-do for any fly fishing trip in Montana.

Missouri River Fly Fishing Flies

Our Montana fly fishing guides have been fishing the Missouri River for decades and have it dialed in. See below for guide recommendations on flies that work on the Mo’.

Aerial view of the Missouri River with text overlaid

Missouri River Fishing Report

Want to get the latest update on what’s happen with Missouri River fly fishing? Check out our Missouri River fishing report for up-to-date information on which flies are working, stream flows, conditions, and advice for how to make the most of your visit to the Mighty Mo’.

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