MISSOURI RIVER FLY FISHING — Angler's Guide

From Missouri River Headwaters State Park to its delta in Canyon Ferry Reservoir, the river is a seasonally fluctuating fishery. While in the winter, this section is mostly frozen over. But in the spring and fall, large migratory browns and rainbows can be caught. There isn't a lot of trout in this section but the reward can be exceptional for those anglers that put in the time. 

In the summer months, the upper Missouri is largely a warmwater fishery and anglers travel here to take part in slowing plying the "flats" for tailing common carp. While carp fly fishing isn't for everyone, many anglers have found an obsession with it and test their skills on these large fish during the hot months while resting their local trout fisheries.

The Missouri River’s three reservoirs—Canyon Ferry, Hauser, and Holter—offer exceptional stillwater fishing for a variety of species. Canyon Ferry, the largest of the three, is known for its healthy populations of rainbow trout, walleye, and perch. Ice fishing is popular here in winter, while open-water anglers target big walleye and trophy-sized trout throughout the rest of the year. Hauser and Holter Lakes are smaller but equally productive, with Hauser being a prime destination for kokanee salmon and Holter offering some of the best fishing for rainbow trout and walleye. Holter Lake, in particular, is home to excellent trout fishing throughout the year, with prolific hatches supporting a strong population of wild rainbows. These reservoirs provide diverse opportunities, from trolling deep waters for walleye to casting dry flies to rising trout in the calm, glassy mornings.

The stretch of the Missouri River between Hauser Dam and Holter Lake, often referred to as the Land of the Giants, is a legendary fishery known for its massive trout. This short but powerful tailwater section benefits from steady flows and rich aquatic life, creating ideal conditions for brown and rainbow trout to reach exceptional sizes. Anglers floating this stretch often target fish in the 20-30 inch range, making it one of the best big-trout destinations in the state.While streamers and nymphs produce fish year-round, dry fly fishing can be phenomenal during summer hatches of caddis, PMDs, and terrestrials. Given the strength of the current and the sheer size of the fish, anglers often use heavier rods and tippet than they would on other parts of the Missouri. Access is limited, with most anglers relying on a boat to navigate this section, but the effort is well worth it for the chance to land a true trophy trout.

The Missouri River below Holter Dam is one of the most famous tailwater fisheries in North America. Flowing through the small town of Craig, this stretch is home to an exceptional population of wild trout, boasting an estimated 5,000+ trout per mile. Thanks to its cold, steady flows and prolific insect hatches, this section provides world-class fly fishing throughout the year.

Spring brings hatches of blue-winged olives and March browns, followed by the famous summer PMD, caddis, and trico hatches. Fall is prime time for streamer fishing, as aggressive brown trout move into the shallows in search of prey. Whether you’re drifting or wading, this section of the Missouri offers some of the best opportunities for dry fly purists, nymph anglers, and those who love throwing streamers for big, hard-fighting trout.

As the Missouri continues downstream from Cascade, the river begins to transition from a blue-ribbon trout fishery to more of a warmwater system. While trout can still be found in the upper portions of this stretch, the numbers gradually decrease as the river widens and warms. Smallmouth bass, northern pike, and walleye become more prevalent, offering new challenges and opportunities for anglers.

This section of the Missouri is also known for its breathtaking scenery, with rugged cliffs, rolling prairies, and remote stretches of water that see far fewer anglers than the waters around Craig. Fishing here requires a bit more patience, but those willing to explore can find exciting fishing for a mix of species, particularly in areas with deeper holes and slower-moving water.

Below Great Falls, the Missouri takes on a big-river feel, meandering through the eastern Montana plains on its way to Fort Peck Reservoir. This is a classic warmwater fishery, where walleye, smallmouth bass, northern pike, and catfish thrive. While trout are scarce, the diversity of species makes this a unique and rewarding place to fish.

Anglers here often focus on deep holes, submerged structure, and backwater areas where predatory fish wait to ambush prey. Fort Peck Reservoir itself is one of Montana’s most productive fisheries, home to some of the best walleye fishing in the region, as well as trophy-sized northern pike and lake trout. Whether fishing from shore or by boat, this lower stretch of the Missouri is a hidden gem for anglers seeking variety and the chance to catch truly massive fish.

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.

• MARCH: As water temps warm during March trout will begin feeding on afternoon midge hatches.
• APRIL: By April Blue-wings will show up and offer consistently good dry fly fishing on calm days.
• MAY: 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.

Summer is prime time for Missouri River fly fishing! While warmwater anglers gravitate towards the upper Missouri or near Great Falls, dedicated trout anglers will stick around Holter Dam to Cascade for an exceptional Montana fly fishing experience. 

• JUNE: 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.
• JULY: 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.
• AUGUST: 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.

The crowds have gone for the season but there's still great fly fishing to be had on the Mo'. While the cottonwood trees along the river start to change from a green to yellow hue and the weeds start to break up in the river, anglers will have the option of fishing several different ways—from dry fly fishing to nymhing, streamers, and trout spey!

• SEPTEMBER: The Hopper and Trico fishing keep things interesting early in Sept.
• OCTOBER:  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.
• NOVEMBER: While most of the bugs have dissappeared for the season, there are still windows on BWO and midge fishing on dry flies when the temperature and wind is right. Streamer fishing and trout spey can be especially effective this time of year and anglers from all over the country travel here to swing the broad flats of the Mo' in search of that tightline grab.

While the Missouri River in certain sections will be mostly frozen, the river below Holter Dam can nearly be fished year round except for the coldest of weather windows. 

• DECEMBER: When the conditions are right, December can be an exceptional month to fish but anglers will find the most success with nymphing tactics and midge or sow bug imitations. For the streamer guys, if the weather has been mild, the fishing can be spectacular as the fish are less focused on bugs this time of year.
• JANUARY: The Missouri is one of the few places that can fish well in harsh, sub-zero temperatures. And while fishing in the pit of winter isn't for everyone, if you really need to scratch the itch, anglers can find good fishing nymphing in the slow, deep buckets with midge and sow bug imitations. While this isn't necessarily the best time to travel to the area to have a Montana fly fishing experience, for local anglers, hitting the Missouri during a mild stretch of weather can be a good way to shake cabin fever.
• FEBRUARY: Winter is still in full force and temperature can range from mid-40s on a mild day to -50+ degrees fahrenheit during a cold front. The river will be cold and the trout will be tanked up in the slow, deep buckets. When they do want to eat, anglers will find most success with midge and sow bug imitations with split shot under an indicator. During the odd stretch of mild weather, midge fishing with dry flies can be productive but the conditions have to be right.