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Missouri River Fishing Report

Date: 07/25/2025
Posted by: Toby Swank

Current Conditions

The Missouri River below Holter Dam is in classic late July form. Steady, clear, and packed with opportunity for anglers who are willing to fish thoughtfully. Morning water temps are sitting in the low 60s, and flows have been stable throughout the week, making for consistent trout behavior and reliable fishing windows.

The spinner fall is pulling pods of selective trout into the flats and side seams, and they’re feeding with precision. If you’re bringing long leaders, 5x tippet, CDC spinners and small emergers in sizes 18 to 22 are getting eats. Many of these fish are nice strong browns.

Nymphing remains productive through the heat of the day. Focus on inside bends, riffles, drop-offs, and mid-river structure. Perdigons, split-case PMDs, and caddis larvae have been producing in deeper runs and along submerged structure. The bite can stay steady all day if you adjust depth and weight based on light and current speed.

By late afternoon, the surface bite can reignite. Caddis are fluttering along the banks, and we have been seeing the first real signs of terrestrial action. Ants, beetles, and hoppers are drawing interest, especially along grassy edges and back channels. Hopper dropper rigs are a great way to cover that water until the evening light fades.

Overall, the Missouri River is in great shape. The bugs are there, the fish are active, and the river is giving back what you put into it. If you’re thoughtful in your approach and flexible throughout the day, you’ll find fish. But it’s not automatic.

Additional Resources:

 - Missouri River fly fishing in July

Stream Flows

Missouri River Fishing Report Streamflow

Flows

Recommended Flies

				  Crack back pmd

PMD Crackback

				  Sparkle Dun BRF PMD

PMD Sparkle Dun

				  Flies Freshwater Caddis Dries Elk Hair Caddis Peacock jpg

Peacock Elk Hair Caddis

				  Little green machine

Little Green Machine

				  Tailwater Sowbug TNG S Bd Rainbow

Tungsten Tailwater Sowbug

				  Two wing trico spinner

Double Wing Trico Spinner

				  Profile Spinner Mercer Rusty

Rusty Profile Spinner

				  Cdc spinner trico black

CDC Trico Spinner

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