Missouri River Fishing Report
Date: 10/02/2026
Posted by: Toby SwankCurrent Conditions
The Missouri River has been a little tougher lately, but the colder weather should start changing things. Fish are holding in fairly specific water, so once you find a few, it’s worth spending some time there instead of constantly moving on. Water temperatures have been dropping and the grass is becoming less of an issue.
Nymphing is still getting most of the fish. Orange wire worms and sowbugs have been working well, along with smaller flies like a black rojo midge or pill popper. Start closer to the bottom and adjust from there.
Streamer fishing is starting to become more interesting as the water cools. Black and olive woolly buggers and smaller baitfish patterns are worth throwing, especially on cloudy days.
Dry fly fishing is still pretty limited. Pseudos are around, with the better chance of finding rising fish coming later in the day or when there’s some cloud cover.
Additional Resources:
- October Fly Fishing in Bozeman, MT.
Stream Flows
View stream flow graph on USGS
Recommended Flies
Tailwater Sowbug Jig
Tailwater Sowbug
Black Zebra Midge
White Zonker
Gray Sprout Midge
Olive Tailwater Tiny
Olive Mini Dungeon
Gray Gonga
Missouri River Fly Fishing in Craig Montana
Our "Missouri River Fishing Guide" is a comprehensive guide to the river stretches and seasonal hatches along with pro tips from our seasoned team of Bozeman fly fishing guides.
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