Missouri River Fishing Report
Date: 11/21/2024
Posted by: Toby Swank
Winter is coming...
The Missouri River, near Craig, Montana has been fishing well the last week or two as the floating grass has finally started to mellow out and BWO mayflies finally made their appearance. However, the forecast is looking "brisk" which will slow those hatches down and keep the trout feeding subsurface during the foreseeable future.
If you can handle wading in cold water and picking ice off the guides on your favorite nymphing fly rod, then a trip up north is always worth the effort during the winter. Wade fish along the gravel bar dropoffs on the inside river beds, nymphing the transition zone between shallow and deep. Tandem nymph rigs fished about 7' below a strike indicator with some added weight is the way to go when fishing the Missouri River during the winter.
Fly selection is relatively simple right now - sowbug lead fly with a midge pupa or sparse mayfly representation dropper tied off the bend of the lead fly hook. Fish a pink or orange sowbug when things are slow as the trout are eating eggs from spawning brown trout rightt now, too.
Our staff recommends late April through early June as the best time of the year for a guided fly fish trip to the Missouri River near Craig, Montana.
Click to enlarge
Flows
USGS CFS Data is not available for this date.
Tungsten Tailwater Sowbug
Pink Lite Brite Perdigon
Black Zebra Midge
Juju Baetis
Fly fish Montana on the Missouri River near Craig Montana between April and July with our team of expert guides. Early season is the best time to experience Missouri River fishing in Montana. Fins and Feathers Guide Service has been outfitting Montana fly fishing trips on the Missouri River since 2000.
Expert anglers can focus on perfecting their dry fly skills or streamer fly fish the canyon for trophy Brown Trout. Novice and first-time fly anglers are assured plenty of hook-ups and will quickly improve their skills with the patient instruction of our guide staff.
- $725 for 1 or 2 Anglers Per Guide
- Float Trips With Wading Opportunities
- Use of All Fishing Equipment Is Included
- Single And Multi-Day Trip Bookings Available
- Meet In Craig Montana
- Book Online or Contact Us To Learn More
Missouri River Fly Fishing in Craig Montana
This 35-mile stretch of the Missouri River offers some of the finest fly fishing in Montana. The cold water released from Holter Dam creates a productive tailwater fishery. The river supports a robust population of Rainbow and Brown Trout, thanks to its rich invertebrate biomass.
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.