Missouri River Fishing Report
Date: 01/28/2026
Posted by: Toby SwankCurrent Conditions
The Missouri River is a great choice right now. Conditions have been consistent day to day, with the best fishing coming from late morning into the afternoon. Wind has been the biggest thing to plan around, but when it’s manageable, anglers have been finding good opportunities.
Nymphing has been the most dependable way to catch fish. Scuds and sowbugs have been the main flies to build rigs around, paired with smaller patterns like zebra midges or baetis-style nymphs. Depth has mattered more than fly changes. A 9-foot fluorocarbon leader of 4X has been a solid setup and allows good control when fishing heavier water.
Streamer fishing has been more situational. Medium-sized streamer patterns have moved some fish during the afternoon, but results have varied and nymphing has been the better option overall. A shorter leader of 5–6 feet of heavier fluorocarbon keeps streamer setups simple and manageable.
Dry fly activity has been limited, but midges are still present. On calmer days, there have been occasional fish rising, and a small midge dry or emerger can be effective if you see surface activity.
Overall, the Missouri River remains one of the better choices right now. Starting later in the day, keeping rigs simple, and planning around the wind has been the most effective approach.
Additional Resources:
- Sowbugs and Scuds For Fly Fishing the Missouri
- Fly Fishing Bozeman In Winter
Stream Flows
Flows
Recommended Flies
Tailwater Sowbug Jig
Red San Juan Worm
White Zonker
Dark Olive Spanish Perdigon
Tungsten Tailwater Sowbug
Black Zebra Midge
Olive Tailwater Tiny
Tailwater Sowbug
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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