Missouri River Fishing Report

Date: 07/06/2026

Posted by: Toby Swank

Current Conditions

The Missouri River has settled into a technical summer pattern, and anglers willing to match the hatch are finding plenty of success.

PMDs are still a big part of the day, caddis have been strong through the afternoons and evenings, and the first tricos are beginning to show up in the mornings. There have been fish rising throughout the day, but the best dry fly fishing has been during the morning spinner falls and again during the evening caddis activity. The middle of the day can slow down, so it's worth planning around those feeding windows.

When fish aren't looking up, nymphing has continued to produce. Split-case PMDs, sowbugs, frenchies, zebra midges, and small caddis pupae have all been good choices. Fish have been feeding higher in the water column than they were a few weeks ago, so there's no need to dredge the bottom all day. A lighter nymph rig has generally been more productive.

If the goal is dry fly fishing, keep it simple. PMD cripples, X-caddis, rusty spinners, and tricos are all worth carrying, but presentation has become more important than having a dozen different patterns. Long leaders and accurate casts are making the difference on fish that have been seeing plenty of pressure.

The Missouri is transitioning into its classic midsummer rhythm. Fish early, fish late, and be ready to switch between nymphs and dries as the bugs change throughout the day.

Additional Resources:

 - The Best Bozeman Fly Fishing in July

Stream Flows

View stream flow graph on USGS

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