Missouri River Guided Fly Fishing Trips

Missouri River Fly Fishing Trips – Craig, Montana

Flowing cold and clear from the base of Holter Dam, the Missouri River near Craig, Montana is one of the premier wild trout fisheries in Montana. This tailwater section offers around 35 miles of productive riffles, long glides, and undercut banks. For anglers seeking technical dry fly fishing and reliable early-season conditions, the Missouri is hard to beat.

Missouri River Day Trips with Fins and Feathers

Full-day float trips on the Missouri River are available during the spring and late fall. We take a break from the Missouri to focus on our home waters from mid-June – September. The Missouri fishes best during the spring and early summer, it fills with recreational floaters and aquatic vegetation by mid-July when the rivers near Bozeman are just coming into their prime.

Float the Missouri River: Cover 10–15 miles of productive water from Holter Dam to Cascade. With steady flows, clear water, and prolific insect life, this stretch offers some of the best dry fly fishing in Montana—along with reliable nymphing and streamer action.

The river is best approached from a drift boat, with strategic stops for wade fishing when conditions allow. We tailor each day around your interests and skills, whether you are looking for big numbers or dry fly only - we have you covered.

Missouri River Trip Details and Pricing

All Missouri River guided trips are full-day floats, lasting 6–8 hours. Our guides take care of everything from tying knots and fly selection to offerring tailored instructions to help our guests get the most out of their time on the water.

Incusions:

- Use of rods, reels, flies, waders, boots and terminal tackle.

- Lunch and beverages

- Transportation to and from the river

We encourage guests to bring their personal gear, especially if you’re accustomed to a specific setup, but we also provide gear for complimentary use if you prefer to travel light.

Pricing:

- $695 for one or two anglers (full-day float trip)

Wade fishing options on the Missouri are limited and dependent on water flows. If this is a priority, just let us know and we will craft the day around certain stretches of the river which are more wade-friendly.

Fishing licenses are not included and gratuities for the guides are greatly appreciated.

Seasons of the Missouri River

Spring (April–May): The Missouri fishes well before and when runoff affects freestone rivers. Midges, blue-winged olives, and March browns bring trout to the surface. Nymphing is highly productive in deeper runs when the river begins to rise in early May.

Summer (June–July): Pale morning duns and caddis hatches dominate. Long, clean drifts and subtle presentations are key. Expect fish to be selective—this is match-the-hatch fishing at its finest.

Late Summer–Fall (late August–October): Hopper fishing stays steady through mid-September. Browns begin to move aggressively as they prepare for the spawn. Streamer fly fishing becomes more productive with the first signs of fall weather. Overcast days can bring strong BWO hatches.

This river is ideal for intermediate and advanced anglers who want to refine their dry fly skills, test technical drifts, and fish for trout that oftentimes require a proper presentation.

Booking Information

Reservations can be made online, via e-mail or by calling us at 1-406-468-5019. We primarily guide the Missouri from April – mid-June, when its at it’s best. Day trips outside of this window are also available upon reqiuest.